UBS increased its price target for Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) to $87.00 from $82.00 on Wednesday while maintaining a Buy recommendation on the beverage company. At the time of the update, the stock was trading around $78.72, close to its 52-week high of $79.20 and carrying a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.65.
The bank’s target change followed Coca-Cola’s fourth-quarter results, which delivered slightly stronger organic sales growth than forecasts. Management also provided fiscal 2026 guidance that UBS characterized as broadly consistent with market expectations for both top-line revenue and earnings.
InvestingPro data cited alongside the update underscores Coca-Cola’s durable profitability and shareholder return track record, showing a gross profit margin of 61.63% and a dividend that has been raised for 55 consecutive years.
Despite the quarter’s incremental upside on organic sales and the raised price objective, Coca-Cola shares traded lower after the release of results. UBS pointed to several reasons for the pullback: mixed quality within the quarterly metrics, guidance that may have been slightly below some investors’ underlying expectations, and positioning in the market that had been anticipating an immaculate performance.
The firm noted that indicators such as the stock’s relative strength index point toward overbought conditions, which could help explain some of the selling pressure observed after the announcement. The commentary referenced InvestingPro analysis on the RSI to support that point.
UBS also emphasized that the quarter and the company’s outlook introduced more variables than investors have grown accustomed to in recent years. Nevertheless, it said management provided plausible explanations for the range of impacts seen in the period, which UBS believes helped to ease concerns about potential headwinds for the upcoming year.
On the outlook for 2026, UBS expressed confidence that Coca-Cola’s guidance contains built-in flexibility to accommodate a volatile external environment, particularly around margins. The bank judged the plan as likely achievable and saw scope for upside should conditions prove favorable.
At the same time, InvestingPro Fair Value analysis flagged the possibility that the shares may be trading at a premium to fundamental value, introducing a valuation caution even as UBS remained constructive.
The company’s financial details from the quarter include adjusted earnings per share of $0.58, a modest beat versus consensus estimates in the $0.56 to $0.57 range. The beat was attributed to lower-than-expected interest expense and taxes.
Other sell-side responses reflected a generally positive but varied reception. TD Cowen raised its price target to $85, pointing to Coca-Cola’s ability to outpace sales and earnings expectations. RBC Capital also lifted its target to $87, noting solid results despite temporary challenges. Barclays adjusted its target to $83, emphasizing the company’s balanced approach to driving pricing and volume growth. Morgan Stanley kept an Overweight rating and a price target of $81, highlighting the quarter’s performance even as mix issues were acknowledged.
Operationally, Coca-Cola said it will retain full ownership of Costa Coffee and indicated it is reviewing its China business. These corporate moves were disclosed alongside the quarterly financials and formed part of the broader analyst discussion.
Collectively, the range of price-target moves and reiterated ratings illustrate active analyst engagement following the fourth-quarter report, with firms parsing the company’s near-term variability while largely maintaining favorable longer-term views.
Note: This article presents the analyst reactions and company disclosures as reported in the quarterly update and associated research notes.