Coca-Cola Continues Strong Organic Growth Powered By Its Diverse Portfolio

+5.92%
Upside
61.18
Market
64.80
Trefis
KO: The Coca-Cola Company logo
KO
The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) announced its third quarter results on October 30, with its revenue of $8.25 billion and EPS of $0.58 exceeding consensus expectation. Even though the core performance of the company remained solid in the quarter, the top line took a hit due to the refranchising of bottling operations across geographies. This trend has continued for the past several quarters, with a 13% headwind to the revenues reported this time around. Meanwhile, the margins continued their upward trajectory as a result of the divestiture from the low-margin bottling business. Consequently, the comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) improved 575 basis points, helping improve the earnings as well. The performance in the quarter was similar to the ones reported by the company in the recent past, with revenue growth (excluding the impact of refranchising) being driven by price increases and product mix, with a diversified portfolio trying to make up for the loss in sales from traditional carbonated drinks. The revenue growth was driven by products such as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, FUZE Tea, and Smartwater, while earnings growth will be spurred by a reduced tax rate, share buybacks, and operating margin expansion as a result of its refranchising efforts. These trends can be expected to continue in the remainder of the financial year as well.

We have a $52 price estimate for Coca-Cola, which is higher than the current market price. The charts below have been made using our new, interactive platform. The various driver assumptions can be modified by clicking here for our interactive dashboard on Coca-Cola’s Performance In Q3 & Outlook For FY 2018, to gauge their impact on the earnings and price per share metric.

Relevant Articles
  1. Should You Pick Coca-Cola Stock At $60 After Q4 Beat?
  2. Down 10% This Year Is Coca-Cola Stock A Better Pick Over AbbVie?
  3. What’s Next For Coca-Cola Stock After 4% Gains In A Week Amid Q3 Beat?
  4. Down 15% This Year Will Coca-Cola Stock Rebound After Its Q3?
  5. Which Is A Better Beverage Pick – Coca-Cola Stock Or Monster Beverage
  6. Pricing Actions To Bolster Coca-Cola’s Q2?

Key Factors That Will Impact Results Going Forward 

1. Success of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar has been launched in over 20 markets, with a reformulated product, evolved marketing, and new packaging. The brand witnessed positive results, reflected in the double-digit volume growth in Q3. This brand along with others, such as its water portfolio, ready-to-drink-tea and coffee, etc. are expected to help Coca-Cola deliver 4% organic revenue growth in FY 2018.

2. Diet Coke Revamp: The success of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar prompted the company to reformulate a number of other brands, as it clambers to keep up to pace with changing consumer preferences. One such brand has been Diet Coke, which had been plagued with declining volumes recently. To arrest this decline, Coca-Cola decided to revamp Diet Coke. While the original Diet Coke remains, four new flavors of it – Ginger Lime, Feisty Cherry, Zesty Blood Orange, and Twisted Mango – have been introduced, keeping the millennial generation in mind. The positive customer response has been reflected in the return to volume growth in North America.

3. Potential of Global Ready-To-Drink Tea: The global ready-to-drink tea category represents $60 billion in retail value and is forecast to continue its solid growth as consumers look for more natural beverage choices that can deliver functional benefits. KO’s tea portfolio has grown steadily over the past few years, driven by Fuze Tea, Ayataka, and Gold Peak. As of the end of FY 2017, Fuze Tea had been launched in almost 50 countries. In the first quarter, the brand was launched across Europe (37 countries), which should ensure steady growth for the brand in the coming quarters.

4. Acceleration Of Sparkling Portfolio: Last October, KO acquired the U.S. rights to Topo Chico, a premium sparkling mineral water brand. By the end of the first quarter, the first full quarter of ownership, KO increased distribution coverage within the convenience retail channel by 25%. Consequently, the brand grew its U.S. retail value considerably and gained value share in the fast-growing sparkling water category.

5. Growth Through Acquisitions: In North America, the company has invested in BODYARMOR which is a premium sports performance and hydration brand, and is one of the fastest-growing beverage trademarks in the United States. Meanwhile, in Australia, the cola giant purchased Organic & Raw Trading Company, giving the company its first kombucha brand. Coca-Cola has also invested in the Made Group, which is known for products like cold-pressed juice and high-protein smoothies. However, its biggest acquisition announcement is that of Costa Coffee, which gives it the ability to scale within the $500 billion global hot beverage category.

6. Refranchising Of Bottling Operations: Coca-Cola is refranchising many of its bottling operations in a bid to move away from the capital intensive and low margin business of bottling. In 2017, the company accomplished major milestones in three of its most important markets. The bottling businesses in China was sold; KO’s two largest bottlers in Japan merged creating a single bottler, covering roughly 85% of the system; and most importantly, Coca-Cola completed the refranchising of its U.S. bottling operations. This process has resulted in a decline in revenues, but has had a positive impact on the margins.

7. Impact Of Tariffs: The increase in the price of steel and aluminum resulted in cost pressure for the company, which forced the company to raise prices in North America in the middle of the year, a move that is “relatively uncommon.” The Trump administration has levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, among others, imported from a number of nations, including the European Union, Canada, and Mexico, which has resulted in an increase in the price of soda cans.

8. Killing Of “Zombie” Brands: Coca-Cola has been identifying and killing zombie brands and SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), while focusing on products that are performing well. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) segment, the company has recognized 125 underperforming SKUs to eliminate, and till date, it has discontinued 60% of those, and intends to delist the rest by the end of the year, allowing KO to reallocate resources to brands and strategic initiatives that are delivering the highest return.

See our complete analysis for The Coca-Cola Company

 

What’s behind Trefis? See How It’s Powering New Collaboration and What-Ifs

For CFOs and Finance Teams | Product, R&D, and Marketing Teams

More Trefis Research

Like our charts? Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own.