New York, Feb 14, 2026, 18:55 (ET) — The session has ended.
Shares of Coca-Cola (KO.N) slid 0.4% to $78.68 by the end of Friday’s trade, with investors eyeing an upcoming management update scheduled for early next week. KO shares moved within a $78.14 to $79.40 range, with volume around 16.7 million. PepsiCo (PEP.O) was down 0.75%, while the S&P 500 barely budged. (MarketWatch)
That focus hits a brief wall. With U.S. stock markets shut on Monday for Washington’s Birthday, trading won’t resume until Tuesday. (New York Stock Exchange)
Coca-Cola will take the stage at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference, with its presentation set for 10:00 a.m. ET on Feb. 17—right after the market opens back up. (The Coca-Cola Company)
Traders have zeroed in on Coca-Cola’s most recent financial goals. In the Feb. 10 earnings update, net revenue ticked up 2% in the fourth quarter, bringing in $11.8 billion. “Organic revenues”—which strip out currency and M&A effects—were up 5%. Comparable EPS landed at $0.58. The company is aiming for organic revenue to climb 4% to 5% by 2026, with comparable EPS seen rising 7% to 8%. A sale of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa is in the pipeline, expected to wrap up in the back half of 2026 if regulators give the nod. (The Coca-Cola Company)
Even so, caution colored the commentary around the results. The company is signaling a broader shift than just hiking prices. CEO-elect Henrique Braun is pushing for speedier innovation as demand rises for low-sugar products—and with weight-loss drugs changing the calorie conversation, he’s betting on new strategies, according to Reuters earlier this week. (Reuters)
Friday’s industry update had Braun talking up how the company’s “adapting faster” as local conditions shift. CFO John Murphy, for his part, reaffirmed that Coca-Cola plans to keep putting money behind growth, “with volume as a key priority.” He flagged uncertainty tied to commodity price swings and the broader global trade picture. (BeverageDaily.com)
KO stock faces a near-term test: can management deliver stronger volume growth — meaning more cases sold — without relying so heavily on price increases and shoppers opting for higher-priced packages?
Coca-Cola’s approach has long leaned defensive—think reliable demand, worldwide brands, heavy marketing. Now, though, expectations are higher. With a CEO change on the horizon, investors want to see that “balanced growth” isn’t just something on a slide.
Still, there’s risk here. Should volumes remain sluggish, or if input costs and currency swings hit harder than anticipated, the stock’s buffer could disappear quickly. Any uptick in consumer resistance to higher prices—or a faster pivot from sugary beverages—would only deepen the pressure.
The wider market could see some action, too. With a holiday-shortened week ahead, traders are eyeing Federal Reserve minutes out Feb. 18, plus a batch of major U.S. economic data arriving later in the week, Reuters reported. That kind of lineup has the potential to jolt yields and shake up the way investors look at stable dividend plays. (Reuters)
Up next: Tuesday’s CAGNY comments from Coca-Cola. Investors want to hear if the company shifts its outlook on volumes, sticks with its pricing stance, addresses cost concerns, or provides new timing details for the Africa bottler transaction.
