11:10 AM EDT, 07/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

We maintain our 12-month target of $80, based on a 2026 P/E of 25x, a slight premium to KO's historic average multiples. We increase our adjusted EPS estimates to $3.04 from $3.00 for '25 and to $3.20 from $3.15 for '26. KO posted Q2 adjusted EPS of $0.87 vs. $0.84 (+4%), ahead of the $0.84 consensus. The beat was driven by stronger-than-expected gross margins, as net sales rose 1.4% to $12.54 billion ($80 million below consensus) and gross margin expanded 130 bps to 62.4% (90 bps ahead of consensus). Price/mix was again the key net sales driver (+6% Y/Y) and currency is becoming less of a headwind. We think the KO investment case remains intact, with its global brand value and less unfavorable currency impacts supporting earnings growth in the face of various market headwinds facing most soft drinks and packaged food companies. In our view, KO continues to boast compelling total return potential and its multiples are warranted given its strong track record of execution and S&P Dividend Aristocrat status.