Coca-Cola Company (The) $KO Stake Increased by Calamos Advisors LLC

Calamos Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Coca-Cola Company (The) (NYSE:KO) by 18.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,139,244 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 173,682 shares during the period. Calamos Advisors LLC’s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $98,066,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Guardian Partners Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the second quarter worth $27,000. Horizons Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Atomic Invest LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 38.7% in the 2nd quarter. Atomic Invest LLC now owns 437 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the period. Timbuktu Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Coca-Cola during the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.26% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Coca-Cola news, insider Bruno Pietracci sold 111,365 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.93, for a total transaction of $10,126,419.45. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 41,365 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,761,319.45. The trade was a 72.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Nancy Quan sold 50,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.39, for a total transaction of $4,519,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 223,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,186,798.70. This trade represents a 18.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 238,871 shares of company stock worth $21,918,267. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Coca-Cola Stock Performance

Shares of KO traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $95.69. 18,418,474 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 16,738,640. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $89.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $82.69. Coca-Cola Company has a 52-week low of $67.27 and a 52-week high of $97.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $411.63 billion, a PE ratio of 28.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.28.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.03. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 38.79% and a net margin of 28.65%. The business had revenue of $13.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.92 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.82 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Coca-Cola Company will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 1st will be paid a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 1st. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Coca-Cola’s payout ratio is 62.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on KO. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $100.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 28th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $86.00 target price (up from $82.00) on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $93.00 price target (up from $83.00) on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $97.26.

Key Headlines Impacting Coca-Cola

Here are the key news stories impacting Coca-Cola this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Coca-Cola shares reportedly reached a record high as investors sought defensive stocks amid a market downturn. Its established brands and dividend income may be attracting buyers looking for more resilient businesses. Coca-Cola Stock Hits Record High as Market Crashes
• Positive Sentiment: Recent articles point to Coca-Cola’s shelf presence, distribution reach and consumer habits as sources of a durable competitive advantage. The company’s ability to raise prices while still growing volume supports the long-term investment case. Coca-Cola Stock Is a Buy Thanks to Shelf Space and Habits
• Positive Sentiment: Investors are also focusing on the company’s 64 consecutive years of dividend increases. Its latest quarterly results beat estimates, with revenue up year over year, and coverage says the company raised its outlook and dividend—supporting its earnings and income appeal. Coca-Cola Earnings Beat Lifts Guidance and Dividend
• Positive Sentiment: Margin expansion despite higher marketing spending, supported by productivity gains and disciplined pricing, suggests Coca-Cola is balancing investment with profitability. Can Coca-Cola Keep Expanding Margins While Investing More?
• Neutral Sentiment: Executive Beatriz Perez sold 67,548 shares, but the reported sale was to cover tax withholding on vested equity awards, making it a limited signal about her view of the business. Coca-Cola EVP Share Sale
• Negative Sentiment: After a strong run this year and a move to record levels, valuation may constrain further gains; one dividend-focused article suggests prospective investors consider waiting before buying. Coca-Cola’s Dividend Record and Valuation

Coca-Cola Company Profile

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a global beverage company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1886, it is best known for Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most recognized soft drink brands.

The company owns, licenses, and markets a broad portfolio of beverages, including sparkling soft drinks, water, sports drinks, coffee, tea, juice, dairy and plant-based beverages, and energy drinks. Its brands include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani, smartwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, fairlife, and Costa Coffee, among others.

The Coca-Cola Company serves consumers in more than 200 countries and territories through a system that includes company-operated operations, independent bottling partners, distributors, retailers, and food-service providers.