CocaCola (NYSE:KO) Reaches New 52-Week High on Analyst Upgrade

CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO) shares reached a new 52-week high on Thursday after Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on the stock from $84.00 to $88.00. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. CocaCola traded as high as $78.11 and last traded at $77.31, with a volume of 28590343 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $76.89.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on KO. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of CocaCola from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of CocaCola from $75.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of CocaCola in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Evercore ISI reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of CocaCola in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $82.00 target price on shares of CocaCola in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and fifteen have assigned a Buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, CocaCola presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $80.43.

Insider Activity at CocaCola

In related news, EVP Nancy Quan sold 31,625 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.17, for a total transaction of $2,250,751.25. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 223,330 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,894,396.10. This represents a 12.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Henrique Braun sold 40,390 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.93, for a total value of $2,864,862.70. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 62,621 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,441,707.53. This trade represents a 39.21% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 211,704 shares of company stock valued at $15,005,595 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.97% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about CocaCola

Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies raised its price target on KO to $88 and kept a Buy rating, signaling analyst conviction and providing near‑term upside support for the shares. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks highlights Coca‑Cola’s strong history of earnings surprises and says KO currently has the setup (metrics and momentum) that makes another quarterly beat likely — a catalyst that can lift the stock into earnings. Will Coca‑Cola (KO) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large options activity flagged bullish positioning: traders bought roughly 68,341 call contracts (about +35% vs. the call average), which can amplify upside if short‑term momentum continues.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst/strategy coverage (Zacks) points to KO’s “all‑weather” playbook — marketing, innovation and portfolio strength — supporting steady growth through cycles, reinforcing its defensive, dividend‑oriented appeal. Coca‑Cola’s All‑Weather Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary (Motley Fool) reiterates KO’s low‑risk, dividend‑king status and portfolio reshaping to match consumer trends — a narrative that attracts long‑term income investors. Could Buying Coca‑Cola Today Set You Up for Life?
• Neutral Sentiment: Barron’s warns the consumer‑staples group (including KO) has become frothy after a strong run; that raises valuation risk if broader sentiment rotates back into cyclicals or risk assets. Staples Stocks Are Known for Safety. Now They Look Way Too Frothy.
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple previews note KO is headed into a scheduled quarterly report and a CEO transition period; coverage pieces focus on valuation and timing rather than new business risks — important background but not immediate upside/downside. Assessing Coca‑Cola (KO) Valuation
• Negative Sentiment: Prediction‑market activity has put Coca‑Cola’s Super Bowl plans under regulatory scrutiny, introducing a potential reputational/regulatory overhang that could create short‑term volatility if investigations follow. Prediction Markets Put Coca‑Cola Super Bowl Plans Under Regulatory Spotlight

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CocaCola

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in CocaCola by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 367,441,971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,996,519,000 after acquiring an additional 6,241,163 shares during the last quarter. Aberdeen Group plc grew its holdings in shares of CocaCola by 5.0% in the second quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 4,557,668 shares of the company’s stock worth $322,455,000 after purchasing an additional 216,752 shares during the last quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in CocaCola in the 2nd quarter worth about $22,443,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in CocaCola by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 2,051,957 shares of the company’s stock valued at $136,086,000 after buying an additional 57,407 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its position in CocaCola by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 10,408,798 shares of the company’s stock valued at $690,311,000 after buying an additional 198,886 shares during the period. 70.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CocaCola Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $332.56 billion, a PE ratio of 25.60, a PEG ratio of 3.95 and a beta of 0.36. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $71.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30.

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.