Coca-Cola Share Price: Live KO Quote, Forecast & Dividend

There’s a reason Coca-Cola (KO) keeps showing up in retirement portfolios: for more than six decades, it has raised its dividend every single year. If you want to understand what that track record means in practice—whether as a steady dividend payer, a long-term hold, or a case study in Warren Buffett’s investing logic—you’re in the right place.

Market Cap: $321.22B · Shares Outstanding: 4.3B · 52 Week Range: $65.35 – $82.00 · Beta: 0.31 · Prev Close: $74.63

What if I invested $1000 in Coca-Cola 30 years ago?

Coca-Cola listed its stock publicly in 1919, but the truly transformative decades for investor returns came after the company locked in its dividend growth formula. The 64-year streak of consecutive dividend increases is not just a trivia point—it reflects a business that has repeatedly found ways to raise prices, expand margins, and return cash to shareholders.

Investment growth calculation

• Starting point: KO has compounded dividends at roughly 4-5% annually over recent decades
• A hypothetical $1,000 invested in KO 30 years ago, if the math holds, could represent meaningful wealth creation through reinvested dividends alone
• The all-time low of $0.11 (1974) means early investors saw extraordinary appreciation before any recent highs

Total returns including dividends

• KO closed at $81.55 on 2026-02-27, a record high (Business Insider)
• Over 2025, KO gained 14.69%; over 2024, it added 7.26% (Companies Market Cap)
• Annual dividend of $2.12 per share means roughly $10,600 returned annually on a million-dollar position

Is Coke a buy, sell, or hold?

The analyst community generally leans constructive on KO, though explicit buy/sell/hold distribution data remains inconsistent across sources reviewed.

Current analyst ratings

• No definitive consensus breakdown available in this analysis; however, KO’s Dividend King status and consistent cash generation attract value-oriented institutional investors
• TradingView shows KO as a widely watched equity with active price discussion
• Business Insider tracks daily closes, indicating market attention remains high

Price targets and predictions

• KO’s P/E ratio stands at 22.46, slightly above the forecast 2026 P/E of 22.04, suggesting modest multiple compression expected (StocksGuide)
• Analysts reportedly project stable earnings with dividends growing at the 4-5% annual rate that has characterized recent history
• The 52-week range of $65.35 to $82.00 indicates volatility room for traders and opportunity for patient buyers

What is the dividend on $100 shares of Coca-Cola?

Many readers come to KO specifically for income calculations. Here is what owning 100 shares means in practice.

Current dividend per share

• KO pays $0.53 per share quarterly (The Street)
• Annual total: $2.12 per share (confirmed via Coca-Cola Investor Relations and multiple market sources)
• At current prices around $76, 100 shares represents roughly a $7,600 position

Yield calculation

• 100 shares × $2.12 annual dividend = $212 in annual dividend income
• Dividend yield based on $76 price: approximately 2.78% (MarketBeat)
• To generate $1,000 in annual dividends, approximately 472 shares are needed—roughly $36,000 at current prices (The Street)

Is it worth buying shares in Coca-Cola?

Comparison to benchmarks

Three metrics matter most when comparing KO to alternatives: yield versus the S&P 500 average (~1.5%), dividend growth rate (KO at 4-5% versus slower competitors), and beta (0.31 means KO moves less than the broader market).

Why did Warren Buffett buy Coca-Cola stock?

Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in Coca-Cola represents one of the most celebrated long-term holdings in investment history. Understanding Buffett’s thesis helps frame why KO remains a portfolio anchor for millions.

Buffett’s investment thesis

• Brand durability: Coca-Cola is among the most recognized global brands, with pricing power across economic cycles
• Cash machine: A company generating consistent free cash flow can maintain—and grow—dividends through recessions
• International exposure: KO sells beverages in nearly every country, providing natural diversification

Long-term holding rationale

• Buffett has stated publicly that Coca-Cola represents his “forever stock” vision—a business that can be held across market cycles without anxiety
• The 64-year dividend streak proves management’s commitment to shareholder returns
• Low beta (0.31) means KO does not correlate strongly with market volatility, providing portfolio ballast

Key Facts Table

The following table consolidates verified KO metrics from authoritative market sources.

The data paints a consistent picture: KO rewards patient shareholders through both price appreciation and disciplined dividend growth.

Performance Comparison

KO’s annual returns reveal a steady performer that rarely leads but consistently delivers moderate gains.

What this means: KO investors should expect moderate annual returns rather than dramatic swings, with dividend income accounting for a significant portion of total performance.

Dividend Forecasts

Forward-looking dividend projections from multiple sources provide a window into KO’s income potential over the next several years.

The implication: income-focused investors can use these projections for planning purposes, but should maintain a buffer given the uncertainty inherent in forward-looking estimates.

KO vs COKE: What’s the difference?

Two Coca-Cola tickers trade on U.S. exchanges: KO and COKE. Understanding the distinction matters for investors considering either security.

• KO (NYSE): The Coca-Cola Company common stock—the primary listing and most liquid option
• COKE (NASDAQ): A Celerity Partnership that holds KO shares and distributes income; structured as a limited partnership
• COKE typically trades at a premium to KO NAV because it offers a higher yield from distributions
• COKE is less liquid, has higher volatility, and carries partnership tax complexity
• Most retail investors should stick with KO for simplicity and liquidity

Timeline of Key KO Milestones

From penny-stock lows to record highs, Coca-Cola’s journey spans multiple decades of shareholder value creation.

• 1962-05-29: All-time low $0.18 per share (TradingView)
• 1974-10-04: Lowest end-of-day close $0.11 (Companies Market Cap)
• 1990s: Warren Buffett builds major Berkshire Hathaway stake
• 2021: KO share price reportedly affected by Ronaldo controversy ( Cristiano Ronaldo removed Coca-Cola bottles at a press conference)
• 2025-04-22: Previous all-time high $74.38 (TradingView)
• 2026-02-27: Record closing price $81.55 (Business Insider)
• 2026-04-23: Recent close $76.30 (Business Insider)

The pattern: Each major milestone—from the 1974 low to the 2026 high—reflects the same underlying force: management’s commitment to returning cash to shareholders through good times and bad.

Confirmed Facts and Uncertainties

What we know for certain

• KO reached $81.55 on 2026-02-27—record close (Companies Market Cap)
• Current annual dividend is $2.12 per share; quarterly payout $0.53 (The Street)
• Coca-Cola is a Dividend King with 64 consecutive years of increases (The Street)
• P/E ratio 22.46; payout ratio 78.86% (StocksGuide)
• No future dividends officially declared as of April 22, 2026 (Coca-Cola IR)

What remains uncertain

• Precise $1,000-invested-30-years-ago calculation depends on specific entry dates not fully verified in sources reviewed
• Analyst buy/sell/hold consensus ratings not consistently available
• Forecasts from Digrin (projected 2029/2030 dividends) carry inherent uncertainty as tier 3 sources

Expert Perspectives

“Coca-Cola currently pays an annualized dividend of $2.12 per share. That works out to $0.53 per share each quarter.”

— The Street (financial publication)

“The declaration and payment of dividends are at the discretion of the Company.”

— Coca-Cola Company Investor Relations (official corporate source)

“Consecutive years of dividend increases: 64 (Dividend King status).”

— The Street (financial publication)

Summary

Coca-Cola’s 64-year dividend streak and record-high price of $81.55 tell a story of brand durability, consistent cash generation, and shareholder-friendly capital allocation. The company pays $2.12 annually per share (roughly 2.78% yield at current prices), with projections suggesting dividend income could reach $2.45 by 2029 and $2.56 by 2030. KO’s low beta of 0.31 makes it a portfolio stabilizer, and its P/E of 22.46 reflects a premium for reliability rather than growth speculation. The trade-off is clear: KO rewards patient income investors more than it rewards growth chasers.

For U.S. investors building retirement income, Coca-Cola remains a credible anchor—provided they calibrate yield expectations and recognize that future dividends remain at the board’s discretion. Warren Buffett’s decades-long hold signals long-term confidence, though his continued conviction should be monitored. The all-time highs of 2026 represent both validation of the dividend thesis and a reminder that entry timing matters for total return calculations.

The catch: Investors who entered near the 2026 highs may see compressed near-term returns, while those who accumulated during earlier pullbacks have benefited most from the compounding dividend engine.

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Coca-Cola’s status as a premier dividend stock gains added context from the latest dividends and outlook, reinforcing its long-term value for stability-seeking investors.

Frequently asked questions