Shares of Coca-Cola
How it got here
There are advantages to being the most valuable brand name in the world, according to research firm Interbrand. Coca-Cola has been able to use its easily identifiable image as well as above average growth in its water and energy drink segments to continue to grow its operations domestically and abroad while its competitors struggle to keep up. PepsiCo
Yesterday's first-quarter earnings report solidified Coke's position as the dominant beverage company. It reported a better-than-expected profit with sales growth in Russia, India, the Middle East, and Africa; it ticked up internationally by 9% and domestically by 2%. More impressively, energy drink sales jumped 25% which is the type of growth that could rival Monster Beverage
How it stacks up
Let's see how Coca-Cola stacks up next to its peers.
This chart is a little misleading. If you were to look at a five-year chart, Coke would be outperforming PepsiCo vastly, but Monster (formerly Hansens Natural) would be crushing everyone.
Company |
Price/Book |
Price/Cash Flow |
Forward P/E |
Dividend Yield |
---|---|---|---|---|
Coca-Cola | 5.3 | 18.1 | 16.5 | 2.8% |
PepsiCo | 5 | 11.9 | 14.9 | 3.1% |
Dr Pepper Snapple Group | 3.8 | 11.7 | 12.6 | 3.5% |
Monster Beverage | 11.4 | 35.7 | 27.6 | 0% |
Source: Morningstar, Yahoo! Finance, dividend yield is projected.
As usual, there's a premium to be paid for growth in the consumer goods sector. Monster Beverage's energy drinks are popular, but its valuation is almost nauseating at 35.7 times cash flow -- especially when you consider it pays no dividend. PepsiCo is a nice all-around value considering its yield of 3.1%, but its growth has trailed Coca-Cola for years. Dr Pepper Snapple Group
What's next
Now for the real question: What's next for Coca-Cola? That question really depends on whether or not the company will be able to continue its global expansion without interference from PepsiCo and Dr Pepper Snapple, and whether it can actually continue to grow its domestic operations which the company sees as a primary revenue driver.
Our very own CAPS community gives the company a highly coveted five-star rating, with an overwhelming 95.3% of members expecting it to outperform. I place myself among the 6,104 members who currently have made a CAPScall of outperform on Coca-Cola and find myself breakeven on the stock with both it and the S&P 500 up 10% since my call. There's plenty to like about Coke if you're a long-term investor. It has a strong brand name, an unparalleled product portfolio, a commanding lead in the carbonated beverage market over PepsiCo, and it's focusing its growth in high-margin, unsaturated areas. That's one reason I recently chose Coke as a company you could buy for your IRA.
In my opinion, Starbucks
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