Coca-Cola Option Alert: Sep 19 $67.5 Calls Sweep (25) near the Bid: 1500 vs 3006 OI

Coca-Cola Option Alert: Sep 19 $67.5 Calls Sweep (25) near the Bid: 1500 @ $5.151 vs 3006 OI; Ref=$69.935

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) Stock

Coca-Cola

Founded in 1886, Atlanta-headquartered Coca-Cola is the world's largest nonalcoholic beverage company, with a strong portfolio of 200 brands covering key categories including carbonated soft drinks, water, sports, energy, juice, and coffee. Together with bottlers and distribution partners, the company sells finished beverage products bearing Coca-Cola and licensed brands through retailers and food-service locations in more than 200 countries and regions globally. Coca-Cola generates around two thirds of its total revenue overseas, with a significant portion from emerging economies in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

The Coca-Cola Co.

Equities

Coca-Cola Warns Shortage Of Diverse Talent Could Harm Business

February,1,,2023:,Fed,Chair,Jerome,Powell,Talking,About,Inflation,

News

Fed Chair Powell Stands Firm: &#39;Standard Case for Free Trade… Logically Still Makes Sense&#39; Amid Trump&#39;s Import Taxes

What Happened

Coca-Cola Warns Trump&#39;s Tariffs Could Force It to Use More Plastic – &#39;If Aluminium Cans Become More Expensive, We Can Shift to PET&#39;

Coca-Cola Co

RESONATE BLENDS INC by Resonate Blends Inc.

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Kondor AI PLC

KOBE BUSSAN CO U/ADR by Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.

KOBE BUSSAN CO LTD ORD by Kobe Bussan Co., Ltd.

Kobe Bussan Co Ltd

NEOS ETF Trust FIS Knights of Columbus Global Belief ETF

Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - October

Kodiak Sciences Inc

Eastman Kodak Co

Coca Cola Femsa S.A.B. de C.V. American Depositary Shares, each representing 10 Units (each Unit consists of 3 Series B Shares and 5 Series L Shares)

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Kopp Glass Inc

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KOMO PLT BASED FOODS INC by Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

Komo Plant Based Foods Inc

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Metawells Oil & Gas Inc

Koss Corp

KOITO MFG CO LTD by Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd

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KOZA ALTIN ISLEML UNS/ADR by Koza Altin Islemeleri A S

Koza Altin Izletmeleri AS

Coca-Cola Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) has warned that revising its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43737860/coca-cola-pepsico-adjust-dei-policies-following-trump-executive-order-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies</a> could negatively affect the beverage giant&#8217;s business.
The warning comes in light of President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive order mandating federal contractors to comply with the ban on DEI programs, making it a crucial factor for companies <a target="_blank" href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43214683/target-ends-dei-program-following-trumps-call-to-eliminate-illegal-preferences-expert-calls-it-brand-suicide-for-retail-giant-with-diverse-customer-base" rel="noreferrer noopener">operating in government-funded settings</a>.
Coca-cola emphasized the importance of hiring a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000021344/000002134425000011/ko-20241231.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">diverse </a>and skilled workforce that mirrors the broad consumer base it serves globally.
As competition for employees increases, the soft-drink maker acknowledged that not being able to recruit essential talent, particularly individuals with expertise in artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and analytics, could impact its business.
&#8220;If we are unable to attract or retain specialized talent or top talent with diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds that reflect the broad range of consumers and markets we serve around the world, our business could be negatively affected,&#8221; the company&#8217;s filing has this statement under its risk factors.
The company noted that its success relies on its capacity to sustain a workforce that embodies a range of diverse perspectives and experiences.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43846469/walmart-q4-earnings-shine-but-soft-fy26-outlook-disappoints-street" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walmart Q4 Earnings Shine, But Soft FY26 Outlook Disappoints Street</a>
Also, increasing competition, elevated compensation demands, and a constrained labor market create substantial challenges.
Additionally, shifts in laws and policies may further complicate the recruitment of specialized talent. Coca-Cola cautioned that losing seasoned employees could diminish its competitive advantage and deplete valuable institutional knowledge.
President Trump imposed a <a target="_blank" href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43757529/if-they-charge-us-we-charge-them-trumps-reciprocal-tariff-plan-for-steel-and-aluminum" rel="noreferrer noopener">25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum</a>, applying universally without exceptions.
In response, Coca-Cola CEO<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43759161/coca-cola-warns-trumps-tariffs-could-force-it-to-use-more-plastic-if-aluminium-cans-become-more-expensive-we-can-shift-to-pet" rel="noreferrer noopener"> James Quincey told investors </a>during last week&#8217;s earnings call, &#8220;If aluminum cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles.&#8221;
While he recognized that packaging costs are only a fraction of the company&#8217;s total expenses, he emphasized that the increase in aluminum prices remains a significant concern.
Recently, Coca-Cola reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 6% year-on-year to $11.5 billion and an adjusted EPS of $0.55, both <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43623639/coca-cola-pops-in-q4-revenue-soars-6-ceo-hails-all-weather-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">above the consensus estimate</a>.
The revenue increase included a 5% climb in concentrate sales and a 9% growth in price/mix.
Price Action: KO shares are trading higher by 0.51% at $70.40 at the last check Friday.
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Image via Shutterstock.

The Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company today approved the company's 63rd consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend approximately 5.2% from 48.5 cents to 51 cents per common share.
The quarterly dividend is equivalent to an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, up from $1.94 per share in 2024. The first quarter dividend is payable April 1 to shareowners of record as of March 14.
The company returned $8.4 billion in dividends to shareowners in 2024, bringing the total amount of dividends paid to shareowners since Jan. 1, 2010, to $93.1 billion.

Dividends

The Coca-Cola Company Increases Quarterly Dividend From $0.485 To $0.51 Per Share

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/powell20250211a.htm">spoke before the Senate Banking Committee </a>on Feb. 11,&nbsp; making it clear that while free trade still makes economic sense, it's not the Fed's job to weigh in on trade policy.&nbsp;
When questioned about free trade, Powell said, &#8220;The standard case for free trade&#8230; logically still makes sense. It's not the Fed's job to make or comment on tariff policy&#8230; Ours is to try to react to it in a thoughtful, sensible way.&#8221;&nbsp;
His remarks came as the Trump administration rolled out new tariffs, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43463099/donald-trumps-25-tariff-plan-only-tough-measures-will-level-the-playing-field-kevin-oleary-explains-the-strategy">a 25% duty</a> on steel and aluminum imports. These moves add another layer of uncertainty for the Fed, which is still working to bring inflation back to its 2% target.&nbsp;
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Powell acknowledged the challenge, saying, &#8220;We do not need to be in a hurry to adjust our policy stance. We know that reducing policy restraint too fast or too much could hinder progress on inflation."
The impact of these tariffs is already being felt in multiple industries. Companies like Ford (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), which rely on imported metals, are seeing costs rise. The energy sector, particularly renewable energy projects, also faces higher prices for necessary materials.&nbsp;
Analysts expect these rising import costs to trickle down, potentially fueling inflation and cutting into corporate profits.
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Looking back, tariffs haven't always had the intended effect. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, for example, led to a sharp drop in trade. U.S. imports fell 66% from $4.4 billion in 1929 to $1.5 billion in 1933, while exports shrank by 61% from $5.4 billion to $2.1 billion, as claimed by the U.S. Department of State&#8217;s Office of the Historian.&nbsp;
In a more recent example, President George W. Bush's 2002 steel tariffs caused about 200,000 job losses in steel-consuming industries, even though U.S. steel production saw a modest increase, as per a 2003 study commissioned by the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition.
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The latest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41561517/trump-pushes-forward-with-controversial-tariff-plan-despite-growing-backlash-from-voters-who-strongl">round of tariffs </a>is expected to have similar ripple effects. "LiveNOW From Fox" <a href="https://www.livenowfox.com/news/trump-tariffs-price-hikes">showed prices</a> for items like Mexican beer, Canadian whiskey, and Chinese-manufactured smartphones could see price hikes.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Despite these economic headwinds, the Fed isn't rushing to change course. Powell pointed to a strong labor market—averaging 189,000 new jobs per month—as a reason to hold steady for now. &#8220;Policy is well positioned to deal with the risks and uncertainties that we face,&#8221; he said.
Powell's testimony kicked off two days of hearings on Capitol Hill, which concluded on Feb. 12 after further discussions before the House Financial Services Committee.
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Fed Chair Powell Stands Firm: 'Standard Case for Free Trade… Logically Still Makes Sense' Amid Trump's Import Taxes

Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>)&nbsp; is weighing a shift toward more plastic bottles in the U.S. as new aluminum <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43572782/gm-ceo-on-trumps-trade-threats-we-can-adjust-to-anything-automaker-braces-for-25-tariffs-on-popular-cars-made-in-mexico-and-canada">tariffs</a> threaten to drive up production costs.&nbsp;
The 25% tariff, announced by President Donald Trump, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/12b16867-4e0e-4534-8a00-922665e680aa">takes effect on March 12</a> and applies to foreign steel and aluminum. Since Coca-Cola imports aluminum for its cans from Canada, the company is looking at ways to keep prices stable.
"If aluminum cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles," Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told investors in an <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4757080-the-coca-cola-company-ko-q4-2024-earnings-call-transcript">earnings call</a> this week. He acknowledged that packaging costs are just one part of the company's overall expenses but said rising aluminum prices still matter.&nbsp;
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"I think we're in danger of exaggerating the impact of the 25% increase in the aluminum price relative to the total system," Quincey said. "It's not insignificant, but it's not going to radically change a multibillion-dollar U.S. business."
Coca-Cola has been selling more drinks in aluminum cans in recent years as part of its sustainability efforts. Still, in 2023, nearly half (47.7%) of its beverages were packaged in plastic, while aluminum and steel cans made up just 26%, according to the company's most recent <a href="https://www.coca-colacompany.com/content/dam/company/us/en/reports/2023-environmental-update/2023-environmental-update.pdf#page=9">environmental report</a>.&nbsp;
The company had set a goal to make all of its packaging recyclable this year and to use at least 50% recycled content by 2030. But as of last year, only 17% of its PET plastic contained recycled material.
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The tariffs aren't just a concern for beverage companies. Automakers like Ford (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) also rely heavily on aluminum, and CEO Jim Farley warned the new policy could create "blow a hole," in the US auto industry, according to media reports. The tariffs come as part of Trump's broader trade strategy, which this time he says will be enforced "without exceptions or exemptions."
If Coca-Cola does increase its use of plastic, it's likely to draw criticism. The company has repeatedly been named the <a href="https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2024/02/07/bffp-movement-unveils-2023-global-brand-audit-results/">world's top plastic polluter</a>. According to Break Free From Plastic's 2023 audit, Coca-Cola produces more than 3 million tons of plastic packaging each year.&nbsp;
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Environmental advocates argue that shifting away from aluminum—despite its higher costs—could make it harder to meet global recycling goals, particularly in areas with limited waste management infrastructure.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43463099/donald-trumps-25-tariff-plan-only-tough-measures-will-level-the-playing-field-kevin-oleary-explains-the-strategy">Trump</a> has also moved to bring back plastic drinking straws, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-ends-the-procurement-and-forced-use-of-paper-straws/">rolling back federal rules</a> that encouraged paper alternatives. The decision follows complaints from businesses about the cost and durability of paper straws, which many consumers say don't hold up as well as plastic.
Coca-Cola says it remains committed to sustainability despite the challenges. "We aim to collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one sold by 2030," the company said in its sustainability update. In 2023, it reported that 62% of its packaging was collected for recycling or refilled, and 90% was technically recyclable.
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Coca-Cola Warns Trump's Tariffs Could Force It to Use More Plastic – 'If Aluminium Cans Become More Expensive, We Can Shift to PET'

Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) and PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>), two major government contractors, are revising their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in light of President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump's executive order</a>.
This order requires federal contractors to adhere to the prohibition of DEI programs, becoming a key consideration for businesses working within government-funded environments.
Coca-Cola is expected to adhere to the administration&#8217;s mandate, which will affect its beverage services on military bases and other government properties, reported <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-13/coca-cola-pepsico-planning-to-comply-with-trump-s-dei-policy?srnd=phx-industries-consumer&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg</a>.
The move comes after Trump ordered federal agencies to dismantle DEI programs and urged private companies to end what he labeled as <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43214683/target-ends-dei-program-following-trumps-call-to-eliminate-illegal-preferences-expert-calls-it-brand-suicide-for-retail-giant-with-diverse-customer-base">"illegal DEI discrimination and preferences."</a>
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Some of the other prominent corporations that have taken similar decision regarding DEI include, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), and Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>).
Going a step further, Google parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) has taken down a statement from its SEC filings <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43517468/google-joins-meta-amazon-in-winding-up-dei-hiring-memo-reveals-details">regarding its obligation to DEI</a>.
Meanwhile, retail giant Costco Wholesale Corp.(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>) bucked the trend as the company&#8217;s shareholders reaffirmed their backing for its current DEI initiatives with unanimous support.
Coca-Cola reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 6% year-on-year to $11.5 billion and an adjusted EPS of $0.55, both <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43623639/coca-cola-pops-in-q4-revenue-soars-6-ceo-hails-all-weather-strategy">above the consensus estimates</a>.
The revenue increase included a 5% climb in concentrate sales and a 9% growth in price/mix.
PepsiCo on the other hand, reported worse-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue of $27.78 billion. Adjusted EPS of &nbsp;$1.96, beat the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43460249/pepsicos-q4-sales-miss-estimates-on-downcast-performance-in-north-america-stock-dives">consensus estimate of $1.94</a>.
Price Action: KO and PEP shares traded higher by 0.45% and 0.46% at $69.83 and $145.27 respectively at last check Friday.
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Image: Shutterstock

Politics

General

AMZN

COST

GOOG

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Adjust DEI Policies Following Trump Executive Order: Report

A wave of full-shopping boycotts has taken hold in parts of Europe, with consumers in the Balkans leading the charge against skyrocketing grocery prices. Now, a movement in the U.S. is adopting a similar strategy—but for an entirely different reason.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">European Consumers Push Back Against Rising Costs</h2>
Shoppers across the Balkans recently organized supermarket boycotts to protest soaring food prices and a worsening cost of living crisis. Under the leadership of the consumer rights organization Hello, Inspector, the campaign began in Croatia and swiftly expanded to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Supermarket aisles were quiet across Croatia on Friday as consumers protested high food prices by joining a boycott on shopping.<a href="https://t.co/GdEHFdOW1R">https://t.co/GdEHFdOW1R</a> <a href="https://t.co/4lNLN132LS">pic.twitter.com/4lNLN132LS</a>
&mdash; AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1882851895741743418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The boycott had an immediate impact. In Croatia alone, supermarket transactions dropped by 44%, and total sales plunged by 53%, according to tax authorities. In response, the Croatian government increased the number of price-capped essentials from 30 to 70. In an attempt to regain customers, grocery chains such as Kaufland and Konzum announced price reductions and frozen prices on a few products.
Even Montenegro's prime minister expressed support for the movement, stating that &#8220;as a citizen, I support such action.&#8221;
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Different Kind of Boycott Emerges in the U.S.</h2>
While Europeans are protesting high prices, Latinos in the U.S. are using a similar tactic to push back against the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43216758/well-go-as-far-as-im-allowed-trumps-plan-with-immigrants-starts-with-1-million-deportations">Trump administration&#8217;s immigration policies</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43214683/target-ends-dei-program-following-trumps-call-to-eliminate-illegal-preferences-expert-calls-it-brand-suicide-for-retail-giant-with-diverse-customer-base">rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs</a>. Calling for a stop to non-essential spending, the Latino Freeze Movement has urged Latinos to &#8220;hold the line&#8221; and refrain from patronizing American companies that they perceive to be failing immigrant communities.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Campaña de los latinos contra Cocacola por apoyar las deportaciones Uuuuuuupa NO TOMEN MAS ESA BASURA. <a href="https://t.co/O6tP3DHmpK">pic.twitter.com/O6tP3DHmpK</a>
&mdash; Le petit prince (@don_juan13) <a href="https://twitter.com/don_juan13/status/1886082220227522666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Videos circulating on social media show Latinos rejecting American products, with one clip depicting a family pouring Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) down the drain in protest. The movement encourages consumers to swap U.S. products for Latin American alternatives while boycotting companies like Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), McDonald's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), and Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>).
See Also: How do billionaires pay less in income tax than you?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/tax-deferring-adv"> Tax deferring is their number one strategy</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Economic and Political Impact</h2>
Latinos contribute $3.7 trillion to the U.S. economy, making their collective GDP the fifth largest in the world. The movement argues that a spending freeze could send a strong message to corporations and policymakers alike.
&#8220;Latinos and Latinas, stop spending money. Hold the line. We can all collectively make a big impact by simply holding and not spending our money,&#8221; the Latino Freeze Movement <a href="https://www.latinofreeze.com/">urges on its website</a>.
The boycott extends beyond consumer goods. Participants are encouraged to avoid big purchases, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43543459/i-love-canada-more-than-i-love-spotify-canadians-are-canceling-netflix-amazon-disney-and-spotify-en-masse-despite-the-tariff-pause">cancel subscriptions</a>, and focus spending on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36819134/mark-cuban-says-he-will-short-companies-who-think-diversity-is-negative-im-telling-you-what-i-think">businesses that support DEI</a> and immigrant rights. Companies like Costco (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COST#NASDAQ">COST</a>), Trader Joe&#8217;s, Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Netflix (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) are highlighted as supportive, while major brands like Coca-Cola face scrutiny over unverified claims of cooperation with immigration enforcement agencies.
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AAPL

NFLX

SBUX

TSLA

Full-Shopping Boycotts Sweep Europe Over High Prices—Now, One US Community Is Following Suit But For A Different Cause

Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman maintains Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $66 to $73.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Coca-Cola, Raises Price Target to $73

The reason U.S. soft drinks primarily use high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar dates back to a trade barrier imposed by former President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. This policy echoes in today&#8217;s trade landscape, where President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs continue to shape global policy.
What Happened: Reagan served as the 40th U.S. president between 1981 to 1989. During his tenure, he <a href="https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5294-import-quotas-certain-sugar-containing-articles">imposed</a> import quotas on sugar and sugar-containing articles to protect sugarcane farmers in the U.S.
This proclamation aimed to make imported sugar more expensive, or at least limit its availability, to artificially prop up the price of domestically produced sugar. This was a form of protectionism, designed to help American sugar farmers, even if it meant higher prices for consumers on products containing sugar.
It was after this announcement that Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) and PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) shifted to high fructose corn syrup, according <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/07/business/coke-pepsi-to-use-more-corn-syrup.html">to</a> the New York Times.
The report acknowledged the comments by the spokesperson of both beverage companies and said that using corn syrup would be less expensive than the traditional cane- or beet-based sweetener given the shrinking market of the sugar industry.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43684201/cvs-health-forecasts-10-earnings-growth-for-2025-citing-aetnas-meaningful-recovery">CVS Health Forecasts 10% Earnings Growth For 2025, Citing Aetna&#8217;s &#8216;Meaningful Recovery&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: While an import quota aims to limit the quantity of a good that can be imported into a country over a specific period, tariffs are another kind of trade barrier used by a country to tax imported goods. Both could lead to higher prices of goods domestically and create market distortions.
According to an old <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1982/05/09/reagans-quotas-on-sugar-grew-out-of-a-raw-deal/420f3f40-9144-45fd-93d2-c429ca1e6aab/">article </a>by the Washington Post dated May 8, 1982, Reagan&#8217;s decision to support domestic sugar prices, which led to the need for quotas, was a result of political dealmaking. He needed votes in Congress for his budget reconciliation bill and traded his opposition to sugar price support for those votes. 
David Stockman, Reagan&#8217;s budget director, was instrumental in this deal. Stockman reportedly acknowledged the policy&#8217;s flaws but prioritized securing votes.
In 2025, after Trump&#8217;s reelection, he threatened top U.S. trading partners Canada and Mexico with tariffs, which were delayed after some negotiations. However, he imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports and a blanket 10% levy on imports from China.
In essence, while trade barriers like import quotas or tariffs could be used as a negotiating tool, they could be driven by political opportunism, undermine free trade principles, fuel prices, and damage international relations.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43683299/cisco-systems-lands-700m-ai-gold-rush-amid-increased-appetite-from-tech-giants-build-more-and-we-will-buy-more-customers-tell-ceo">Cisco Systems Lands $700M AI Gold Rush Amid Increased Appetite From Tech Giants: &#8216;Build More And We Will Buy More,&#8217; Customers Tell CEO</a>
What Do Experts Say: Higher import taxes can lead to increased costs for U.S. importers, potentially fueling domestic inflation, explained Subho Moulik, the founder and CEO of Appreciate. &#8220;A study by the Tax Foundation estimates that these tariffs could cost the average American household an extra $800 in 2025, pushing up inflation and squeezing consumer spending,&#8221; he added.
On the other hand, Craig Shapiro, a macro strategist at the Bear Traps Report, argues that tariffs are the "only way" to fund tax cuts without expanding the federal deficit.
Beyond rebalancing global trade and boosting American manufacturing, Shapiro posits that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43587245/tariffs-are-the-only-way-to-fund-tax-cuts-without-deficit-expansion-argues-expert-as-it-takes-center-stage-in-donald-trumps-economic-plan">tariffs could provide</a> a substantial revenue source for the U.S. government. He argues this income could be used to offset the cost of Trump&#8217;s proposed tax cuts and prevent further deficit growth.
Price Action: The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices, were mixed in premarket trading on Thursday. SPY fell 0.001% to $603.35, and QQQ was up 0.10% to $528.85, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43587245/tariffs-are-the-only-way-to-fund-tax-cuts-without-deficit-expansion-argues-expert-as-it-takes-center-stage-in-donald-trumps-economic-plan">Tariffs Are &#8216;The Only Way&#8217; To Fund Tax Cuts Without &#8216;Deficit Expansion&#8217;, Argues Expert As It Takes Center Stage In Donald Trump&#8217;s Economic Plan</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

Reagan's Sugar Quotas, Trump's Tariffs, And The Price Of Protectionism: Here's Why Coke And Pepsi In US Have High Fructose Corn Syrup Instead Of Sugar

Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) reported better-than-expected<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43623639/coca-cola-pops-in-q4-revenue-soars-6-ceo-hails-all-weather-strategy" rel="noreferrer noopener"> fourth-quarter earnings</a> results, and the following are the analysts&#8217; comments on them.
Piper Sandler analyst Michael S. Lavery reiterated an Overweight rating on the shares with a price forecast of $73.00.
President Trump implemented a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum, with no exceptions or exemptions. The tariff impact on KO seems manageable, as the company could switch to PET bottles if aluminum cans become too costly, whether due to the tariffs or rising general expenses, said the analyst.
While each bottler imports some materials for production, packaging makes up only a small portion of the overall cost structure, so it remains manageable.
SNAP benefits continue to be a concern for investors, but the analyst views the risk to Coca-Cola as manageable. Approximately 50% of its North American business comes from away-from-home sales, where SNAP benefits don&#8217;t apply.
Coca-Cola is also flexible with pricing and innovation, using its RGM capabilities to offer products at various affordable price points, noted the analyst.
Coca-Cola is concentrating on expanding its outlet presence and increasing the number of cold-drink units to stimulate new consumer engagement and revenue growth.
Expanding outlet coverage plays a key role in driving transactions and expanding its consumer reach, particularly in the traditional trade, where about 90% of NARTD beverages are served cold, opined the analyst.
Goldman Sachs analyst Bonnie Herzog reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares with a price forecast of $65.00.
Coca-Cola concluded FY24 with a solid fourth-quarter performance, exceeding both top and bottom line expectations, noted the analyst.
The fourth-quarter revenue beat was primarily driven by +9% year-over-year price/mix growth, demonstrating KO&#8217;s robust pricing power and excellent revenue management.
Coca-Cola&#8217;s FY25 guidance is solid compared to its consumer packaged goods (CPG) peers and should be viewed positively by investors, especially when compared to PepsiCo&#8216;s more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43460249" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservative FY25 top-line outlook.</a>
The analyst said a potential concern is Coca-Cola&#8217;s anticipated higher interest expenses this year, primarily due to debt issued for the IRS tax litigation deposit and the upcoming fairlife contingent consideration payment.
Despite these challenges, management remains confident in their ability to meet guidance, bolstered by the company&#8217;s strong share momentum across global beverage categories, continued pricing power, and the numerous levers available to the company, asserted the analyst.
BofA Securities analyst Bryan D. Spillane reiterated a Buy rating with a price forecast of $77.00.
If the fourth quarter showcased strength, FY25 is poised to demonstrate resilience. The analyst said that consumer sentiment appears broadly optimistic in both developed and emerging markets, with favorable comparisons in China and the Middle East providing smoother conditions.
Commodity cost inflation seems well under control due to effective pricing strategies, alternative sourcing options, localized production, and a diverse range of packaging formats.
Additionally, efficiencies that were previously reinvested into the P&amp;L provide a cushion for EPS, helping offset the anticipated higher tax rate and net interest expenses for the year.
For FY25, the analyst maintains the forecast of +5% organic sales growth but have accounted for a higher tax rate and increased interest expense, which should peak by second quarter alongside the Fairlife earn-out payment.
Price Action: KO shares are trading higher by 1.03% at $68.30 at the last check Wednesday.
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Photo via Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

Reiteration

Trading Ideas

Coca-Cola's Strong Q4 Performance Reinforces Pricing Power, But Analysts Flag Interest Cost Risks

UBS analyst Peter Grom maintains Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $72 to $78.

UBS Maintains Buy on Coca-Cola, Raises Price Target to $78

Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintains Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $70 to $75.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Coca-Cola, Raises Price Target to $75

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Compass Point cut Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIS#NYSE">FIS</a>) price target from $126 to $113. Compass Point analyst Dominick Gabriele maintained a Buy rating. Fidelity National Information shares closed at $73.16 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FIS/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Evercore ISI Group raised the price target for Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZG#NASDAQ">ZG</a>) from $75 to $90. Evercore ISI Group analyst Mark Mahaney maintained an Outperform rating. Zillow shares closed at $83.84 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZG/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Cantor Fitzgerald slashed Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) price target from $15 to $14. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Deepak Mathivanan maintained a Neutral rating. Lyft shares closed at $14.39 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/LYFT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Benchmark cut the price target for Diodes Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIOD#NASDAQ">DIOD</a>) from $74 to $65. Benchmark analyst David Williams maintained a Buy rating. Diodes shares closed at $50.98 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DIOD/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Canaccord Genuity increased the price target for Shopify Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>) from $125 to $140. Canaccord Genuity analyst David Hynes maintained a Buy rating. Shopify shares closed at $118.00 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SHOP/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised i3 Verticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IIIV#NASDAQ">IIIV</a>) price target from $22 to $27. Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette maintained an Equal-Weight rating. i3 Verticals shares settled at $29.67 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IIIV/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities increased Upstart Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>) price target from $33 to $39. B of A Securities analyst Nat Schindler maintained an Underperform rating. Upstart shares closed at $67.34 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UPST/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Morgan Stanley raised The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) price target from $76 to $78. Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained an Overweight rating. Coca-Cola shares closed at $67.60 on Tuesday.  <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KO/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Stifel cut the price target for Arvinas, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARVN#NASDAQ">ARVN</a>) from $63 to $51. Stifel analyst Bradley Canino maintained a Buy rating. Arvinas shares settled at $17.68 on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARVN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Evercore ISI Group increased Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) price target from $190 to $200. Evercore ISI Group analyst Kirk Materne maintained an Outperform rating. Snowflake shares closed at $183.55 on Monday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SNOW/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
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</ul>

Markets

ARVN

DIOD

IIIV

LYFT

SHOP

SNOW

UPST

Snowflake To Rally Around 9%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Wednesday

Evercore ISI Group analyst Robert Ottenstein maintains Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $72 to $75.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Outperform on Coca-Cola, Raises Price Target to $75

Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintains Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $76 to $78.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Coca-Cola, Raises Price Target to $78

U.S. stock futures fell on Wednesday after a mixed close on Tuesday as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell began his two-day testimony in front of Congress. All benchmark indices were lower except the Russell 2000.
Traders await the inflation data today as economists and betting markets are predicting a modest inflation report for January, boosting investor optimism that price pressures are easing and the Federal Reserve may continue its path toward interest rate cuts.
The headline consumer price index is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43627524/economists-betting-markets-predict-benign-january-inflation-what-could-go-wrong-this-time">forecasted to remain</a> at 2.9% year-over-year, based on median economist predictions tracked by TradingEconomics. Monthly, inflation is expected to increase by 0.3%, a slight deceleration from December&#8217;s 0.4% rise. 
The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.54%, while the two-year yield was at 4.29%. According to the CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>, there is a 95.5% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for the March meeting.
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.07%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) both experienced negative premarket trading on Wednesday. SPY fell 0.14% to $604.45, and QQQ declined 0.06% to $527.67, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
Wall Street ended Tuesday&#8217;s session with a mixed performance as investors reacted to further tariff announcements and awaited key inflation figures.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) shares declined sharply following news of a partnership between Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD and AI firm DeepSeek to develop self-driving technology.
DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>) surged in after-hours after strong results. Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) tumbled 5.4% after missing first-quarter guidance expectations and Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) jumped 4.73% after beating expectations.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell began his two-day testimony before Congress, stating that the Fed is in no hurry to change interest rates and reiterated its stance of not commenting on trade policy.
Communication services, health care, and consumer discretionary sectors fell, while all other sectors rose on Tuesday.
The Dow rose 123 points or 0.28% to 44,593.65, the S&amp;P 500 was up 0.03% and closed at 6,068.50, and the Nasdaq Composite declined by 0.36% to 19,643.86. Russell 2000 Index fell 0.53% to 2,275.70.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.36%</td>
<td>19,643.86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.03%</td>
<td>6,068.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.28%</td>
<td>44,593.65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.53%</td>
<td>2,275.70</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
Jurrien Timmer, the director of global macros at Fidelity Investments highlighted that strong bull markets tend to &#8220;roar back to life&#8221; after corrections.
He hinted that after the recent pull-back in the market caused by DeepSeek when just 17% of stocks were above their moving average, only 53% of stocks are now above their 50-day moving average. He termed it as a &#8220;weak recovery&#8221;.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The S&amp;P 500 equal-weight index remains below its all-time high, and only 53% of stocks are above their 50-day moving average. It's a rather weak recovery from the recent 5% pullback, during which only 17% of stocks were above their moving average. Strong bull markets tend to roar… <a href="https://t.co/mAm351Szew">pic.twitter.com/mAm351Szew</a>
&mdash; Jurrien Timmer (@TimmerFidelity) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimmerFidelity/status/1889420825557938504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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However, underscoring U.S. equity fund and exchange-traded fund flows Timmer said &#8220;Sentiment remains quite constructive.&#8221;
&#8220;The sentiment surveys are more two-sided, but investors seem to remain poised for a good year in the markets,&#8221; he added.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Sentiment remains quite constructive, at least as far as equity flows are concerned. The sentiment surveys are more two-sided, but investors seem to remain poised for a good year in the markets. <a href="https://t.co/rx9Q9zwrtC">pic.twitter.com/rx9Q9zwrtC</a>
&mdash; Jurrien Timmer (@TimmerFidelity) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimmerFidelity/status/1889420904691552541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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According to the analysts at BlackRock, U.S. equities have proved resilient this year, though escalating trade tensions could keep the pressure on in the coming months.
&#8220;Resilient growth, solid corporate earnings, potential deregulation and the AI theme keep us upbeat. Q4 earnings growth has broadened as we expected, with S&amp;P 500 earnings excluding the &#8216;magnificent 7&#8217; stocks up about 5% from a year ago and the consensus eyeing a 10% rise this year, LSEG Datastream data show. We keep our tactical U.S. equity overweight yet watch for triggers for a change, such as earnings losing steam,&#8221; stated BlackRock&#8217;s weekly market note.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures"> How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Wednesday:
<ul>
<li>Core and headline consumer price index data for January will be announced at 8:30 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Chairman Powell&#8217;s testimony to Congress continues at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic will speak at 2:00 p.m. and New York Fed President John Williams will speak again at 3:30 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>January&#8217;s monthly U.S. federal budget data will be out by 2:00 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Fed Governor Christopher Waller will be speaking at 5:05 p.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) was up 0.38% in the premarket on Wednesday ahead of its earnings, which will be released before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of 93 cents per share on revenue of $97.19 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Kraft Heinz Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>) rose 0.71% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of 78 cents per share on revenue of $6.66 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>) slipped 0.24% ahead of its earnings, which will be released after the closing bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of 91 cents per share on revenue of $13.87 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>) was up 6.58% after it beat fourth-quarter expectations on revenue and EPS front and clocked 42 million monthly active users with a record high order frequency.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PBI#NYSE">PBI</a>) jumped 8.81% after reporting better-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter and naming Bob Gold as its new CFO.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Zillow Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/Z#NASDAQ">Z</a>) was down 6.15% after reporting worse-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter and issuing a weak revenue guidance for the first quarter.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CME#NASDAQ">CME</a>) advanced 0.93%, Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) rose 3.21%, Reddit Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>) jumped 2.64% and Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) was up 0.44% ahead of their earnings today.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 1.12% to hover around $72.50 per barrel.
The gold spot index was down by 0.51% to $2,883.52 per ounce. The Dollar Index was up 0.01% at 107.977 level.
Asian markets advanced on Wednesday except for India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex index. Australia's ASX 200, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225, China's CSI 300, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index advanced. European markets were also higher in trade.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43649613/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-platforms-sees-meteoric-surge-over-17-amid-historic-18-day-winning-streak-heres-what-technical-analysis-indicate-amid-overbought-conditions">Meta Stock Surges 17.47% In 17 Days, Marking One Of Its Longest Winning Streaks—Analysts Say There&#8217;s Still Room For Double-Digit Growth For Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Company</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

Asia

Macro Notification

Market Summary

Regulations

Bonds

Futures

Commodities

Economics

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

BIIB

CSCO

DASH

HOOD

RDDT

US Stocks Set For A Cautious Start Ahead Of Inflation Data: Expert Says 'Strong Bull Markets Tend To Roar Back To Life After Corrections'

Coca-Cola Company&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) fourth-quarter earnings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43623639/coca-cola-pops-in-q4-revenue-soars-6-ceo-hails-all-weather-strategy">exceeded</a> expectations amid strong &#8220;fundamentals&#8221; despite currency headwinds and a significant market share grab from its rival PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>).
What Happened: &#8220;We won overall share and had broad-based share gains across our global beverage categories,&#8221; said James Quincey, the chairman and CEO of the beverage company.
The company&#8217;s robust 2024 results, which included volume growth, robust organic revenue growth, and comparable gross and operating margin expansion, underscore this positive momentum.
Nik Modi of RBC Capital Markets, a veteran beverage industry watcher, expressed astonishment at Coca-Cola&#8217;s current strength in a conversation with Yahoo Finance.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&quot;They are really gaining traction and taking a lot of share from <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PEP&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PEP</a>,&quot; RBC Capital Markets&#39; Nik Modi says on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24KO&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$KO</a> following Q4 earnings. &quot;Coke&#39;s strategy, I&#39;ve been covering this stock for almost 20 years, [and] I&#39;ve never seen their fundamentals in this good a shape.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/OWXuTmMrSJ">pic.twitter.com/OWXuTmMrSJ</a>
&mdash; Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooFinance/status/1889423812938141886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
While sparkling soft drinks continue to perform, the company is seeing &#8220;momentum in other categories like value-added dairy and tea,&#8221; demonstrating a successful diversification strategy, added Quincey.
Furthermore, Maaza, a mango-flavored fruit drink brand in India, surpassed the $1 billion milestone in that country, it is &#8220;now our 30th billion-dollar brand,&#8221; the management said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43616409/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-loads-up-on-sirius-xm-amid-price-target-cuts-company-pays-dividend-but-better-off-in-t-bills-says-expert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Loads Up On Sirius XM Amid Price Target Cuts: Company Pays Dividend ‘But Better Off In T-Bills,' Says Expert</a>
Why It Matters: Coca-Cola <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43623639/coca-cola-pops-in-q4-revenue-soars-6-ceo-hails-all-weather-strategy">beat</a> its fourth-quarter sales and earnings per share estimates, reporting $11.5 billion in revenue and $0.55 EPS. The company projects 5-6% organic revenue growth and 8-10% currency-neutral EPS growth for fiscal year 2025, though overall EPS growth is expected at 2-3%. Free cash flow is forecast at approximately $9.5 billion.
&#8220;Given the strong momentum of our business, we&#8217;re confident we can deliver on our 2025 guidance and longer-term objectives,&#8221; added CEO Quincey.
However, the first quarter net revenue is expected to include a 3-4% currency headwind.
CFO John Murphy said, &#8220;We have an unwavering priority to grow our dividend as we&#8217;ve done for 62 consecutive years.&#8221;
Additionally, this year, for &#8220;the first time,&#8221; the Coca-Cola Christmas ad was created with generative AI, which led to a &#8220;faster&#8221; production at a &#8220;lower cost&#8221; said Quincey. &#8220;The power of emerging technologies like generative AI are still at early stages and we will continue to lead and iterate our approach,&#8221; he added.
Price Action: The shares rose by 4.73% to $67.60 apiece on Tuesday and slid by 0.67% in after-hours, whereas the exchange-traded fun tracking S&amp;P 500 index, SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.076%.
KO shares have gained 9.31% on a year-to-date basis, whereas it was up only by 13.23% over the last one year.
The average price target among 24 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KO/analyst-ratings">analysts tracked by Benzinga</a> is $71.3 with a ‘buy' rating. The estimates range from $64 to $80 apiece. Recent ratings from RBC Capital, Jefferies, and JP Morgan suggest a $71.33 target, implying a potential upside of 6.23%.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KO/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="381" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12000921/Coca-Cola-ANR-1024x381.png" alt="" class="wp-image-777747" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12000921/Coca-Cola-ANR-1024x381.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12000921/Coca-Cola-ANR-300x112.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12000921/Coca-Cola-ANR-768x286.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12000921/Coca-Cola-ANR.png 1059w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Image from Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43622036/warren-buffett-indicator-tops-205-amid-skyrocketing-sp-500-valuations-as-this-billionaire-dot-com-crash-predictor-sounds-alarm">Warren Buffett Indicator Tops 205% Amid Skyrocketing S&amp;P 500 Valuations As Billionaire Who Predicted Dot-Com Crash 25 Years Ago Warns Of Brewing Trouble</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

ETFs

Coca-Cola 'Won Overall Share' From Pepsi: Analyst Says 'Never Seen Fundamentals This Good,' Amid Strong 2025 Outlook

U.S. stocks edged marginally lower on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the central bank is in no hurry to cut interest rates during his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, offering little <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43628752/feds-powell-reiterates-no-hurry-to-cut-interest-rates-as-inflation-remains-somewhat-elevated">support for risk assets.</a>
Investors remained on edge ahead of Wednesday's key inflation report, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics set to release the January Consumer Price Index.
The S&amp;P 500 dipped 0.1%, the Nasdaq 100 declined 0.2%, and small-cap stocks underperformed. Bucking the trend, the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a marginal 0.1% gain.
Company-wise, Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) surged 7%, after Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that artificial intelligence chips will be manufactured in the U.S.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) fell by over 4%, reaching the lowest levels in eleven weeks, pressured by weak January auto sales in China.
Geopolitical tensions flared as the European Union threatened countermeasures in response to President Donald Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel.
Long-dated Treasury yields moved higher, with the 10-year yield rising to 4.54%. Yet, the broader dollar index – as tracked by the Invesco DB USD Index Bullish Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UUP#NYSE">UUP</a>) – weakened, down 0.2%. 
Gold paused for a breather, remaining flat at $2,900 per ounce. Oil prices inched up by 1%, eyeing the third straight session of gains. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) weakened 1.3% to $96,000. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,526.92</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,064.30</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,714.53</td>
<td>-0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,273.29</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:35 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;inched 0.1% down to $604.07.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) was 0.1% up to $445.06.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;fell 0.3% to $527.55.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) eased 0.7% to $225.34.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 1.4%; the&nbsp;Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) lagged, down 1.2%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLD#NASDAQ">STLD</a>) rose 2.4% after KeyBanc raised the stock to Overweight.</li>
<li>Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>) surged 5% after Elliott Investment Management urged the company to sell or spin off its midstream business, estimating its value at over $40 billion.</li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) gained 2.8%, and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) climbed 2% amid speculation about a potential AI partnership for iPhone users in China.</li>
</ul>
Stocks reacting to earnings reports include: 
<ul>
<li>S&amp;P Global Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPGI#NYSE">SPGI</a>): up 3.8%</li>
<li>Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ECL#NYSE">ECL</a>): up 7.5%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): up 3.7%</li>
<li>DuPont de Nemours Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>): up 7.8%</li>
<li>Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>): down 5.6%</li>
<li>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>): down 6.5%</li>
<li>Masco Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAS#NYSE">MAS</a>): up 0.6%</li>
<li>WK Kellogg Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLG#NYSE">KLG</a>): down 0.7%</li>
<li>Arvinas Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARVN#NASDAQ">ARVN</a>): down 6.3%</li>
<li>AutoNation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>): down 3.3%</li>
<li>Carlyle Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CG#NASDAQ">CG</a>): down 4.7%</li>
<li>Carrier Global Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CARR#NYSE">CARR</a>): down 1.8%</li>
<li>Fidelity National Information Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIS#NYSE">FIS</a>): down 14.9%</li>
<li>GlobalFoundries Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GFS#NASDAQ">GFS</a>): up 6.2%</li>
<li>IPG Photonics Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPGP#NASDAQ">IPGP</a>): down 5.9%</li>
<li>LCI Industries (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCII#NYSE">LCII</a>): up 3.5%</li>
<li>Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LDOS#NYSE">LDOS</a>): down 5.4%</li>
<li>MYT Netherlands Parent BV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MYTE#NYSE">MYTE</a>): up 19.4%</li>
<li>NNN REIT Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NNN#NYSE">NNN</a>): up 5.8%</li>
<li>Royalty Pharma Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPRX#NASDAQ">RPRX</a>): up 1.4%</li>
<li>Sunoco LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SUN#NYSE">SUN</a>): down 1.8%</li>
<li>TPG Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TPG#NASDAQ">TPG</a>): down 3.5%</li>
<li>USA Compression Partners LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USAC#NYSE">USAC</a>): down 2.9%</li>
<li>Wesco International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WCC#NYSE">WCC</a>): up 2.1%</li>
</ul>
Companies reporting after the close include:
<ul>
<li>American International Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIG#NYSE">AIG</a>)</li>
<li>Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>)</li>
<li>Welltower Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WELL#NYSE">WELL</a>)</li>
<li>Assurant Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIZ#NYSE">AIZ</a>)</li>
<li>Primerica Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRI#NYSE">PRI</a>)</li>
<li>Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALSN#NYSE">ALSN</a>)</li>
<li>Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EW#NYSE">EW</a>)</li>
<li>Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ET#NYSE">ET</a>)</li>
<li>Brighthouse Financial Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHF#NASDAQ">BHF</a>)</li>
<li>DoorDash Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NYSE">DASH</a>)</li>
<li>W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WPC#NYSE">WPC</a>)</li>
<li>Agree Realty Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADC#NYSE">ADC</a>)</li>
<li>Red Rock Resorts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RRR#NASDAQ">RRR</a>)</li>
<li>Teradata Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDC#NYSE">TDC</a>)</li>
</ul>
Read now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43632327/steel-stocks-breakout-analyst-sees-bullish-setup-for-us-steel-nucor-steel-dynamics">Tariffs Drive Steel Stock Gains As Analyst Highlights Catalysts For Nucor, US Steel</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Econ #s

$BTC

ALSN

BABA

Brighthouse Financial, Inc. - Common Stock

CARR

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

GILD

INTC

IPGP

LCII

LDOS

MYTE

RPRX

SPGI

STLD

USAC

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

WELL

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

US Stocks Dip As Powell Stays Cautious, Intel Climbs, Tesla Sinks To 11-Week Low: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Coca-Cola. Our analysis of options history for Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) revealed 21 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 57% of traders were bullish, while 38% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 4 were puts, with a value of $181,525, and 17 were calls, valued at $5,454,079.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $55.0 to $70.0 for Coca-Cola during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Coca-Cola's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Coca-Cola's whale activity within a strike price range from $55.0 to $70.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Coca-Cola Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739291421_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$9.85</td>
<td>$9.75</td>
<td>$9.85</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$3.6M</td>
<td>15.2K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$9.6</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$911.4K</td>
<td>15.2K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$5.33</td>
<td>$62.50</td>
<td>$220.6K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>403</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$2.83</td>
<td>$3.0</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
<td>$82.2K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>615</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.05</td>
<td>$2.84</td>
<td>$2.92</td>
<td>$64.00</td>
<td>$81.7K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Coca-Cola</h3>
Founded in 1886, Atlanta-headquartered Coca-Cola is the world's largest nonalcoholic beverage company, with a strong portfolio of 200 brands covering key categories including carbonated soft drinks, water, sports, energy, juice, and coffee. Together with bottlers and distribution partners, the company sells finished beverage products bearing Coca-Cola and licensed brands through retailers and food-service locations in more than 200 countries and regions globally. Coca-Cola generates around two thirds of its total revenue overseas, with a significant portion from emerging economies in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Coca-Cola, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Coca-Cola Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 13,800,013, with KO's price up by 3.18%, positioned at $66.61.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 0 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Coca-Cola</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $71.2.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
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&#x2A; An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Coca-Cola, which currently sits at a price target of $72. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Coca-Cola, which currently sits at a price target of $73. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JP Morgan has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Coca-Cola, which currently sits at a price target of $70. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies upgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $75. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Overweight rating for Coca-Cola, targeting a price of $66. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Coca-Cola, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Spotlight on Coca-Cola: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

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U.S. stocks traded lower this morning, with the Dow Jones index falling around 100 points on Tuesday.
Following the market opening Tuesday, the Dow traded down 0.22% to 44,374.15 while the NASDAQ fell 0.27% to 19,661.13. The S&amp;P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.24% to 6,052.08.
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Leading and Lagging Sectors Materials shares surged by 0.4% on Tuesday.
In trading on Tuesday, utilities shares fell by 0.8%.
Top Headline
Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings results.
The company reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 6% year-on-year to $11.5 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $10.677 billion.
Operating income for the quarter increased 19.2% to $2.7 billion. Adjusted EPS of 55 cents beat the consensus estimate of 52 cents.
Equities Trading UP &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Blue Hat Interactive Entertainment Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHAT#NASDAQ">BHAT</a>) shares shot up 90% to $0.1306.</li>
<li>Shares of Ocean Biomedical, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OCEA#NASDAQ">OCEA</a>)got a boost, surging 48% to $0.2187. Ocean Biomedical recently announced newly published research findings demonstrating the ability of its proprietary cancer immunotherapy candidates.</li>
<li>SelectQuote, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLQT#NYSE">SLQT</a>) shares were also up, gaining 47% to $6.42 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and issued FY25 revenue guidance above estimates. Additionally, the company announced a $350 million strategic investment from several institutional investors.</li>
</ul>
Equities Trading DOWN
<ul>
<li>Fluence Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLNC#NASDAQ">FLNC</a>) shares dropped 48% to $6.85 after the company reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financial results and issued FY25 revenue guidance below estimates.</li>
<li>Shares of Columbus McKinnon Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCO#NASDAQ">CMCO</a>) were down 41% to $21.05 following downbeat quarterly results. Columbus McKinnon also announced plans to combine with Kito Crosby.</li>
<li>Hyperfine, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYPR#NASDAQ">HYPR</a>) was down, falling 33% to $1.1276 after the company announced a $6 million registered direct offering.</li>
</ul>
Commodities In commodity news, oil traded up 1.3% to $73.27 while gold traded down 0.3% at $2,926.70.
Silver traded down 0.9% to $32.205 on Tuesday, while copper fell 3% to $4.5645.
Euro zone
European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 gained 0.1%, Germany's DAX 40 rose 0.3% and France's CAC 40 rose 0.2%. Spain's IBEX 35 Index rose 0.3%, while London's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%.
Asia Pacific Markets
Asian markets closed lower on Tuesday, with China's Shanghai Composite Index falling 0.12%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dipping 1.06% and India's BSE Sensex falling 1.32%.
Economics
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined to 102.8 in January compared to 105.1 in the previous month, and down from estimates of 104.6.
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Eurozone

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Dow Falls 100 Points; Coca-Cola Posts Upbeat Earnings

Press Releases

COCA-COLA HOLIDAY CARAVAN RETURNS TO LIGHT UP CANADA AND CELEBRATE ACTS OF KINDNESS IN SEARCH OF CANADA'S KINDEST COMMUNITY

The Coca-Cola Company Evolves Voluntary Environmental Goals

The Coca-Cola Company Names Henrique Braun Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

The Coca-Cola Company Announces Retirement of Director

THE ICED TEA FLAVOUR CANADIANS KNOW AND LOVE IS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE AS FUZE® ICED TEA

The Coca-Cola Company Announces Timing of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Release

JARVIS, ONTARIO NAMED CANADA'S KINDEST COMMUNITY

JA Canada, Coke Canada Bottling and The Coca-Cola Company Partner to Advance Youth Employability in Canada

Coca-Cola Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company Approves 63rd Consecutive Annual Dividend Increase

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