Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is without doubt one of the most well-known client beverage firms globally. With a market capitalization of $290.81 billion, the corporate has maintained its management within the non-alcoholic beverage trade for many years. Nonetheless, a elementary evaluation is important to evaluate whether or not Coca-Cola is a robust long-term funding at its present worth of $64.55 per share.
This report evaluates Coca-Cola’s monetary well being utilizing its Revenue & Loss Account, Stability Sheet, and Money Circulation Statements from the previous 4 years (2020-2023). Moreover, we apply the Discounted Money Circulation (DCF) technique to estimate its intrinsic worth and decide whether or not the inventory is overvalued or undervalued.
1. Income & Profitability Evaluation
Coca-Cola has maintained secure income development over the previous 4 years:
12 months | Income ($ Billion) | Web Revenue ($ Billion) | Diluted EPS | Web Margin (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
TTM | 46.36 | 10.41 | 2.41 | 22.4% |
2023 | 45.75 | 10.98 | 2.47 | 24.0% |
2022 | 43.00 | 9.54 | 2.19 | 22.2% |
2021 | 38.66 | 9.77 | 2.25 | 25.3% |
2020 | 33.01 | 7.75 | 1.79 | 23.5% |
Progress (CAGR) | 7.84% | 6.78% | 6.83% | – |
Key Takeaways:
- Income grew at a CAGR of 7.84% from 2020 to FY24(TTM). It proven as respectable post-pandemic restoration. Keep in mind, these numbers should be seen when it comes to the US market.
- Web revenue improved, reaching $10.41 billion in FY24(TTM) from $7.75 in yr 2021. It grew at a CAGR of 6.78% each year.
- The EPS (Incomes Per Share) of the corporate additionally grew at 6.83% each year between 2020 and FY24 (TTM).
- Coca-Cola maintains a excessive web margin (~24%), reflecting robust pricing energy and value effectivity.
The corporate’s potential to maintain excessive margins regardless of inflationary pressures and foreign money fluctuations highlights its pricing energy and model power.
To get a relative perspective of Coca cola firm with respect to an analogous Indian firm, lets evaluate the numbers of Coca Cola with Varun Drinks (does bottling and distributed of Pepsi exterior US).
12 months | Income (Rs.) | Web Revenue (Rs.) | EPS | Web Margin (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 20,128.92 | 2,594.63 | 7.67 | 12.89% |
2023 | 16,121.94 | 2,055.92 | 15.82 | 12.75% |
2022 | 13,211.99 | 1,497.43 | 23.05 | 11.33% |
2021 | 8,891.16 | 694.05 | 16.03 | 7.81% |
2020 | 6,487.11 | 329 | 11.4 | 5.07% |
Progress (CAGR) | 28.61% | 58.24% | -8.43% | – |
What distinguishes Varun Drinks (India) from Coca Cola (US) are the 4 key components.
- On one aspect (Constructive), Varun Drinks of India has proven a stellar development of 28.61% in income and 58.24% in web revenue. In the same interval, the income and web revenue development of Coca Coal was solely 7.85% and 6.78% respectively.
- On the opposite aspect (Adverse), Varun Drinks of India has proven a destructive EPS development of -8.43% as in comparison with a constructive grown of 6.85% of Coca-Coal. When it comes to Web Margins, Coca-Coal firm is rather more worthwhile at about 24% in comparison with about 10% for Varun Drinks.
There are a set of professionals and cons of Varun Beverage. These components ought to have an affect on valuation on the valuation of those shares. For me personally, components like a destructive EPS development and low web margin needs to be a positive P/E deflator. However a powerful income and revenue development works as a good higher P/E inflation. See what’s the consequence:
Title | P/E | Income Progress (%) | Revenue Progress (%) | EPS Progress (%) | Web Margin (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coca Cola | 27.48 | 7.84% | 6.78% | 6.83% | 24% |
Varun Beverage | 69.50 | 28.61% | 58.24% | -8.43% | 10% |
2. Stability Sheet Energy
A powerful steadiness sheet is crucial for a corporation’s monetary well being. Let’s evaluation Coca-Cola’s key monetary place indicators:
12 months | Whole Property ($B) | Whole Liabilities ($B) | Fairness ($B) | Debt/Fairness Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 93.43 | 66.58 | 26.85 | 2.48 |
2022 | 92.81 | 65.20 | 27.61 | 2.36 |
2021 | 87.29 | 61.00 | 26.29 | 2.32 |
2020 | 86.38 | 62.00 | 24.38 | 2.54 |
Key Takeaways: Coca-Cola has a excessive debt-to-equity ratio (~2.5x), which means it funds operations with important debt. Property have grown steadily, whereas fairness has remained secure. The corporate’s leverage is excessive however manageable, given its constant money flows.
Whereas Coca-Cola’s excessive debt ranges could concern some traders, robust free money stream technology ensures that debt obligations stay lined.
3. Money Circulation Energy
Free Money Circulation (FCF) is essential for dividends, debt reimbursement, and enlargement. Under is Coca-Cola’s FCF efficiency:
12 months | Working Money Circulation ($B) | CAPEX ($B) | Free Money Circulation ($B) |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | 12.40 | 2.65 | 9.75 |
2022 | 11.00 | 2.15 | 8.85 |
2021 | 10.50 | 1.85 | 8.65 |
2020 | 9.80 | 1.60 | 8.20 |
Key Takeaways: Coca-Cola generates over $9 billion in annual FCF, making it a cash-rich firm. The corporate invests round $2-3 billion yearly in capital expenditures (CAPEX). Excessive FCF means Coca-Cola can comfortably pay dividends, repurchase shares, and repair debt.
With robust FCF, the corporate can keep and improve dividends, which is a key attraction for income-focused traders.
4. Valuation Evaluation
We apply the Discounted Money Circulation (DCF) mannequin to estimate Coca-Cola’s intrinsic worth. Our assumptions:
- Free Money Circulation (FCF) Progress Fee: 4% (average state of affairs)
- Low cost Fee (WACC): 8%
- Terminal Progress Fee: 2.5%
Step 4.1: Mission Future Free Money Flows (FCF)
We assume 4% annual development for the FCF for the subsequent 5 years. Given 2023 FCF = $9.75 billion, we use the beneath formulation:

FCF(subsequent yr) = FCF(earlier yr) × (1 + development charge)
12 months | FCF (Projected @4% Progress) |
---|---|
2024 | 9.75 × 1.04 = 10.14 |
2025 | 10.14 × 1.04 = 10.55 |
2026 | 10.55 × 1.04 = 10.97 |
2027 | 10.97 × 1.04 = 11.41 |
2028 | 11.41 × 1.04 = 11.87 |
Step 4.2: Calculate Terminal Worth (TV)
Utilizing the Gordon Progress Mannequin:


TV = FCF(final yr) × (1+g) / (WACC−g)
the place:
- g = 2.5% (0.025 terminal development charge)
- WACC = 8% (0.08 low cost charge)
- FCF(2028) = $11.87B


TV = 11.87 * 1.025 / (0.8 – 0.25) = 12.16 / 0.055 = 221.09
So, the calculated Terminal Worth of Coca Cola firm from yr 2028 and past is $221.09 billion.
Step 4.3: Low cost All Future Money Flows to Current Worth (PV)
Now, we low cost all FCFs and TV utilizing:PV=FCF(1+WACC)tPV = frac{textual content{FCF}}{(1+WACC)^t}PV=(1+WACC)tFCF
12 months | FCF (Billion) | Low cost Issue (8%) | Current Worth (PV) |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | 10.14 | 1 / (1.08)^1 = 0.9259 | 10.14 × 0.9259 = 9.38 |
2025 | 10.55 | 1 / (1.08)^2 = 0.8573 | 10.55 × 0.8573 = 9.05 |
2026 | 10.97 | 1 / (1.08)^3 = 0.7938 | 10.97 × 0.7938 = 8.71 |
2027 | 11.41 | 1 / (1.08)^4 = 0.7350 | 11.41 × 0.7350 = 8.39 |
2028 | 11.87 | 1 / (1.08)^5 = 0.6806 | 11.87×0.6806 = 8.08 |
Terminal Worth | 221.09 | 1 / (1.08)^5 = 0.6806 | 221.09 × 0.6806 = 150.49 |
Step 4.4: Sum All Current Values of All Future Money Flows
Enterprise Worth = Sum of Current Values
Enterprise Worth = 9.38 + 9.05 + 8.71 + 8.39 + 8.08 + 150.49 = 194.10 billion
Step 4.5: Discover Intrinsic Worth per Share
Now, we alter for money, debt, and excellent shares:
- Market Cap: $290.81 billion
- Value / Share: $64.55
- Shares Excellent: 4.5 billion (approximate)
Intrinsic worth per share : Enterprise Worth / Shares Excellent = 194.10 / 4.5 = $43.13
Step 4.6 Comparability With Present Value
- Enterprise Worth (EV) = $194.10 billion
- Shares Excellent = ~4.5 billion
- Intrinsic Worth per Share = $43.13
- Present Value = $64.55
For the reason that intrinsic worth ($43.13) is decrease than the present worth ($64.55), Coca-Cola seems overvalued primarily based on this DCF mannequin.
Key Takeaways: Primarily based on DCF evaluation, Coca-Cola’s intrinsic worth is $43.13, whereas the inventory trades at $64.55. This means the inventory is overvalued by ~50%. Traders shopping for at this worth could not get distinctive returns except development exceeds expectations.
5. Danger Components to Contemplate
Regardless of its robust fundamentals, Coca-Cola faces some dangers:
- Declining Soda Consumption: Customers are shifting towards more healthy drinks, which may sluggish development in carbonated smooth drinks (CSD). Nonetheless, Coca-Cola is increasing into water, tea, espresso, and power drinks to mitigate this threat.
- Excessive Debt Ranges: With a Debt-to-Fairness ratio of ~2.5x, Coca-Cola depends closely on debt. Rising rates of interest may improve borrowing prices, lowering web revenue.
- Foreign money Fluctuations: As a worldwide firm, Coca-Cola earns income in a number of currencies. A robust USD negatively impacts its worldwide income and revenue margins.
Conclusion
Coca-Cola stays a financially robust firm with secure income development, excessive profitability, and constant free money stream (~$9B yearly). Its world model energy and robust dividend payouts make it a dependable selection for income-focused traders. Nonetheless, on the present worth of $64.55, our DCF evaluation suggests the inventory is overvalued, with an intrinsic worth of $43.13.
Whereas long-term traders could want to look forward to a pullback close to $45-$50 for higher worth, dividend traders may nonetheless discover Coca-Cola enticing attributable to its low beta (0.62) and secure payouts. That mentioned, dangers akin to declining soda consumption and excessive debt ranges warrant cautious consideration.
Would you want to check relative valuation metrics (P/E, P/B) and D/E ratio of Coca-Cola with the Indian firm known as Varun Drinks (PepsiCo) for a broader perspective? Here’s a fast comparability:
Title | P/E | P/B | D/E |
---|---|---|---|
Coca Cola | 27.48 | 19.58 | 2.425 |
Varun Beverage | 69.5 | 0.56 | 9.57 |