5 Things to Know About Coca-Cola Stock Before You Buy

Core Insights - Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company globally, with $47 billion in trailing-12-month sales, but its stock has recently lagged behind the market after a strong performance earlier this year [1] Group 1: Revenue Performance - Coca-Cola's sales have been recovering after years of decline, but they are still below the all-time high of $48 billion reached in 2012 [3][4] - The company has shown impressive growth despite inflation, indicating strong brand and pricing power, and could benefit from lower interest rates boosting the economy [6] Group 2: Brand Portfolio - Coca-Cola owns around 200 brands, with 30 brands generating over $1 billion in sales each, including well-known names like Sprite and Minute Maid [7] - The company previously reduced its brand count by about half to focus on more profitable brands, but continues to pursue acquisitions to enhance growth [8][9] Group 3: Dividend Stability - Coca-Cola is classified as a Dividend King, having raised its dividends for 63 consecutive years, showcasing resilience and commitment to shareholder value [10][11][12] Group 4: Investment Perspective - Warren Buffett has held Coca-Cola stock since 1988, and it constitutes 8.8% of Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term value [13][14] - Historically, Coca-Cola has been a market laggard, often not outperforming the market, but it provides stability and excellent dividends, making it a valuable addition under certain market conditions [15][16]