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Coca-cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (COKE)
NASDAQ:COKE

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated (COKE) AI Stock Analysis

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COKE

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated

(NASDAQ:COKE)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$221.00
â–²(47.16% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/19/26
The score is driven by strong technical momentum and solid operating/cash-flow performance, partially offset by materially higher financial risk from the 2025 balance sheet shift to negative equity and increased debt, plus a relatively expensive valuation and low dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Market position / franchise model
As the largest independent Coca‑Cola bottler, the company benefits from scale, deep retail relationships and exclusive franchise rights. This durable distribution footprint and brand alignment support steady volume, route density economics and long-term competitive defensibility across channels.
Revenue growth and gross margin expansion
Multi‑year revenue growth combined with improving gross margin indicates sustained top-line momentum and operational improvements. This trend suggests pricing power and cost leverage that can support longer‑term profitability and funding for capital needs or strategic investments.
Solid operating and free cash flow
Consistent operating cash generation and rising free cash flow provide durable internal funding for working capital, capex and debt servicing. Even with imperfect conversion versus net income, robust cash flow across years supports liquidity and options to refinance or invest.
Negative Factors
Balance sheet deterioration
A material shift to negative equity and notably higher debt raises structural financial risk. Negative shareholders’ equity constrains capital‑raising options, elevates covenant and refinancing sensitivity, and reduces the firm's buffer against shocks, limiting strategic flexibility over months to years.
Margin and operating profitability pressure
Eroding EBITDA and net margins signal persistent cost pressure or adverse mix that can reduce cash available for debt reduction and investments. If margins remain compressed, the company’s ability to convert sales into sustainable free cash flow and strengthen the balance sheet is impaired.
New term loan increases leverage
The $1.35B term loan is a structural financing action that raises indebtedness and interest obligations. While it may extend maturities, it increases leverage and refinancing complexity given negative equity, constraining flexibility to invest or reduce debt without material cash flow improvements.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated (COKE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes nonalcoholic beverages primarily products of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States. The company offers sparkling beverages, such as carbonated beverages; and still beverages, including energy products, as well as noncarbonated beverages comprising bottled water, ready to drink coffee and tea, enhanced water, juices, and sports drinks. It also sells its products to other Coca-Cola bottlers; and post-mix products that are dispensed through equipment, which mixes the fountain syrup with carbonated or still water enabling fountain retailers to sell finished products to consumers in cups or glasses. In addition, the company distributes products for various other beverage brands that include Dr Pepper and Monster Energy. It sells and distributes its products directly to grocery stores, mass merchandise stores, club stores, convenience stores, and drug stores; and restaurants, schools, amusement parks, and recreational facilities, as well as through vending machine outlets. The company was formerly known as Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and changed its name to Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. in January 2019. Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
How the Company Makes MoneyCoca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated generates revenue primarily through the sale of its beverage products. The company operates under a franchise model, where it purchases syrup concentrate from The Coca-Cola Company and then produces and distributes finished products to retailers. Key revenue streams include direct sales to retailers, as well as contracts with food service providers and vending machine operators. Additionally, the company benefits from economies of scale due to its extensive distribution network and partnerships with local and national retailers, which help to drive volume sales. Seasonal promotions, marketing initiatives, and strategic partnerships also contribute to its earnings by increasing brand visibility and consumer demand.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong multi-year revenue growth and improving gross margin support operating quality, and cash generation remains solid. However, 2025 balance sheet deterioration is a major risk: debt rose sharply and shareholders’ equity turned negative, reducing financial flexibility despite continued profitability.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Revenue has grown steadily from $5.0B (2020) to $7.2B (2025), with the latest year showing strong acceleration versus recent history. Profitability has also improved over the cycle, with gross margin rising to ~39.7% (2025) from ~35.3% (2020). However, net margin softened in 2025 (~7.9%) versus 2024 (~9.2%), and operating profitability signals are mixed (EBITDA margin down from ~15.3% in 2024 to ~13.2% in 2025), suggesting some cost pressure despite higher sales.
Balance Sheet
42
Neutral
Leverage and balance sheet stability weakened materially in the latest year. Total debt increased to ~$2.9B (2025) from ~$1.9B (2024), while shareholders’ equity turned negative in 2025 (about -$740M) versus positive equity of ~$1.4B in 2024. This shift meaningfully increases financial risk and makes equity-based leverage and return measures unfavorable, despite the company operating profitably.
Cash Flow
73
Positive
Cash generation is solid, with operating cash flow rising to ~$932M (2025) from ~$876M (2024) and free cash flow improving to ~$620M from ~$505M. Free cash flow has been generally healthy across the period, but cash conversion is not perfect—free cash flow is materially below net income (about two-thirds in 2025), and operating cash flow coverage levels remain moderate, indicating working-capital or reinvestment needs can meaningfully affect cash flow in some years.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue7.23B6.90B6.65B6.20B5.56B
Gross Profit2.87B2.75B2.60B2.28B1.95B
EBITDA1.17B1.05B1.01B771.47M469.16M
Net Income570.58M633.13M408.38M430.16M189.58M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.62B5.31B4.29B3.71B3.45B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments281.92M1.44B635.27M197.65M142.31M
Total Debt3.00B1.91B735.14M755.04M938.60M
Total Liabilities5.36B3.90B2.85B2.59B2.73B
Stockholders Equity-739.72M1.42B1.44B1.12B711.79M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow624.72M505.34M528.39M225.25M366.06M
Operating Cash Flow937.03M876.36M810.69M554.51M521.75M
Investing Cash Flow-19.02M-682.20M-295.35M-324.99M-161.94M
Financing Cash Flow-1.77B306.40M-77.72M-174.19M-272.29M

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price150.18
Price Trends
50DMA
161.24
Positive
100DMA
153.48
Positive
200DMA
133.73
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
12.79
Negative
RSI
85.94
Negative
STOCH
91.80
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For COKE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 150.18 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 172.63, below the 50-day MA of 161.24, and above the 200-day MA of 133.73, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 12.79 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 85.94 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 91.80 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for COKE.

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated Risk Analysis

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated disclosed 22 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$350.77B26.8445.97%2.92%2.93%25.42%
72
Outperform
$5.83B18.8016.64%3.98%-2.81%-2.66%
70
Outperform
$231.98B28.2842.86%3.91%0.48%-22.61%
69
Neutral
$49.60B22.9824.42%2.52%9.65%-4.26%
69
Neutral
$41.14B19.858.36%3.12%6.77%-29.84%
68
Neutral
$13.47B29.75168.34%0.61%4.22%22.24%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
COKE
Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated
206.38
66.74
47.79%
KOF
Coca Cola Femsa SAB De CV
109.92
26.28
31.42%
KO
Coca-Cola
80.22
9.97
14.19%
KDP
Keurig Dr Pepper
29.97
-3.12
-9.43%
PEP
PepsiCo
167.28
17.28
11.52%
CCEP
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
108.13
23.44
27.68%

Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated Corporate Events

Private Placements and Financing
Coca-Cola Consolidated Secures $1.35 Billion Loan Agreement
Neutral
Dec 8, 2025

On December 8, 2025, Coca-Cola Consolidated entered into a term loan agreement with Wells Fargo and other lenders for a total of $1.35 billion. This financing will be used to refinance existing debt and support general corporate purposes, potentially impacting the company’s financial stability and market operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (COKE) stock is a Buy with a $185.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Coca-Cola Bottling Co Consolidated stock, see the COKE Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 19, 2026