First Command Advisory Services Inc. Boosts Stock Position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)

First Command Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) by 5.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,230 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 946 shares during the quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,073,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its position in Coca-Cola by 9,001.5% during the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 675,057 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,029,000 after purchasing an additional 667,640 shares during the last quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. lifted its position in Coca-Cola by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 1,622,368 shares of the company’s stock valued at $101,009,000 after buying an additional 33,800 shares during the last quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Coca-Cola by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 520,945 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,434,000 after buying an additional 2,787 shares during the period. Apriem Advisors raised its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Apriem Advisors now owns 3,248 shares of the company’s stock valued at $202,000 after acquiring an additional 348 shares during the period. Finally, Stegent Equity Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 33.8% in the 4th quarter. Stegent Equity Advisors Inc. now owns 5,450 shares of the company’s stock worth $339,000 after acquiring an additional 1,378 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.26% of the company’s stock.

Coca-Cola Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSE KO opened at $70.80 on Thursday. The Coca-Cola Company has a 52-week low of $57.93 and a 52-week high of $73.53. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $64.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $66.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $304.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.67, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.04. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.59% and a return on equity of 45.37%. Equities research analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.96 EPS for the current year.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.88%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from Coca-Cola’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Coca-Cola’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.59%.

Insider Transactions at Coca-Cola

In other Coca-Cola news, insider Bruno Pietracci sold 19,058 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.56, for a total transaction of $1,344,732.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on KO. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $69.00 price target on shares of Coca-Cola in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $75.00 to $70.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Coca-Cola from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $69.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $76.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price target on Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $73.82.

Coca-Cola Company Profile

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.