🔴 KO: Coca-Cola | Fundamental Analysis

With 2022 behind us, it is time to analyze the year's results and identify the winners and losers. As for the winners, it is tempting to assume that, because stocks outperformed significantly last year, they are likely to underperform in the long run. This is because the underperforming sectors are likely to catch up, while the underperforming sectors will give up some ground. But sometimes the opposite happens: some winners continue to win in the long run.

One winner that looks like it will continue to do well in 2023 and beyond is Coca-Cola, the soft drink and snack company. Despite the collapse of the S&P 500 last year, the company's stock still looks attractive enough for shareholders to hold their shares. With their high dividend yield and prospects for significant earnings growth in the coming years, these dividend stocks give investors plenty to admire.

While a stock should never be valued based on its dividend alone, Coca-Cola's long and exceptional history of dividend growth makes its dividend one of the top reasons to own the stock. First, consider Coca-Cola's substantial dividend yield. Based on the stock price as of this writing, the current dividend yield is nearly 2.9%.

This brings us to our second question about Coca-Cola's dividend yield. A dividend yield of 2.9% probably underestimates the payout investors will receive in the coming quarters since the company has a long history of consistent annual dividend increases over the past 60 years - and 2023 will probably be no exception. The company last announced a dividend increase in February 2022, and another dividend increase announcement will likely occur in February 2023.

In addition to Coca-Cola's dividend, another reason the company's stock is worth its money on a price-to-earnings ratio of 28 is the dynamics of the business. For example, third-quarter earnings were up 10% year-over-year. Earnings per share rose 14% in the same time period.

Such high numbers are remarkable for two reasons. First, they are impressive in and of themselves. Second, it underscores that Coca-Cola can continue to deliver strong results even in a challenging macroeconomic environment. This resilience means that Coca-Cola can continue to generate high cash flow in almost any market.

Going forward, Coca-Cola will likely continue to perform well for investors. The company's scale has helped it create important competitive advantages that will likely help it continue to grow profits significantly for years to come. In addition, it will be difficult for competitors to erode these advantages because they are directly related to the company's enormous size and extensive distribution.

Coca-Cola executives often cite several areas that help it win in the market -- and they all benefit from scale. The first is an ever-growing flow of consumer information. The other is Coca-Cola's global marketing campaigns. These effective campaigns leverage consumer knowledge in many markets, helping the company achieve a high return on marketing investment.

Finally, Coca-Cola often refers to its "pervasive distribution system." The company's extensive and efficient distribution channel means that its partners have a steady and reliable supply of products to resell and support their businesses. Coca-Cola invests in developing this distribution system, continually improving its advantage of scale.

The Coca-Cola business is well positioned to continue its steady growth, providing investors with a steady increase in dividends and likely a significant increase in share price over the long term. This is the kind of business investors want in their portfolios in volatile times.

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