The Coca-Cola Company research snapshot

KO AI Stock Analysis

KO AI stock analysis reads Coca-Cola as a durable consumer staples compounder whose Q2 2026 report added momentum to the thesis. As of the August 2, 2026 data cutoff, KO closed at $87.59 on July 31, 2026 with an implied market capitalization of about $376.86 billion. Q2 2026 delivered 6% organic revenue growth, 5% unit case volume growth, an 11% rise in comparable EPS to $0.97, record FIFA World Cup engagement, and raised 2026 guidance for comparable EPS growth of 9% to 10%. The catch is price: at about 26.3x trailing earnings and 2.42% dividend yield, the market already pays for stable execution, so the analysis supports scenario thinking rather than a fixed buy signal.

Current price

$87.59

Market cap

$376.86 billion

AI score

76 / 100

Rating

Quality compounder with momentum, full valuation

Trend status

Constructive uptrend, near the 52-week high zone

Data cutoff (updated monthly)

August 4, 2026

Informational use only. This page is not investment advice.

Research quality check

information Richness
A-level information richness. Coca-Cola is a mega-cap with detailed SEC filings, broad analyst coverage, mature financial history, live technical data, and frequent management commentary across investor calls and press releases.
bias Check
The main AI research risk is consensus comfort after a strong quarter. This page checks the opposite case: whether a 5% volume quarter inflated by a FIFA World Cup one-off and easy comparisons can repeat, whether the higher P/E relative to most of the Magnificent 7 is justified, and what happens if the IRS dispute, CCBA divestiture, or currency swing. Goldmans Neutral rating at $86 is a reminder that not everyone is paying up.
ai Confidence
High for historical financials, Q2 2026 reported figures, balance sheet math, valuation ratios, and analyst targets that all cross-validated across StockAnalysis.com, the Q2 2026 earnings call, and press coverage. Medium for forward scenarios because volume mix, currency, consumer demand, the IRS case, and exit multiples can shift.
investment Certainty
Medium-high for business durability and dividend consistency, medium for entry price. KO is easier to underwrite than a cyclical or unprofitable business, but at 26x earnings the stock is not priced as a distressed or cheap asset.

Quick verdict table

DimensionConclusionConfidence
Business qualityCoca-Cola monetizes a global portfolio of beverage trademarks through concentrate economics, finished products, and a bottler network in more than 200 countries and territories.High
MoatBrand habit, shelf and cold-drink distribution, bottler relationships, marketing scale, and route-to-market density create a wide moat that is hard to replicate.High
ManagementHenrique Braun, CEO since March 31, 2026, is running a consumer-centric agenda backed by strong Q2 execution, while John Murphy continues as President and CFO and James Quincey serves as Executive Chairman.Medium-high
Financial trendQ2 2026 grew organic revenue 6% and unit case volume 5%, expanded comparable gross margin about 120 basis points, and raised 2026 guidance to 9% to 10% comparable EPS growth.High
ValuationAt $87.59, KO trades at about 26.3x TTM EPS, 7.5x sales, 26.4x TTM free cash flow, and 2.42% dividend yield, which prices in steady execution.Medium
Technical trendKO closed at $87.59 on July 31, 2026, above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages with RSI near 62, a constructive uptrend that has reached the top of its 52-week range.Medium
Risk levelKey risks are full valuation, the ongoing IRS tax dispute, the pending Coca-Cola Beverages Africa divestiture, slower volume growth, currency, and any pullback in the premium staples multiple.Medium-high
AI confidenceThe descriptive analysis has high data confidence because reported figures, market data, and valuation math cross-validated, while return forecasts remain scenario estimates rather than predictions.High data confidence
Investment certaintyBusiness certainty is stronger than valuation certainty. KO can be a high-quality business and still offer only moderate forward return at a full multiple.Medium

KO AI stock forecast

KO AI Stock Forecast Scenarios

The KO AI stock forecast should be read as scenario math, not a fixed target. Using 2026 consensus EPS near $3.30, the July 31, 2026 close near $87.59, and a three-year framework, the tested range spans a bearish area near $66, a base area near $94, and a bullish area near $108 before dividends. The price outcome depends mainly on whether EPS can compound near consensus and what multiple investors pay for defensive staples earnings.

Bullish case

$100 to $113

More likely if comparable EPS compounds near 8% annually, organic growth stays at or above the 4% to 6% long-term algorithm, the FIFA World Cup momentum carries into the second half, currency stays supportive, and investors keep paying a premium staples multiple.

Base case

$86 to $98

More likely if comparable EPS grows near the raised 9% to 10% path for 2026 and then slows to mid-single digits, dividends keep rising, and KO holds roughly a 24x to 25x forward multiple near the $94 consensus target.

Bearish case

$61 to $70

More likely if volume fades after the World Cup, price and mix weaken, the IRS dispute costs more than expected, the CCBA divestiture drags on earnings, consumer demand slows, or higher rates compress defensive consumer-staples multiples toward 19x or lower.

KO AI technical analysis

KO AI Technical Analysis

KO AI technical analysis is constructive but extended as of the August 2, 2026 data cutoff. KO closed at $87.59 on July 31, 2026, after a 5% earnings-day jump, and now sits just below its 52-week high of $90.92 and above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Momentum is positive with RSI near 62, but a stock near the top of a range can mean-revert quickly, so risk controls matter.

LevelValueWhy it matters
Current price$87.59StockAnalysis.com reported the July 31, 2026 close at $87.59, down 1.02% on the day after the post-earnings run.
Near support$84 to $86The earnings-day low near $86.25 and the pre-earnings close near $84 form the first pullback zone. A close below it would weaken the breakout quality.
Moving-average support$82 to $82.40The 50-day moving average was $82.02 on July 31, 2026, a logical trend support area for pullbacks.
Deeper support$76 to $78.50The 200-day moving average near $76.08 marks the deeper trend reference and a major support zone.
Near resistance$89 to $91The 52-week high of $90.92, reached July 29, 2026, is the immediate ceiling, with minor overhead near $89.
50-day SMA$82.02StockAnalysis.com technical statistics reported KO above its 50-day moving average on July 31, 2026.
200-day SMA$76.08StockAnalysis.com reported the 200-day trend line near $76.08, well below the current price.
MomentumRSI 62.4Positive momentum that is not yet overbought. The standard overbought reference is often 70.
VolumeConfirm breakoutsThe July 28 earnings day traded about 34.7 million shares versus a 20-day average near 16.8 million. Breakouts above $89 to $91 are more useful with sustained above-average volume.
VolatilityLow-beta profileKO has a five-year beta near 0.35, so it usually moves less than the market, but defensive names can still gap on earnings, rates, FX, or legal news.
InvalidationClose below $82A decisive break below the 50-day moving average near $82 would weaken the short-term trend setup; a close below the 200-day near $76 would be a more serious signal.

KO AI trading strategy

KO AI Trading Strategy Framework

The KO AI trading strategy below is a framework for research and risk planning, not personal advice. It combines a defensive compounder thesis with technical confirmation and valuation discipline, and it should be updated with live prices and filings before any decision.

Trend-following setup

Watch for KO to hold above the $84 to $86 support zone and to break the $89 to $91 resistance area, ideally toward the 52-week high of $90.92, with volume confirmation near the 20-day average of about 16.8 million shares.

Define the invalidation level before entry. A daily close back below the 50-day moving average near $82 can be used as a rules-based exit signal.

Mean-reversion setup

If KO pulls back toward the low $80s without a break in earnings quality, compare the setup against dividend yield near 2.4%, Q3 volume trends, currency commentary, and IRS case developments.

Avoid assuming every defensive pullback is safe. A break below the 200-day moving average near $76 changes the setup from pullback to trend damage.

Fundamental monitor

Track organic revenue growth, unit case volume, price and mix, comparable gross and operating margins, free cash flow, currency impact, dividend coverage, the CCBA divestiture close, and IRS dispute progress.

Keep scenario ranges updated after earnings. KO can be operationally stable while the stock reprices if rates or staples valuations move.

Investment research summary

Four-master Research Compression

Business essence

Coca-Cola sells branded beverage demand and route-to-market access. Consumers pay for taste, habit, availability, trust, and occasion-based consumption, while bottlers and retailers benefit from brands that pull traffic and repeat purchases.

Moat

The moat comes from brand memory, distribution density, refrigerator and shelf presence, advertising scale, and long-term bottler relationships. It is wide, but not immune to health preferences, local competitors, or consumer trading down.

Munger risk inversion

The thesis fails if the World Cup-driven volume proves temporary, pricing and mix weaken as consumers trade down, the IRS dispute turns costly, the CCBA divestiture pressures earnings, or the market stops paying a premium for slow-growth defensives.

Management

CEO Henrique Braun has delivered visible results in his first full quarter, including 6% organic revenue growth, record FIFA World Cup activation, a 20% volume jump for the relaunched Mr. Pibb, and winning back the Marriott beverage contract after 34 years. The open question is whether the momentum can persist without easy comparisons.

Industry trend

Nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverages are mature in developed markets but still benefit from global population, urbanization, premiumization, zero-sugar formats, sports hydration, and away-from-home occasions, even as consumers face uneven global pressure.

Valuation and margin of safety

At about 26.3x TTM EPS and 7.5x sales with a 2.42% dividend yield, KO depends on steady compounding rather than a low starting multiple. Margin of safety is better on pullbacks or when free cash flow yield improves.

Source-backed data

KO Data Table

Every metric below includes a source and last verification date.

MetricValueSourceLast verified
KO price$87.59 at the July 31, 2026 closeStockAnalysis.com real-time quoteJuly 31, 2026
Market capitalization$376.86 billion, verified as $87.59 x 4.30 billion shares with 0.06% deviationfinancial_rigor.py market cap verificationAugust 2, 2026
Shares outstanding4.30 billion shares outstanding, down about 0.09% year over yearStockAnalysis.com statisticsAugust 1, 2026
Q2 2026 growth6% organic revenue growth, 5% unit case volume growth, 2% price and mix, and a 5% volume gain for trademark Coca-Cola, its strongest in 17 years excluding COVID recoveryCoca-Cola Q2 2026 earnings call and transcriptJuly 28, 2026
Q2 2026 EPS and marginsComparable EPS $0.97, up 11% with a 2-point currency tailwind; comparable gross margin up about 120 basis points and comparable operating margin up about 90 basis pointsCoca-Cola Q2 2026 earnings callJuly 28, 2026
2026 guidanceComparable EPS growth raised to 9% to 10% versus $3.00 in 2025, organic revenue growth of about 5%, and comparable currency-neutral EPS growth of 7% to 8%Coca-Cola Q2 2026 earnings call guidance updateJuly 28, 2026
TTM revenue$50.129 billion as of the quarter ending July 3, 2026, up 6.52% from the prior yearStockAnalysis.com financials, cross-checked with Fiscal.aiJuly 29, 2026
TTM earnings and EPS$14.316 billion net income and $3.33 EPS, up 18.09% from the prior yearStockAnalysis.com financialsJuly 29, 2026
FY2025 revenue and net incomeRevenue $47.941 billion, up 1.87%, and net income $13.107 billion, up 23.29%StockAnalysis.com financials, cross-checked with Coca-Cola 2025 Form 10-KAugust 1, 2026
TTM free cash flowOperating cash flow of $16.342 billion, capital expenditures of $2.045 billion, and free cash flow of $14.297 billion over the trailing twelve monthsStockAnalysis.com cash flow statementAugust 1, 2026
Cash and short-term investments$16.371 billion as of July 3, 2026, with total debt of $43.543 billion and net cash of negative $27.172 billionStockAnalysis.com balance sheetAugust 1, 2026
Valuation metrics26.32x trailing PE, 25.77x forward PE, 7.52x sales, 26.36x P/FCF, 2.42% dividend yieldfinancial_rigor.py valuation verification and StockAnalysis.com statisticsAugust 1, 2026
Dividend$2.12 annual dividend, 2.42% yield, 64 years of dividend growth, and an ex-dividend date of September 15, 2026StockAnalysis.com statistics and dividend pageAugust 1, 2026
Technical snapshot50-day SMA $82.02, 200-day SMA $76.08, RSI 62.4, and 52-week range $65.35 to $90.92StockAnalysis.com statisticsAugust 1, 2026
Analyst consensusBuy with an average 12-month price target of $94.70 across 24 analysts, low $75 and high $104, median $96StockAnalysis.com forecast and analyst ratingsJuly 30, 2026
Analyst rating mix, July 202612 Strong Buy, 7 Buy, 4 Hold, and 1 Sell out of 24 analystsStockAnalysis.com forecast recommendation trendsJuly 30, 2026
Recent analyst target updatesJefferies to $104, UBS to $104, Argus to $97, Morgan Stanley to $100, TD Cowen to $100, Citi to $100, Evercore ISI to $100, RBC to $96, JPMorgan to $96, Piper Sandler to $95, Wells Fargo to $95, Barclays to $93, and Goldman Sachs to $86 with a Neutral ratingStockAnalysis.com forecast latest forecasts and TipRanksJuly 30, 2026
Short interest47.77 million shares short, 1.11% of shares outstanding, and 2.37 days to coverStockAnalysis.com statistics short sellingAugust 1, 2026
2026 and 2027 consensus estimatesFY2026 revenue estimate $49.72B with EPS $3.30, FY2027 revenue $49.82B with EPS $3.53StockAnalysis.com forecast financial forecastJuly 30, 2026
CEO transitionHenrique Braun became CEO effective March 31, 2026; James Quincey transitioned to Executive Chairman and John Murphy remains President and CFOCoca-Cola CEO succession announcement and Q2 2026 earnings callJuly 28, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

This page is an informational research tool only. It is not investment advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold KO. Forecasts are scenario-based estimates from available data and may be wrong. Always verify current filings, prices, dividend data, and your own risk constraints before making decisions.