Core Viewpoint - Investors are increasingly favoring established companies like Coca-Cola for passive income amid market uncertainty, but Campbell's is presented as a more attractive investment option due to its valuation and dividend yield [1][2]. Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola has a strong history of increasing dividends for 64 consecutive years, currently offering a yield of 2.6% [1]. - The stock price of Coca-Cola increased by 12.3% in 2025 and is up 14.2% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's return of 0.9% [2]. - Coca-Cola's market cap stands at $347 billion, with a gross margin of 61.75% and a dividend yield of 2.53% [8][9]. - The company remains heavily reliant on its soft drink products, which accounted for 69% of its worldwide case volume in 2025, with its trademark cola making up 42% of U.S. unit case volume [6][7]. Campbell's - Campbell's is diversified beyond soup, owning various meal and snack brands, and is focusing on health-conscious products [4]. - The current market cap for Campbell's is $8.1 billion, with a gross margin of 29.84% and a dividend yield of 5.72% [5][6]. - Campbell's has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11.1, significantly lower than Coca-Cola's 24.7, indicating it is undervalued [9]. - The company has maintained or raised its dividend every year since 2002, currently yielding 5.8%, which is substantially higher than Coca-Cola's yield [13][14]. - Despite challenges in passing costs to consumers, Campbell's generates sufficient free cash flow to cover its dividend, with a payout ratio similar to Coca-Cola's [11].

Key Takeaways Coca-Cola's Zero Sugar portfolio is central to its long-term volume growth strategy globally.Coca-Cola posted 1% unit case volume growth in Q4 2025, with Zero Sugar aiding share gains.Coca-Cola guides 4-5% organic revenue growth for 2026, with volume-price balance improving.The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO) expanding Zero Sugar portfolio has emerged as a central pillar of its long-term growth strategy as the company looks to reignite volume momentum in a world where consumers are increasingly healt ...

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Sales and Market Performance - The Coca-Cola system sold 33.8 billion unit cases in 2025, a slight increase from 33.7 billion in 2024, with sparkling soft drinks representing 69% of the total volume in both years[35] - Trademark Coca-Cola accounted for 47% of worldwide unit case volume in both 2025 and 2024, while in the U.S., it represented 42% of the unit case volume[35] - In 2025, the U.S. accounted for 16% of the Company's worldwide unit case volume, with 61% of that volume being sparkling soft drinks[35] - The largest markets outside the U.S. for unit case volume were Mexico, China, Brazil, and India, which together accounted for 33% of the worldwide unit case volume[35] - Sales of ready-to-drink beverages are seasonal, with the second and third quarters historically accounting for the highest sales volumes[51] Product and Market Expansion - The Company has entered the alcohol beverage category with products like pre-mixed cocktails and hard seltzers, expanding its portfolio in various markets[29] - The Company provides marketing support and participates in sales of other beverage brands through licenses and joint ventures, such as with Monster Energy[30] - The bottling partners accounted for 44% of total worldwide unit case volume in 2025, with the five largest partners being Coca-Cola FEMSA, CCEP, CCHBC, Arca Continental, and Swire Coca-Cola[36] Competitive Landscape - The commercial beverage industry is highly competitive, with significant players including PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Anheuser-Busch InBev, among others[52] - Key competitive factors include pricing, advertising, product innovation, and digital marketing strategies[53] - The company has a strong network of bottlers and distributors, contributing to its competitive strengths[54] Supply Chain and Ingredients - Water is a critical ingredient in products, and its availability is recognized as a key challenge for the company[56] - The principal nutritive sweetener in the U.S. is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is subject to market price fluctuations[57] - The company sources orange juice primarily from Florida and Brazil, facing challenges from citrus greening disease and adverse weather conditions[59] - The majority of dairy revenues are derived from fairlife, LLC, which sources milk from dairy cooperatives[60] Regulatory and Compliance Issues - The company is subject to various environmental regulations and anticipates additional legal requirements related to sustainability and carbon emissions[72] - Compliance with evolving data protection laws, such as the CCPA and CPRA, is critical for the company's operations[73] Financial Performance and Risks - The company generated $28.8 billion of net operating revenues from operations outside the United States in 2025[378] - The total notional values of foreign currency derivatives were $21,128 million as of December 31, 2025, up from $18,442 million in 2024[380] - A 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar would have resulted in a $609 million decrease in the fair value of foreign currency derivatives that qualified for hedge accounting[380] - The company estimates that a 1 percentage point increase in interest rates would have increased interest expense by $120 million in 2025[382] - The total notional values of commodity derivatives were $535 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to $386 million in 2024[386] - The fair value of commodity derivatives that qualified for hedge accounting resulted in a net unrealized loss of $9 million as of December 31, 2025[386] Workforce and Employee Relations - As of December 31, 2025, the company had approximately 65,900 employees, a decrease from 69,700 in 2024, primarily due to divestiture activities[76] - The company aims to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain talent, including base pay and performance-based incentives[84] - Approximately 400 employees in North America were covered by collective bargaining agreements as of December 31, 2025[76] - The company supports employee-led inclusion networks to foster relationships based on common interests or backgrounds[79]

NEW DELHI, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- India rediscovers its love for local flavours, Coca-Cola is bringing back its cult classic Rimzim Jeera with a comeback that’s anything but quiet. Led by the thought “Jeere mein heera, Rimzim Jeera,” the new campaign marks Rimzim’s bold return—not just as a nostalgic favourite, but as a proudly OG ethnic beverage for every generation.Leaning into nostalgia with a playful twist, the campaign revives Rimzim Jeera’s retro charm and reimagines an iconic R.D. Burman track ...

Core Insights - The Coca-Cola Company has approved a 3.9% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it from 51 cents to 53 cents per share, marking the 64th consecutive annual dividend increase [2][9] - The new annualized dividend is $2.12 per share, up from $2.04 per share in 2025, providing a yield of approximately 2.7% based on current market prices [3][9] - The company returned $8.8 billion in dividends to shareholders in 2025, demonstrating its strong cash flow and commitment to shareholder returns [6][9] Leadership Changes - Todd Beiger has been elected as Vice President and Head of Investor Relations, effective March 31, 2026, succeeding Robin Halpern [4][9] - Beiger has 25 years of experience with the company and currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for Costa Limited, a part of Coca-Cola's European operations [5] - Henrique Braun is set to succeed James Quincey as CEO on March 31, 2026, with Quincey remaining as Executive Chairman to ensure a smooth transition [7]

Core Insights - Coca-Cola Co. has experienced a significant drop in its Benzinga Edge value score from 17.86 to 3.28, indicating a potential overvaluation after a 15% year-to-date stock gain following its Q4 2025 earnings report [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company's fourth-quarter earnings report showed mixed results, with adjusted earnings per share of $0.58 beating expectations, but revenue of $11.80 billion fell short of the $12.02 billion forecast, marking the first revenue miss in five years [3]. - The stock's recent double-digit gains, combined with the revenue shortfall, have led to its placement in the bottom 10% of stocks for relative worth [3]. Valuation Concerns - The current value score of 3.28 suggests a significant disconnect between the stock's market price and its underlying operating performance, raising concerns about its valuation [4]. - As leadership transitions to Henrique Braun on March 31, the company faces the challenge of demonstrating its ability to regain market confidence without further valuation corrections [4]. Market Performance - Year-to-date, Coca-Cola's shares have increased by 15%, outperforming the S&P 500 index, which rose only 0.33% during the same period [5]. - Over the last six months, the stock has risen by 13.35%, and by 13.44% over the past year, although it was down 0.24% in premarket trading on Thursday [5].

While Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) investment activity in Warren Buffett's final quarter as CEO is interesting, perhaps the most telling information from the conglomerate's latest 13-F filing is the significant size of the Oracle of Omaha's biggest positions upon his departure. Put another way, I'm more interested in what Buffett left Berkshire with than any trimming or adding of various stocks in his final quarter running the company's portfolio. After all, you can bet he took great care ...

Investment Strategy - The focus is on constructing investment portfolios that generate additional income through dividends by identifying companies with strong competitive advantages and excellent industry positioning [1] - Emphasis is placed on companies that can consistently increase dividend payments, providing attractive Dividend Yield and Dividend Growth [1] - The strategy aims to reduce dependence on broader stock market fluctuations by combining high Dividend Yield and Dividend Growth companies [1] Portfolio Diversification - A well-diversified portfolio across various sectors and industries is recommended to minimize volatility and mitigate risk [1] - Incorporating companies with a low Beta Factor is suggested to further reduce the overall risk level of the investment portfolio [1] - The investment portfolios typically consist of a blend of ETFs and individual companies, emphasizing broad diversification and risk reduction [1] Total Return Focus - The selection process for high dividend yield and dividend growth companies is meticulously curated, prioritizing total return, which includes both capital gains and dividends [1] - This approach ensures that the portfolio is designed to maximize returns while considering the full spectrum of potential income sources [1] - The goal is to create a well-crafted investment portfolio that generates extra income through dividends while reducing risk through diversification and prioritizing total return [1]

Summary of The Coca-Cola Company Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) - **Event**: 2026 Conference held on February 17, 2026 - **Key Speakers**: Henrique Braun (CEO-elect), John Murphy (CFO) Core Industry Insights - Coca-Cola is positioned strongly within the global consumer staples environment, leveraging a powerful brand portfolio and a scalable system that ensures consistent organic sales growth and resilience across economic cycles [1][2] - The company emphasizes its belief in the beverage industry as a long-term investment opportunity, highlighting vast potential for consumer and customer value creation [5] Financial Performance - Coca-Cola achieved a significant milestone with an EPS of $3, marking a sustainable growth trajectory in both top-line and bottom-line performance [4] - The company generated over $80 billion in free cash flow since 2017, with a return on invested capital nearly double that of its consumer packaged goods peers [29] Strategic Priorities - **Enduring Strengths**: Coca-Cola identifies three key beliefs that will guide its future: 1. The beverage industry is the best sector to be in, with vast opportunities ahead [5] 2. The ability to build billion-dollar brands sustainably, increasing from 30 to 32 such brands recently [6] 3. An unparalleled system of collaboration with bottlers, enhancing operational efficiency and market reach [7][10] - **New Principles for Growth**: The company plans to focus on: 1. Becoming more consumer-centric, enhancing engagement through insights and innovation [12] 2. Integrating digital strategies into all aspects of operations to amplify existing strengths [12][23] 3. Fostering local intimacy while maintaining global scalability in marketing efforts [13][14] Innovation and Brand Development - Coca-Cola has streamlined its brand portfolio from over 400 to less than 170 brands, improving innovation success rates [19] - The company aims to leverage insights from local markets to accelerate innovation and brand development, focusing on building multi-billion dollar brands [21] Operational Efficiency - Coca-Cola is committed to margin expansion while investing in brand and market growth, emphasizing gross margin discipline and a future-ready supply chain [32][33] - The company is transitioning to an asset-light model, enhancing collaboration with partners to optimize resource allocation [34][36] Digital Transformation - Digital initiatives are seen as a "superpower" for Coca-Cola, with plans to leverage data for competitive advantage and improve consumer engagement [23][24] - The company is focused on integrating digital platforms into marketing strategies, exemplified by its approach to the FIFA World Cup campaign [14][18] Future Outlook - Coca-Cola expects high single-digit EPS growth supported by currency tailwinds and continued investment in brands and markets [27] - The company is optimistic about its long-term growth algorithm and the strength of its ecosystem, aiming to optimize capital structure and maximize shareholder returns [41] Conclusion - Coca-Cola is poised for continued growth, driven by a strong operational model, strategic focus on consumer engagement, and a commitment to innovation and digital transformation [42]