Insider Selling: The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) Insider Sells $3,882,079.68 in Stock

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO - Get Free Report) insider Nikolaos Koumettis sold 54,708 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.96, for a total transaction of $3,882,079.68. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 246,909 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,520,662.64. This trade represents a 18.14 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Coca-Cola Price Performance

Shares of NYSE KO traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $70.86. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,288,936 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,725,477. The company has a market cap of $304.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.68, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 0.61. The Coca-Cola Company has a fifty-two week low of $57.93 and a fifty-two week high of $73.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.03. The business's 50 day moving average price is $64.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $66.50.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.04. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.59% and a return on equity of 45.37%. On average, analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Coca-Cola's previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Coca-Cola's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 82.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on KO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Coca-Cola from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $69.00 target price on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Coca-Cola from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the company from $69.00 to $75.00 in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $74.24.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Coca-Cola

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Coca-Cola in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Mainstream Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Hara Capital LLC bought a new position in Coca-Cola during the third quarter worth $35,000. REAP Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in Coca-Cola by 57.5% in the fourth quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 570 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the period. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the third quarter valued at about $36,000. 70.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.