Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter financial results before the markets open on Tuesday. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters call for $0.37 in earnings per share (EPS) on $9.91 billion in revenue. In the same period of the previous year, the beverage giant posted EPS of $0.44 and revenue of $10.90 billion.
Coca-Cola is the world’s biggest brand, the largest manufacturer of soft-drink concentrate and syrups and a top consumer staples stock. It enjoys a 50% share of the world’s carbonated soft drink market and 44% share of the U.S. market. The iconic beverage company sells many well-known brands, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid, Powerade, Schweppes, Dasani, Glacéau Vitaminwater, Gold Peak and FUZE TEA.
The stock also remains one of the key holdings in Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio.
The company continues to grow its portfolio of brands as consumers’ diets shift. But note that over 70% of its profits are derived outside of the United States. It said in its third quarter report that it expected full-year 2015 comparable currency neutral EPS growth of 5%, excluding the impact of a 7% currency exchange rate headwind and a net impact of 1% due to structural items.
The company recently announced that Masters and the U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth will become an ambassador for the brand’s sports marketing campaigns and beyond. The new multiyear partnership will feature Spieth in television advertising; digital and social media; point-of-sale, out-of-home and experiential marketing; packaging; and more. Golf fans can expect to see Spieth promote the company’s Dasani brand as well, and he will become a member of Coca-Cola’s 6-Pack of Olympians and Paralympians during the run up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Golf returns to Olympic competition for the first time since 1904.
24/7 Wall St.Merrill Lynch has selected Coca-Cola as one of its top 10 picks for 2016. The analyst noted that the stock is underweighted by managers and is well positioned to grow its dividend.
Susquehanna recently raised the stock to a Neutral rating from Negative, due to the limited downside now. The firm also raised its price target from $33.00 to $40.00, and even suggested Anheuser-Busch might be interested in the company down the road.
Rival PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) is expected to report later in the week. The consensus forecast calls for declines on the top and bottom lines there too.
So far in 2016, Coca-Cola has outperformed the broad markets, with the stock down less than 2% year to date. Shares are trading at about the same level as a year ago.
The stock was trading down fractionally at $42.39 on Monday, with a consensus analyst price target of $46.00 and a 52-week trading range of $36.56 to $43.91.
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