Back where they were
If we look at the chart above we can clearly see that Coca Cola stock price is back to where it was two years ago. The softdrink company has struggled the past year, as many brand manufactures of consumer goods. Prices for raw materials rose, they had to raise their prices ro keep the margins and this led to less demand from consumers who are also suffering from high Inflation everywhere. You can spend every dollar only once.
Their sales are still growing but only because of the price increases they did, volume sales are flat.
Uncertain times
Its not clear if the situation will ease this year, since prices for raw materials remain high and Coke cannot raise their prices that much anymore without loosing market share to cheaper me-too-products. They have a strong brand but you cannot stretch that forever.
What they are trying to do is to do more advertising, more secondary placements in supermarkets like the one above to catch more consumer attraction again and drive sales.
Good time to invest?
The stock is not expensive currently and they are paying a nice dividend of 3% annually but for me there are better investments. The dividend increases at a much slower rate than 1-2 decades ago and the return over the past 10 years underperformed the market. You would have been better off with just an S&P 500 ETF.
If you believe in a comeback and better times ahead though, it might be the time to DCA in.
What is your opinion? Pick or kick?
