The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) Short Interest Down 11.6% in January

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 29,590,000 shares, a decline of 11.6% from the January 15th total of 33,490,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 17,330,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.7 days. Currently, 0.7% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Coca-Cola Stock Performance

Shares of KO traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $68.99. 15,565,781 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 16,839,197. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $63.15 and its 200 day moving average is $66.36. The stock has a market cap of $297.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.06. Coca-Cola has a 1-year low of $57.93 and a 1-year high of $73.53.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.04. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.45% and a return on equity of 44.01%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Coca-Cola will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Coca-Cola

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the third quarter worth $35,000. Mainstream Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the third quarter worth $36,000. Finally, MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the third quarter worth $43,000. 70.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on KO. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $69.00 price target on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Coca-Cola from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. DZ Bank upgraded Coca-Cola from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $75.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $73.82.

Coca-Cola Company Profile

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.