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Coca-Cola (KO, Financials) finally caught a break and so did investors. After four straight quarters of coming up short, the beverage giant managed to beat expectations in Q1. That's not just a win on the balance sheet it's a sigh of relief for a company trying to prove it still has pricing power and global reach in a tricky economy.
The real surprise? Coca-Cola pulled this off while staring down a 25% tariff on aluminum, the key metal used in its cans. That kind of tax could easily rattle most consumer brands. It already did with PepsiCo, which trimmed its full-year outlook last week citing tariff pressure. But Coke's CFO John Murphy struck a calm tone. Manageable, he said. That's the word he used and frankly, that's the mood the company tried to project on the investor call.
Coca-Cola isn't planning to eat the costs. It's ready to pivot maybe switching aluminum suppliers or leaning more on glass and plastic. It's the kind of nimbleness you expect from a company that's been around since the 1800s.
Meanwhile, sales volumes globally edged up 2%, thanks to booming demand in China, India, and Brazil. One standout? Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which surged 14%. Seems like people still want their soda, just without the sugar.
Not everything was bubbly. In North America, volumes dropped 3%. But Coke made up for it by raising prices 8% and people still paid up. Premium drinks like Topo Chico sparkling water and Fairlife milk helped cushion the dip. In a way, Coke is reminding Wall Street: we may sell soda, but we know how to act like a luxury brand when we need to.
Big picture: this quarter didn't just deliver solid numbers. It gave Coca-Cola a narrative again one where it's in control, not just reacting to inflation, tariffs, or changing tastes.
For a closer look under the hood:
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.