The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is included among the 12 Best Dogs of the Dow to Invest in. Coca-Cola (KO) Struggles to Salvage Costa Coffee Sale The company’s plan to sell Costa Coffee is close to falling apart, according to a report by The Financial Times. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) held what were meant to be last-ditch talks with private equity firm TDR Capital over the weekend, hoping to keep the process alive. People familiar with the situation say the discussions failed to gain traction. TDR ...

In September 1919, the Coca-Cola Company (KO) went public at $40 per share. At the time, the world was emerging from World War I, the automobile was still a luxury, and soft drinks were sold primarily at soda fountains. Few investors could have imagined that a single share purchased back then, and patiently held, would one day be worth $29.4 million by December 2025 (assuming dividends were reinvested along the way). Yet that is precisely what long-term data shows. The staggering figure is not the result ...

Upgrades - Morgan Stanley upgraded Rollins (ROL) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $72, up from $58, citing the company as a "best-in-class" operator with durable demand drivers and structural tailwinds [2] - DA Davidson upgraded Guidewire (GWRE) to Buy from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $246, viewing the recent 20% pullback as an opportunity for investors seeking high-quality application software leaders [3] - Jefferies upgraded Procter & Gamble (PG) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $179, up from $156, noting a stabilizing consumer backdrop and easier comparisons entering 2026 [4] - Wells Fargo upgraded Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $195, up from $170, believing in the sustainability of comparable sales momentum [5] - RBC Capital upgraded Airbnb (ABNB) to Outperform from Sector Perform with a price target of $170, up from $145, highlighting an attractive brand monetization story in the evolving consumer AI landscape [6] Downgrades - Jefferies downgraded Constellation Brands (STZ) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $154, down from $170, due to prolonged fears among Hispanic consumers affecting top-line results [7] - JPMorgan downgraded CyberArk (CYBR) to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $474, up from $443, following the announcement of its takeover by Palo Alto Networks expected to close in the first half of 2026 [7] - JPMorgan downgraded Fortinet (FTNT) to Underweight from Neutral with a price target of $75, down from $85, as the company faces headwinds from ongoing platform consolidation trends [7] - Jefferies downgraded Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $32, citing heavy debt, coffee price volatility, and a new financing structure [7] - Barclays downgraded MGM Resorts (MGM) to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target of $38, down from $42, expressing mixed views on various gaming sectors and a negative outlook on Las Vegas [7]

On CNBC's “Halftime Report Final Trades,” Malcolm Ethridge, managing partner at Capital Area Planning Group, named The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) as his final trade.According to recent reports, Goldman Sachs agreed on Dec. 1 to acquire Innovator Capital Management for approximately $2.0 billion. The company expects to pay the amount in cash and equity. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.Stephanie Link, chief inv ...

Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH) is among the consumer defensive stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 12, Matthew Smith, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, reaffirmed the ‘Buy’ rating on Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH), while setting a price target of $60, which suggests an upside potential of about 37%. Just two days earlier, Morgan Stanley analyst Eric Serotta also reiterated the ‘Buy’ rating on Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH) and a $64 price target. This reflects an upside potenti ...

Lagfin, the Luxembourg-based holding company that controls the majority of Campari’s voting rights, has agreed to pay €405m ($474.5m) to settle a tax dispute in Italy. The company said yesterday (16 December) it had opted for a settlement “to protect the interests of all Campari shareholders”. Lagfin, which controls 80% of Campari’s voting rights, had had €1.3bn ($1.49bn) worth of shares seized by the Italian authorities, which had accusing the investor of tax evasion. On 1 November, Italy’s financial ...

Core Viewpoint - Asahi Group Holdings is acquiring Diageo's business in Kenya for $2.3 billion, which includes a 65% stake in East African Breweries and a 53.7% shareholding in UDVK, marking Asahi's first asset acquisition in the region [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition includes Diageo's majority stake in East African Breweries, which markets popular beer brands such as Tusker and Serengeti Lager [1] - Asahi aims to establish a foundation for medium- to long-term growth in Kenya and the East African market, driven by population growth and economic expansion [2] - Diageo has previously engaged in asset disposals in Africa, including the sale of its stake in Guinness Ghana Breweries for $81 million [2][3] Group 2: Strategic Implications - Diageo will enter into long-term licensing agreements and transitional service agreements with EABL, allowing EABL to produce Diageo's spirits brands under license [4] - The transaction is expected to deliver significant value for Diageo shareholders and strengthen its balance sheet, with a focus on maintaining a target leverage ratio of 2.5 to three times [6] - Asahi plans to maintain EABL's listing status and will not increase its stake beyond 65% [6] Group 3: Management Perspectives - Diageo's interim CEO indicated that the company could make substantial changes to its product portfolio through further asset disposals [5] - Asahi's CEO highlighted the high-quality nature of the acquired business, emphasizing its strong market position and commitment to sustainable growth and local economic development [7]

Core Viewpoint - The deal values East African Breweries at an enterprise value of $4.8 billion as reported by Diageo [1] Company Summary - East African Breweries is positioned with an enterprise value of $4.8 billion following the deal [1] Industry Summary - The transaction reflects significant valuation metrics within the beverage industry, particularly in the East African market [1]

The U.K. drinks group said it would sell its 65% shareholding in East African Breweries. - Reuters Diageo is to sell its majority stakes in two Kenyan drinks businesses to Japanese brewer Asahi for proceeds of around $2.3 billion. The U.K. drinks group, which makes Guinness beer, Smirnoff vodka and Gordon’s gin, said it would sell its 65% shareholding in East African Breweries, or EABL, and its roughly 54% stake in distiller UDVK to Asahi. The remaining shares of UDVK are held by EABL. Most Read from T ...

Mergers and Acquisitions - Diageo 同意以 23 亿美元的价格将其在 East African Breweries 的多数股权出售给 Asahi [1]