KO AI Stock Analysis – Buy, Hold, or Avoid?

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The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

Fundamentals

Essentia
Essentia
Fundamental Analysis
BULLISH

Coca-Cola (KO) demonstrates robust financial health with consistent top-line growth, resilient profitability, and reliable earnings delivery. The company leverages its global dominance in non-alcoholic beverages to produce stable revenue and cash flow, which supports attractive shareholder returns even during economic cycles.

Financial Highlights

Q1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025Q4 2025Q1 2026$0$3.5B$7.0B$10.5B$14.0BRevenue & Net Income ($)16%20%24%28%32%Net Margin (%)
  • Revenue
  • Net Income
  • Net Margin (%)

Revenue

$12.47B

12.07% YoY

Q1 2026

Net Income

$3.92B

17.84% YoY

Q1 2026

Net Margin

31.46%

Q1 2026

Growth Metrics

Revenue Growth YoY

12.07%

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

Net Income Growth YoY

17.84%

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

Revenue Per Share Growth YoY

12.07%

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

EPS Growth YoY

18.18%

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

Book Value Per Share Growth YoY

28.75%

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

 Q1 2026Q4 2025Q3 2025Q2 2025Q1 2025Q4 2024Q3 2024Q2 2024
Revenue12.5B11.8B12.5B12.5B11.1B11.5B11.9B12.4B
Revenue Growth YoY+12.07%+2.41%+5.07%+1.39%-1.51%+6.41%-0.83%+3.27%
Net Income3.9B2.3B3.7B3.8B3.3B2.2B2.8B2.4B
Net Income Growth YoY+17.84%+3.46%+29.78%+58.03%+4.82%+11.25%-7.74%-5.34%
EPS$0.91$0.53$0.86$0.89$0.77$0.51$0.66$0.56
EPS Growth YoY+18.18%+3.92%+30.30%+58.93%+4.05%+10.87%-7.04%-5.08%

Profitability Metrics

Technical Analysis

Candela
Candela
Technical Analysis
BULLISH

KO is currently in a strong uptrend with price trading above key moving averages and a golden cross in place. Momentum is neutral but stable, supporting further upside potential in the near term. The stock is in the advancing phase with signs of institutional accumulation and minimal downside risk from a technical perspective.

RSI
Hold
Neutral64

No extreme reading

03070100
Trend
Buy
Strong Uptrend

Price in uptrend

+10.7% from 200 SMA
ADX
Hold
Moderate Trend22

Trend developing

Moderate
MA Cross
Buy
Above 50/200

50 above 200 - bullish

50
200

Key Technical Values

Price
$80.03
50 SMA
$76.91
150 SMA
$73.63
200 SMA
$72.27
52W High
$82.00
52W Low
$65.35

Price with Moving Averages

50-day, 150-day and 200-day simple moving averages

Price
50 SMA
150 SMA
200 SMA

Relative Strength Index

Momentum oscillator measuring speed and magnitude of price changes

RSI (14)

≤30 Oversold
≥70 Overbought
64Neutral

Earnings

Essentia
Essentia
Fundamental Analysis
BULLISH

Coca-Cola (KO) demonstrates robust financial health with consistent top-line growth, resilient profitability, and reliable earnings delivery. The company leverages its global dominance in non-alcoholic beverages to produce stable revenue and cash flow, which supports attractive shareholder returns even during economic cycles.

Latest Earnings

Q1 2026 Earnings (Apr 3, 2026)

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Beat

Actual

$0.86

Estimated

$0.81

Surprise

+$0.05

Surprise %

+5.91%

Revenue

Beat

Actual

$12.47B

Estimated

$12.24B

Surprise

+$234.75M

Surprise %

+1.92%

Historical Earnings

 Q1 2026Q4 2025Q3 2025Q2 2025Q1 2025Q4 2024Q3 2024Q2 2024
Earnings Per Share
EPS (Actual)$0.86$0.58$0.82$0.87$0.73$0.55$0.77$0.84
EPS (Estimated)$0.81$0.56$0.78$0.83$0.71$0.52$0.74$0.81
EPS Surprise+$0.05+$0.02+$0.04+$0.04+$0.02+$0.03+$0.03+$0.03
% Diff+5.9%+2.7%+5.3%+4.3%+2.2%+6.2%+4.1%+4.2%
Revenue
Revenue (Actual)$12.47B$11.8B$12.46B$12.54B$11.13B$11.54B$11.85B$12.36B
Revenue (Estimated)$12.24B$12.05B$12.41B$12.57B$11.16B$10.68B$11.61B$11.78B
Revenue Surprise+$234.75M-$249.71M+$49.93M-$32.13M-$29.33M+$861.94M+$243.77M+$587.28M
% Diff+1.9%-2.1%+0.4%-0.3%-0.3%+8.1%+2.1%+5.0%

Valuation

Valorem
Valorem
Valuation Analysis
FAIRLY VALUED

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) exhibits a strong fundamental profile with consistent revenue and earnings growth supported by robust margins and efficient capital returns. Valuation metrics indicate a premium but generally justified valuation given the company's durable competitive advantages, steady cash flows, and growth initiatives. Market sentiment remains positive with a buy consensus from analysts and solid recent results, though some caution is warranted from supply chain risks and geopolitical factors.

Valuation Metrics

Price to Earnings

24.70

TTM

Price to Sales

6.87

TTM

Price to Book

10.06

TTM

Enterprise Value to EBITDA

19.97

TTM

Enterprise Value to Revenue

7.54

TTM

 Q1 2026Q4 2025Q3 2025Q2 2025Q1 2025Q4 2024Q3 2024Q2 2024
Price to Earnings21.0333.1119.1119.8622.7330.5627.1728.44
Price to Sales26.4625.4422.6924.1427.2023.2426.1122.18
Price to Book9.819.359.0410.5911.5510.7911.6710.61
Enterprise Value to EBITDA78.6092.5865.5262.0472.9086.2283.9281.93
Enterprise Value to Revenue29.1328.4225.4727.3230.8626.2428.8424.62

Sentiment & Analyst Ratings

Pulse
Pulse
Sentiment Analysis
POSITIVE

The market sentiment for Coca-Cola (KO) is broadly positive, supported by strong Q1 2026 earnings and an optimistic outlook for organic revenue and EPS growth. Analysts maintain a consensus Buy rating with price targets suggesting a moderate upside from current price levels. Social media sentiment shows a predominantly neutral tone with pockets of criticism related to marketing approaches using AI, but overall retail investor interest remains stable.

Analyst Recommendations

As of May 1, 2026
Strong SellSellHoldBuyStrong Buy
Buy
4.1 / 5.0
Based on 24 analyst ratings
Strong Sell
0
Sell
0
Hold
5
Buy
12
Strong Buy
7

Risk Assessment

Sentinel
Sentinel
Risk Assessment
MODERATE

Coca-Cola (KO) presents a moderately healthy financial profile with stable liquidity and manageable debt levels, supported by strong brand resilience and consistent revenue growth expectations. However, significant risks such as a major IRS tax dispute, competitive pressures in the performance beverage segment, and economic/cost headwinds temper the outlook. Market sentiment remains positive with strong analyst buy consensus and moderate upside potential.

Liquidity & Solvency

Current Ratio

1.36

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

Quick Ratio

1.15

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

Debt-to-Equity

1.30

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

Debt-to-Assets

0.42

Latest Quarter: Q1 2026

 Q1 2026Q4 2025Q3 2025Q2 2025Q1 2025Q4 2024Q3 2024Q2 2024
Liquidity Metrics
Current Ratio1.361.461.211.211.101.031.061.08
Quick Ratio1.151.251.000.980.890.840.900.92
Solvency Metrics
Debt-to-Equity1.301.411.521.731.871.831.741.69
Debt-to-Assets0.420.430.450.470.480.450.440.43

Liquidity Assessment

Current Ratio: 1.36(Adequate)

Quick Ratio: 1.15(Strong)

The company has adequate liquidity but may face challenges in a downturn.

Solvency Assessment

Debt-to-Equity: 1.30(High)

Debt-to-Assets: 0.42(Moderate)

The company has relatively high debt levels, which may increase financial risk in economic downturns.

Frequently Asked Questions about KO

AI Answers: Common Questions About KO

Get AI-powered answers to the questions investors ask most about The Coca-Cola Company

KO is a good buy at current levels for most investors: it trades at $78.42 with a P/E of 24.74, reflecting a premium but justified by strong fundamentals, expanding margins (gross margin >61%), and reliable growth. Technicals are bullish, and analyst targets suggest upside toward $86-$90. While not a deep value play, KO offers stability, income, and moderate capital appreciation potential.

There is no compelling reason to sell KO now unless you have a very short-term focus or are highly risk-averse to the IRS litigation. Fundamentals remain strong, technicals are bullish (price above all major SMAs), and sentiment is positive. Only a major negative development (e.g., adverse tax ruling) would warrant a change in thesis.

The biggest risks are the unresolved IRS tax dispute (potential $18B liability), elevated leverage (debt-to-equity >1.3), and external pressures like inflation, FX volatility, and regulatory changes (e.g., sugar taxes). While liquidity is healthy (current ratio 1.36), these risks could impact margins or earnings if they materialize.

Technically, KO faces resistance at $82 (52-week high) and could extend to $85 on a breakout; analyst targets cluster at $86-$90, implying 10-15% upside from current price. Support is strong at $77 (50 SMA) and $72 (200 SMA), limiting downside risk in the near term.

KO is fairly valued: its P/E of 24.74 and elevated EV/EBITDA are above sector averages but justified by its strong growth, margins, and brand. The premium reflects investor confidence in steady cash flow and dividend growth; valuation is in line with KO's historical range and sector leaders.

KO is fundamentally strong, with consistent revenue and EPS growth (FY2025 EPS up 23.6%), expanding margins (operating margin 28.7%), and robust free cash flow supporting dividends and buybacks. Liquidity and solvency are solid, though leverage is higher than historical norms.

Technical analysis is bullish: KO is in a strong uptrend with a golden cross (50 SMA above 200 SMA), RSI is neutral at 56.8 (no overbought/oversold), and price is above all major moving averages. Key resistance is at $82, with a breakout potentially targeting $85.

Key catalysts include upcoming earnings (with potential for further beats and guidance raises), resolution of the IRS tax dispute, and continued success in premium/zero-sugar products and emerging markets. Macro events like FX moves and commodity costs also bear watching.

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