Coca-Cola (KO) Stock News Today, November 29, 2025: Institutional Flows, ESG Wins and Global Legal Risks

Updated: November 29, 2025

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is heading into the final month of 2025 in a strong position. Shares closed on Friday, November 28, at about $73.12, near their 52‑week high of roughly $74.38 and well above the 52‑week low around $60.62, giving the beverage giant a market capitalization of roughly $313–315 billion. ^[1]

While U.S. markets are closed this Saturday, November 29, 2025, there is plenty of fresh news around Coca-Cola that matters for KO shareholders and potential investors:

Major institutional investors are rebalancing positions in KO, with some trimming and others adding to their stakes. ^[2]
Coca-Cola has announced a large water-reuse project in Greece, a meaningful ESG milestone. ^[3]
A Vietnamese court has upheld a major tax ruling against Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, a bottling partner. ^[4]
Brand Finance data shows Coca-Cola has retained its crown as the world’s most valuable non‑alcoholic drinks brand for the 11th year in a row. ^[5]

Here’s a detailed, news-driven look at Coca-Cola stock today, and what these developments could mean for investors.

KO stock price today: a defensive giant near record highs

Coca-Cola finished trading on November 28, 2025, at $73.12 per share, with an intraday range between about $72.76 and $73.23 and volume around 7.4 million shares, in line with its average trading activity. ^[6]

Key snapshot metrics:

Share price: ~$73.12 (close on Nov. 28, 2025) ^[7]
52‑week range: roughly $60.62 – $74.38 ^[8]
1‑year total return: about 14–15%, depending on the source and whether dividends are included ^[9]
Year-to-date price gain: around 17–18% according to recent Simply Wall St analysis ^[10]
Forward P/E: about 24x earnings, with a PEG ratio near 3.6 and a beta around 0.4, underscoring KO’s role as a low‑volatility, defensive stock. ^[11]

At these levels, KO is trading not far from all‑time highs, but still within the valuation band investors typically pay for its combination of strong brand, stable cash flows, and reliable dividends.

Big‑money moves: institutions shuffle their Coca-Cola stakes

Fresh 13F‑driven headlines on November 29, 2025 show several large investors adjusting their KO exposure.

New York State Common Retirement Fund trims its KO position

The New York State Common Retirement Fund reduced its stake in Coca-Cola by 1.7% in the second quarter, selling roughly 89,270 shares. The pension fund now owns about 5,036,934 KO shares, worth approximately $356 million, representing around 0.12% of the company and 0.5% of the fund’s portfolio (its 29th‑largest holding). ^[12]

A 1.7% trim is modest and looks more like routine portfolio rebalancing than a strong vote of no confidence. Crucially, the fund remains a large, long‑term shareholder.

Schroder Investment Management Group ramps up its KO stake

In contrast, Schroder Investment Management Group has leaned into Coca-Cola, increasing its position by 28.7% in the same quarter. The firm bought roughly 2.6 million additional shares, bringing its holdings to about 11.7 million KO shares, valued near $829 million. KO now makes up 0.7% of Schroder’s portfolio and is its 24th‑largest position. ^[13]

This move suggests that some active managers still see attractive risk‑reward in KO even near record prices, particularly for clients seeking income and stability.

First National Advisers LLC quietly adds to KO

A smaller but notable move came from First National Advisers LLC, which increased its KO stake by 7.6%, purchasing 5,133 additional shares in Q2. The firm now owns 72,634 shares, worth about $5.1 million, and Coca-Cola accounts for roughly 0.8% of its portfolio and its 25th‑largest holding. ^[14]

Again, this points to incremental confidence rather than a speculative bet.

Institutional ownership remains dominant

Across these filings, MarketBeat’s summaries highlight that roughly 70% of Coca-Cola’s shares are held by institutions and hedge funds, with giants like Vanguard, Norges Bank, Wellington Management, UBS Asset Management, and Legal & General all having increased their stakes in recent periods. ^[15]

For KO holders, that means:

The shareholder base is heavily institutional, which can support liquidity and lower volatility.
But it also means KO is deeply embedded in “quality” and dividend‑focused strategies; if that style falls out of favor, index and fund flows can work both ways.

Insider selling: signal or just standard diversification?

The same 13F‑driven coverage also flags insider transactions at Coca-Cola in recent months:

COO Henrique Braun sold 40,390 shares at an average price around $70.93, a roughly 39% reduction in his KO holdings. ^[16]
EVPs Monica Howard Douglas, Nancy Quan, and Manuel Arroyo also sold shares in November, including one sale of about 139,689 shares by Arroyo at an average price near $70.80. ^[17]

In total, insiders sold approximately 225,000 shares, worth about $16 million, over the last quarter, and insiders currently own around 0.9% of the company. ^[18]

Insider selling always attracts attention, but a few points matter:

These executives receive a large portion of compensation in stock, so periodic sales are normal for diversification and tax reasons.
There is no corresponding wave of insider buying, which might have been a stronger bullish signal.
The selling volumes are small relative to Coca-Cola’s $300+ billion market cap and its ~4.3 billion shares outstanding. ^[19]

For most long‑term investors, this looks like business‑as‑usual insider activity, not a thesis‑breaking red flag.

Fundamentals and dividends: Q3 strength underpins KO’s premium

Coca-Cola’s ability to trade at a premium valuation rests on steady growth, wide margins, and a long dividend record — and the latest numbers mostly support that story.

Q3 2025 results: moderate growth, strong profitability

For the third quarter of 2025, reported on October 21, Coca-Cola delivered: ^[20]

Net revenue up 5% to about $12.5 billion
Organic (non‑GAAP) revenue up 6%
Global unit case volume up 1%
Reported operating income up 59%, with comparable currency‑neutral operating income up 15%
Operating margin around 32%, with comparable margin roughly 31.9%
EPS up 30% to $0.86, while comparable EPS rose about 6% to $0.82

Year‑to‑date, Coca-Cola generated $3.7 billion in operating cash flow and about $2.4 billion in free cash flow, or roughly $8.5 billion if you exclude a one‑time $6.1 billion contingent payment tied to the fairlife acquisition. ^[21]

The company also continued to simplify its bottling footprint, including agreements to:

Sell a controlling stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) to Coca-Cola HBC at a valuation of about $3.4 billion, with closing targeted by the end of 2026. ^[22]
Reduce ownership in its India bottling operations, pushing the system further toward an asset‑light, franchise‑heavy model. ^[23]

These moves support higher margins and lower capital intensity over time — key reasons why the market is comfortable paying a premium multiple for KO versus many other consumer staples.

Dividend: 63 years of increases and counting

Coca-Cola remains one of the market’s marquee income stocks:

The annual dividend is $2.04 per share, or $0.51 per quarter. ^[24]
At the current share price, that’s a forward yield of roughly 2.8%–2.9%. ^[25]
The payout ratio is around 67–68% of earnings, leaving room for continued increases. ^[26]
Coca-Cola has raised its dividend for more than 60 consecutive years (about 63 growth years according to StockAnalysis and Dividend.com), giving it “Dividend King” status. ^[27]

The next ex‑dividend date is December 1, 2025, with the dividend payable around December 15, 2025, based on company announcements and recent filings. ^[28]

For income‑oriented investors, KO continues to offer a blend of:

Reasonable yield
Consistent dividend growth (mid‑single‑digit increases in recent years)
Relatively low share price volatility thanks to its low beta. ^[29]

Valuation debate: fairly priced defensive, or overlooked compounder?

As KO hovers near record highs, analysts and research platforms are split on whether the stock is slightly overvalued, fairly valued, or still cheap for the long haul.

Recent Simply Wall St narratives illustrate the range of views: ^[30]

One popular model pegs KO’s fair value around $67.50, about 8% below recent prices, suggesting the stock is “a touch expensive” after the run‑up and sensitive to interest rate assumptions.
A separate discounted cash‑flow (DCF) approach on the same platform estimates fair value near $90 per share, implying ~20% upside if long‑term cash flow assumptions play out.

MarketBeat, meanwhile, reports that:

KO carries a consensus rating of “Buy” from Wall Street analysts.
The average price target is in the high‑$70s (around $78–79), only modestly above current levels, implying limited near‑term upside but continued confidence in KO’s defensive qualities. ^[31]

Other commentary from The Motley Fool, Insider Monkey and similar outlets continues to highlight KO as: ^[32]

A classic “sleep‑well‑at‑night” holding for bear‑market protection
A Buffett favorite and long‑time Berkshire Hathaway core position
A dependable dividend stock to hold “forever” for investors focused on income and stability

In short, the valuation narrative is nuanced:

If you prioritize income and low volatility, KO still looks attractive even at a premium.
If you demand high growth or deep value, the current P/E in the mid‑20s and PEG above 3 may feel full.

ESG spotlight: water reuse milestone in Greece

On the sustainability front, Coca-Cola is in the news today for a significant water stewardship project in Greece.

An article on The Cool Down highlights the completion of an upgraded water‑reuse system at the Schimatari Water Treatment Plant in the Municipality of Tanagra, implemented under the Coca-Cola Zero Drop program. ^[33]

Key points:

The upgrade allows water that was previously lost during treatment to be recovered, cleaned and reused.
The system now recycles 100% of filter wash water and enables reuse of about 15% of untreated water, conserving enough water to supply roughly 6,500 people. ^[34]
The project is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 10%, lowering the environmental footprint of the facility. ^[35]

Executives at Coca-Cola Hellas describe the project as the culmination of a 19‑year vision for responsible water management, and a model for public‑private partnerships that tackle climate‑driven water scarcity in the Mediterranean region. ^[36]

However, the same coverage also reminds readers that Coca-Cola has repeatedly been identified as one of the world’s largest contributors to branded plastic waste. One study published in Science Advances found that Coca-Cola accounts for roughly 11% of branded plastic pollution found in the environment. ^[37]

For ESG‑minded investors, the takeaway is mixed:

Positive: tangible progress on water sustainability, especially in drought‑affected regions.
Ongoing concern: the company’s role in global plastic waste, a risk that could lead to reputational pressure and future regulation.

Legal and regulatory risks: Vietnam tax ruling and U.S. publicity lawsuit

Vietnam: Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam loses tax lawsuit

In Vietnam, Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam — a bottling partner under Swire Coca-Cola — lost a lawsuit against the country’s tax authorities, according to The Investor (Vietnam) in an article dated November 29, 2025. ^[38]

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court:

Dismissed the company’s lawsuit against the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Taxation.
Upheld a decision to collect back taxes and impose penalties totaling about VND 821 billion (roughly $31 million) for underpayments and late fees. ^[39]

The ruling stemmed from:

Allegations that Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam made false declarations leading to tax underpayment.
Concerns that the company reported losses for many years despite steady revenue growth, contributing little corporate income tax over more than two decades. ^[40]

While this ruling targets the Vietnamese bottler rather than KO’s U.S. parent directly, it is relevant for shareholders because it:

Highlights regulatory scrutiny of tax practices for multinational beverage groups.
Adds a reputational wrinkle in an important emerging market.
Reinforces the broader theme that Coca-Cola is steadily moving to reduce direct bottling exposure, as seen with the planned CCBA sale and other refranchising steps. ^[41]

The absolute dollar amount is immaterial to The Coca-Cola Company’s global earnings, but it’s a reminder that legal and regulatory risks can emerge at the local bottler level, especially in markets where tax enforcement is tightening.

U.S.: Johnny Cash estate sues Coca-Cola over “sound‑alike” ad

Separately, on November 26, 2025, LiveNOW from FOX reported that the estate of Johnny Cash has sued The Coca-Cola Company, accusing it of “pirating” the singer’s voice in an advertising campaign. ^[42]

According to the report:

The lawsuit alleges that Coca-Cola used a sound‑alike vocalist who closely mimicked Cash’s voice in a national ad titled “Go the Distance”, without securing proper permission or compensation.
The estate is seeking at least $75,000 in damages and claims the ad misled consumers by evoking Cash’s likeness without authorization. ^[43]

Financially, this is a very small case for a company the size of Coca-Cola. The bigger issue is brand and legal precedent:

The case underscores rising sensitivity around artists’ posthumous rights and “sound‑alike” performances.
It may encourage brands, including Coca-Cola, to be more conservative with celebrity‑evoking marketing tactics.

Brand strength confirmed: Coca-Cola still the world’s top soft drink brand

On the brand‑equity side, Coca-Cola received another endorsement today.

An infographic‑style piece in The Business Standard, citing Brand Finance data, notes that Coca-Cola has retained its position as the world’s most valuable non‑alcoholic drinks brand for the 11th consecutive year. The brand’s value rose 32% from about $35 billion year‑over‑year, implying a valuation in the mid‑$40‑billion range, while the total brand value of the top 10 non‑alcoholic drink brands stands at $123.3 billion. ^[44]

For investors, this matters because:

Strong brand value supports pricing power, which is crucial in an inflationary environment.
It reinforces KO’s status as a global consumer icon, helping justify higher valuation multiples than many smaller competitors.

When combined with the company’s marketing partnerships (from Star Wars collaborations to global campaigns under flagship and Fanta brands), Coca-Cola’s brand franchise remains one of its most important intangible assets. ^[45]

Other strategic moves: bottling reshuffle and conference catalyst ahead

Beyond today’s headlines, a few recent updates continue to shape the KO investment story:

On November 7, 2025, Coca-Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE) repurchased all 18.8 million shares held by a Coca-Cola subsidiary for about $2.4 billion, and KO relinquished its board seat there — another step toward a lighter bottling footprint. ^[46]
Coca-Cola also plans to sell a 75% controlling interest in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) to Coca-Cola HBC, with closing targeted by the end of 2026. ^[47]
Management will present at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference on December 2, 2025, offering the next opportunity for updated commentary on demand trends, FX headwinds, and capital allocation priorities. ^[48]

These moves all point in the same direction: leaner, higher‑margin operations, more focused on brand ownership and concentrate sales rather than asset‑heavy bottling.

What today’s news means for Coca-Cola shareholders

Putting all of this together, here’s how the November 29, 2025 news flow shapes the KO story:

Institutional investors are still firmly in Coca-Cola’s corner.
- Some large funds are trimming, others are adding, but the overall picture is one of broad, stable institutional ownership around 70% of the float.
Insider selling is present but not alarming.
- Recent sales appear consistent with regular executive diversification, not a sudden rush for the exits.
Fundamentals remain solid.
- Q3 2025 showed mid‑single‑digit revenue growth, robust margins and strong free cash flow, supporting the dividend and ongoing capital returns.
Valuation is rich but not extreme.
- KO trades at a premium to many staples peers, but that premium is built on brand strength, cash‑flow visibility and dividend reliability.
- Independent models disagree on whether the stock is slightly over‑ or under‑valued, which is what you’d expect near a perceived “fair value” zone.
ESG and legal narratives are a mixed bag but manageable.
- The Greek water reuse project is a positive sustainability milestone, while the Vietnam tax case and the Johnny Cash lawsuit highlight reputational and regulatory risks that seem manageable, but real.
Brand equity is as strong as ever.
- Being named the world’s most valuable non‑alcoholic drinks brand yet again underpins KO’s long‑term moat.

For current shareholders, today’s news flow largely reinforces the existing thesis: Coca-Cola remains a defensive, dividend‑paying blue chip with modest growth, a powerful brand, and a gradually improving capital structure.

For prospective investors, the decision comes down to:

Whether you’re comfortable paying a mid‑20s P/E for a slow‑to‑moderate growth business with strong income and lower volatility.
Your view on interest rates and defensive stocks: if rates fall further and investors keep prioritizing income and quality, KO could continue to grind higher; if the market rotates sharply toward high‑growth names, the relative appeal of KO’s premium might fade.

Important note

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. It does not take into account your individual objectives, risk tolerance, or financial situation. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before buying or selling any securities.

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