HS Management Partners LLC Cuts Position in CocaCola Company (The) $KO

HS Management Partners LLC trimmed its position in shares of CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO) by 45.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 304,453 shares of the company’s stock after selling 255,297 shares during the period. CocaCola comprises about 4.5% of HS Management Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. HS Management Partners LLC’s holdings in CocaCola were worth $21,284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in KO. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of CocaCola by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 374,771,512 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,200,276,000 after buying an additional 5,886,352 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of CocaCola by 15.1% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 39,094,276 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,592,732,000 after buying an additional 5,135,198 shares during the period. Danske Bank A S purchased a new stake in shares of CocaCola during the third quarter worth approximately $226,443,000. PFA Pension Forsikringsaktieselskab purchased a new stake in shares of CocaCola during the fourth quarter worth approximately $179,167,000. Finally, Danica Pension Livsforsikringsaktieselskab purchased a new stake in shares of CocaCola during the third quarter worth approximately $161,130,000. 70.26% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CocaCola Stock Up 0.5%

KO stock opened at $81.56 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. CocaCola Company has a twelve month low of $65.35 and a twelve month high of $82.66. The company’s 50 day moving average is $77.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $74.65. The stock has a market cap of $350.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.65, a PEG ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.35.

CocaCola (NYSE:KO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.05. CocaCola had a net margin of 27.80% and a return on equity of 40.55%. The company had revenue of $12.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $12.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.73 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. CocaCola has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.240-3.270 EPS. Research analysts expect that CocaCola Company will post 3.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CocaCola Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. CocaCola’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.67%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial set a $85.00 target price on shares of CocaCola in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $87.00 price objective on shares of CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $85.00 price objective on shares of CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of CocaCola from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $88.00 price objective on shares of CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $86.80.

CocaCola News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America Securities initiated or reiterated a Buy on Coca-Cola, reinforcing confidence in the company’s earnings durability and long-term outlook. Coca-Cola (KO) Gets a Buy from Bank of America Securities
• Positive Sentiment: Articles emphasizing Coca-Cola as a dividend-growth blue chip and one of Warren Buffett’s favored holdings support the stock’s appeal as a stable, income-oriented investment. Warren Buffett earns a 20% dividend yield-on-cost with Coca-Cola stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry coverage notes that soft-drink companies are still navigating margin and tariff pressures, which could affect the sector but does not point to a Coca-Cola-specific problem. 5 Soft Drinks Stocks to Track Amid Margin & Tariff Pressures
• Neutral Sentiment: Several comparison and “best stock” articles kept Coca-Cola in the spotlight, including bullish long-term income lists and a KO vs. Celsius debate, but these were mostly opinion-driven rather than new fundamentals. Coca-Cola vs. Celsius: Which Consumer Goods Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?
• Negative Sentiment: One recent article framed Coca-Cola as a potential short candidate because the shares have rallied sharply and now trade near highs, raising valuation concerns despite solid fundamentals. Coca-Cola or Philip Morris: Which Is the Better Short Bet Right Now?

Insider Buying and Selling at CocaCola

In other news, CFO John Murphy sold 99,437 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.42, for a total transaction of $7,996,723.54. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 410,550 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,016,431. This trade represents a 19.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Bruno Pietracci sold 28,765 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.41, for a total transaction of $2,284,228.65. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders sold 786,726 shares of company stock valued at $62,547,977. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About CocaCola

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a global beverage manufacturer, marketer and distributor best known for its flagship Coca‑Cola soda. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company develops and sells concentrates, syrups and finished beverages across a broad portfolio of brands. Its product range spans sparkling soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready‑to‑drink teas and coffees, and other still beverages, marketed under both global and regional brand names.

Coca‑Cola’s brand portfolio includes widely recognized names such as Coca‑Cola, Diet Coke, Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid, Powerade and Dasani, and in recent years the company has expanded into the coffee and premium beverage categories through acquisitions such as Costa Coffee.