Quick verdict: COKE vs KO in 2026

The overall edge in this coke vs ko stock comparison 2026 falls to KO, leading in 7 out of 11 comparable metrics. COKE emerges as the growth leader with a higher revenue growth rate and appears cheaper on traditional valuation multiples like P/E and P/B, while KO clearly dominates in terms of profitability margins, analyst favorability, and potential upside according to DCF and price targets. For income investors, KO offers a modest dividend yield, whereas COKE currently does not. Not investment advice.

COKE vs KO: key metrics side by side

Full side-by-side comparison of COKE and KO across valuation, profitability, growth and analyst sentiment. Data updated 2026-05-07.

COKE vs KO valuation comparison

When considering COKE vs KO valuation, Coca-Cola Consolidated (COKE) appears more attractive on conventional multiples. COKE trades at a P/E ratio of 20.57x, which is lower than The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO) P/E of 24.88x. Furthermore, COKE’s P/B ratio is reported at -18.49x, significantly below KO’s 10.13x. While a negative P/B can indicate potential balance sheet issues such as negative shareholders’ equity, it often makes the stock appear ‘cheaper’ on this metric, but warrants deeper investigation into its financial structure.

However, the discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis presents a contrasting picture for the coke vs ko fundamentals and valuation. KO’s DCF suggests a substantial upside of +36.3%, indicating that its current price of $79.23 is considerably below its estimated intrinsic value of $108.0. In contrast, COKE’s DCF of $194.49 suggests a downside of -7.6% from its current price of $210.52. This disparity highlights that while COKE may seem cheaper on P/E and P/B, KO offers a more compelling value proposition based on its future cash flow generation.

COKE vs KO growth comparison

In a direct COKE vs KO growth comparison, Coca-Cola Consolidated (COKE) exhibits stronger recent revenue momentum. COKE reported a revenue growth of +4.8% year-over-year, outperforming The Coca-Cola Company (KO), which posted a +1.9% revenue growth. This higher percentage growth for COKE suggests it is expanding its top line at a faster pace, which could appeal to investors seeking companies with more dynamic sales trajectories, especially within the mature beverage industry.

Despite COKE’s faster growth rate, it is crucial to consider the scale of operations. COKE’s total revenue is $7.23 billion, while KO’s is significantly larger at $47.94 billion. While COKE demonstrates greater agility in percentage growth, KO’s substantial revenue base means even a smaller percentage increase translates into a much larger absolute revenue gain. KO also operates with superior margins, with a net margin of 27.8% and EBITDA margin of 37.77% compared to COKE’s 7.72% and 14.67%, respectively. These higher margins provide KO with more capital to reinvest in its business for future growth initiatives or to return to shareholders, potentially reinforcing its long-term stability and underlying growth capacity despite a slower recent percentage growth.

COKE vs KO profitability

Evaluating COKE vs KO profitability reveals a significant advantage for The Coca-Cola Company (KO) in terms of operational efficiency and net income generation. KO boasts a robust net margin of 27.8% and an impressive EBITDA margin of 37.77%. These figures demonstrate KO’s strong pricing power and highly efficient global operations, allowing it to convert a large portion of its revenue into profit. This level of profitability is characteristic of a dominant brand with extensive market reach and effective cost management.

In contrast, Coca-Cola Consolidated (COKE) has a net margin of 7.72% and an EBITDA margin of 14.67%. While respectable, these margins are substantially lower than KO’s, reflecting its role as a bottler and distributor, which typically entails higher operational costs and thinner profit margins compared to the brand owner. Both companies report N/A% for Return on Equity (ROE), indicating that this metric is currently not calculable or relevant based on provided data, likely due to negative equity for COKE. However, in terms of free cash flow (FCF) yield, COKE stands at 3.76%, marginally higher than KO’s 3.68%, suggesting that both companies generate a comparable amount of free cash flow relative to their market capitalization, despite KO’s superior net profitability. KO clearly generates more cash on an absolute basis due to its sheer size and higher margins.

Analyst ratings: COKE vs KO

The analyst consensus on COKE vs KO presents a stark contrast in sentiment and outlook. The Coca-Cola Company (KO) benefits from extensive coverage, with 48 analysts providing ratings. A significant 60.4% of these analysts recommend a “Buy” for KO, and the overall consensus is a “Buy.” Their collective price target for KO is $85.71, suggesting an attractive upside of +8.2% from its current price of $79.23, indicating confidence in its future performance and potential for appreciation.

Conversely, Coca-Cola Consolidated (COKE) receives minimal analyst attention, with only 1 analyst covering the stock. This lone analyst does not recommend a “Buy” (0.0% buy rating), and the consensus is a “Hold.” More critically, the target price set for COKE is $0, implying a substantial downside of -100.0% from its current price of $210.52. This highly negative target suggests that the single analyst covering COKE perceives it as significantly overvalued or facing severe long-term challenges, making KO the overwhelmingly preferred choice among analysts based on both quantity and quality of recommendations.

Should I buy COKE or KO stock in 2026?

For growth investors looking for a company expanding its top line, COKE (Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.) could appear more appealing in the short term, given its 4.8% year-over-year revenue growth compared to KO’s (The Coca-Cola Company) 1.9%. This makes COKE the faster-growing entity by percentage within the Coca-Cola ecosystem. However, KO, despite slower percentage growth, is a much larger and more established global brand with significantly higher profitability margins (Net margin 27.8% vs 7.72%), suggesting a more robust underlying business model capable of generating substantial absolute revenue and profit gains over the long term, even with a more modest growth rate.

When considering should i buy coke or ko stock 2026 for value, COKE presents a mixed signal. It trades at a lower P/E ratio of 20.57x compared to KO’s 24.88x, and its P/B ratio is significantly negative at -18.49x, which can be seen as either deeply undervalued or indicative of balance sheet concerns. In contrast, KO, while having higher multiples, shows a compelling DCF upside of +36.3%, whereas COKE’s DCF points to a -7.6% downside. Value investors should thoroughly investigate COKE’s negative P/B and the conflicting DCF analysis, while KO offers a more straightforward, analyst-supported value proposition based on intrinsic worth.

For income-seeking investors, the choice between COKE and KO is clear. KO currently offers a dividend yield of 0.03%, making it the only option for those prioritizing regular shareholder payouts in this coke vs ko stock comparison 2026. COKE, on the other hand, has a 0.0% dividend yield, indicating it does not currently return capital to shareholders via dividends. This makes KO the default selection for income portfolios, leveraging its consistent profitability and strong cash flow generation to support its dividend payments. This is not investment advice.

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