CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 41,189,418 shares, an increase of 21.5% from the January 29th total of 33,894,174 shares. Approximately 1.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 23,273,059 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 23,273,059 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days. Approximately 1.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

CocaCola Stock Performance

Shares of KO opened at $79.32 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $74.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $70.96. CocaCola has a 12 month low of $65.35 and a 12 month high of $82.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $341.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 0.35.

CocaCola (NYSE:KO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The company reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.02. CocaCola had a return on equity of 41.31% and a net margin of 27.34%.The firm had revenue of $11.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.04 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.55 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. CocaCola has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.210-3.240 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that CocaCola will post 2.96 EPS for the current year.

CocaCola Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This is a positive change from CocaCola’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. CocaCola’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 67.11%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on KO shares. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of CocaCola from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Truist Financial set a $85.00 price target on shares of CocaCola in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $85.00 price target on shares of CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and issued a $83.00 price objective on shares of CocaCola in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on CocaCola from $85.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and fifteen have assigned a Buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $84.33.

More CocaCola News

Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Major brokerages maintain a favorable view—KO was given a consensus “Buy” rating by brokerages, which supports investor confidence and may limit downside pressure. Brokerage Consensus
• Positive Sentiment: KO continues to appear in dividend-focused lists (e.g., retirement/dividend growth roundups), reinforcing its reputation as a dependable income stock for yield-oriented investors and likely supporting long-term demand. Fool: Dividend Stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces and sector screens highlight consumer staples (including KO) as potential earnings-beaters, offering a watchlist signal but not a direct catalyst. These articles may attract attention from dividend and defensive‑fund flows rather than trigger immediate price moves. Zacks: Consumer Staples
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles revisiting Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio moves mention KO in the context of Buffett-era shifts; this is informational and can influence sentiment among value investors but is not a company-specific catalyst. MarketBeat: Berkshire Review
• Neutral Sentiment: Coca‑Cola FEMSA (KOF) proposed a 2026 ordinary dividend payable quarterly—positive for the Coca‑Cola system’s franchise/partner stability, but the direct impact on KO PLC’s stock is limited. TipRanks: KOF Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage on KO’s long dividend streak and a new investor‑relations chief frames a valuation debate—this keeps the stock in focus for income investors but may prolong volatility as market participants reassess fair value. Yahoo Finance: Dividend Streak & IR
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CFO John Murphy sold 72,449 shares (~$5.8M at ~\$80.52), reducing his holding by ~20.6%. Large insider sales can weigh on sentiment and are likely a key driver behind intraday weakness. SEC Form 4

Insider Activity at CocaCola

In other CocaCola news, EVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 21,326 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.75, for a total value of $1,722,074.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 173,728 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,028,536. This trade represents a 10.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Monica Howard Douglas sold 20,000 shares of CocaCola stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.16, for a total value of $1,603,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 57,532 shares in the company, valued at $4,611,765.12. The trade was a 25.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 566,036 shares of company stock valued at $44,410,822 over the last three months. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Anfield Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of CocaCola by 438.8% during the 4th quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 361 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in CocaCola during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in CocaCola by 1,081.8% in the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 390 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in CocaCola in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Daytona Street Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of CocaCola during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.26% of the company’s stock.

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.