SageGuard Financial Group LLC cut its holdings in CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO – Free Report) by 13.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 211,501 shares of the company’s stock after selling 32,769 shares during the period. CocaCola comprises approximately 2.5% of SageGuard Financial Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. SageGuard Financial Group LLC’s holdings in CocaCola were worth $16,085,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in KO. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of CocaCola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,865,807,000. Cardano Risk Management B.V. lifted its stake in CocaCola by 867.2% in the 4th quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 14,432,190 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,008,954,000 after purchasing an additional 12,939,959 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in CocaCola by 1,206.9% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 10,641,007 shares of the company’s stock valued at $743,913,000 after purchasing an additional 9,826,768 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of CocaCola by 29.2% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 40,182,323 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,809,146,000 after purchasing an additional 9,078,447 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of CocaCola by 98.7% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 12,573,527 shares of the company’s stock worth $879,015,000 after purchasing an additional 6,246,627 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.26% of the company’s stock.
CocaCola Price Performance
Shares of NYSE:KO opened at $82.63 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $355.51 billion, a PE ratio of 25.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.36. CocaCola Company has a 52-week low of $65.35 and a 52-week high of $84.04. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $79.44 and a 200 day moving average of $76.32.
CocaCola Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 1st. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th 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 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. CocaCola’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.67%.
Insider Activity at CocaCola
In other CocaCola news, Chairman James Quincey sold 436,296 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.13, for a total transaction of $34,960,398.48. Following the transaction, the chairman directly owned 122,833 shares in the company, valued at $9,842,608.29. This trade represents a 78.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Jennifer K. Mann sold 100,000 shares of CocaCola stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.46, for a total transaction of $7,946,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 181,384 shares in the company, valued at $14,412,772.64. This trade represents a 35.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. In the last three months, insiders have sold 899,905 shares of company stock valued at $71,832,315. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.
Key CocaCola News
Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:
- Positive Sentiment: 24/7 Wall St. issued a bullish view on KO, calling it a quality compounder with a price target of $90.07, implying about 12% upside and recommending the stock as a buy. Coca Cola Price Prediction: The Case for 12% Upside
- Positive Sentiment: Zacks highlighted Coca-Cola as one of four defensive stocks to own as inflation rises, reinforcing KO’s appeal as a stable consumer staples name in a more uncertain macro environment. Buy 4 Defensive Stocks as Inflation Hits Highest Level in 3 Years
- Positive Sentiment: Growth rankings also looked supportive, with an article noting Monster Beverage and Coca-Cola leading S&P 500 consumer staples stocks by growth grades, which may help sentiment around KO’s fundamental profile. Monster Beverage, Coca-Cola lead S&P 500 consumer staples stocks by growth grades
- Neutral Sentiment: The company announced a leadership transition in its North America operating unit, with Jennifer Mann stepping down and CFO John Murphy taking over temporarily. This is operationally important, but the market impact is likely limited unless it signals broader strategic changes. The Coca-Cola Company Announces Leadership Transition for North America Operating Unit
- Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also watching the company’s long-running $20 billion IRS tax dispute, which has reached a promising stage in court but still represents a potential overhang on long-term cash flow and taxes. Coca-Cola’s longstanding $20B tax case is off to a promising start in the courtroom
- Negative Sentiment: Recent analysis questioning whether the current share price is justified after a roughly 19% one-year decline could temper enthusiasm, even though the stock remains viewed by some as attractively valued. Coca-Cola (KO) Stock After 19% Year Loss Is The Current Price Justified?
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on KO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on CocaCola from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 30th. Morgan Stanley set a $89.00 price target on CocaCola in a report on Wednesday, June 10th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on CocaCola from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of CocaCola in a report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of CocaCola from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $86.88.
Get Our Latest Research Report on CocaCola
CocaCola Profile
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.
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