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Coca-Cola Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 1 lowered, 2 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 7%, organic 6%: Net revenues reached $13.4 billion. Organic revenues grew 6%, with concentrate sales up 4% and price/mix up 2%. Unit case volume grew 5%. Source
  • Comparable EPS up 11%: Diluted EPS was $1.03, up 16%; comparable EPS was $0.97, up 11%. The reported figure carried a 4-point currency tailwind and the comparable figure a 2-point tailwind. Source
  • Europe profit fell on marketing spend: EMEA unit case volume grew 4%, but comparable currency neutral operating income declined 5%. Management cited marketing investments and higher operating expenses. Source
  • Asia Pacific price/mix fell 9%: Asia Pacific unit case volume grew 8%, while price/mix fell 9% on unfavorable mix and affordability initiatives. Comparable currency neutral operating income was even. Source
  • Comparable operating margin reached 35.6%: Reported operating margin was 34.9%, against 34.1%. Comparable operating margin was 35.6%, against 34.7%, a rise of 86 basis points in the reconciliation. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $7.5 billion: Six-month cash from operations was $7,543 million and free cash flow was $6,859 million, after $684 million of property, plant and equipment purchases. Source
  • Comparable EPS growth raised: Comparable EPS growth is now 9% to 10%, up from 8% to 9%, including an approx. 3% currency tailwind and an approx. 1% acquisitions and divestitures headwind, both kept. Source

“While we continue to see a dynamic consumer landscape, we leveraged our powerful brands and system to gain value share, delivering revenue, profit and earnings growth while also investing for the long term.”

Henrique Braun, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic revenues (non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026Approx. 5% growthRaised from 4% to 5% growth
Comparable net revenues (non-GAAP): currency and acquisitions and divestitures Sourcefull year 2026Approx. 1% currency tailwind; 2% to 3% headwind from acquisitions and divestituresLowered from 1% to 2% currency tailwind; approx. 4% headwind from acquisitions and divestitures
Underlying effective tax rate (non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 202619.9%Kept
Comparable currency neutral EPS excluding acquisitions and divestitures (non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 20267% to 8% growthRaised from 6% to 7% growth
Comparable EPS (non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 20269% to 10% growth, including approx. 3% currency tailwind and approx. 1% headwind from acquisitions and divestituresRaised from 8% to 9% growth, including approx. 3% currency tailwind and approx. 1% headwind from acquisitions and divestitures
Free cash flow (non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026Approx. $12.4 billionRaised from Approx. $12.2 billion
Cash from operations Sourcefull year 2026Approx. $14.6 billionRaised from Approx. $14.4 billion
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026Approx. $2.2 billionKept
Comparable net revenues (non-GAAP) Sourcethird quarter 2026Approx. 1% currency tailwind; approx. 1% headwind from acquisitions and divestituresNew
Comparable EPS (non-GAAP) Sourcethird quarter 2026Approx. 3% currency tailwind; minimal headwind from acquisitions and divestituresNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year organic revenue growth raised to approx. 5% from 4% to 5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Comparable currency neutral EPS growth excluding acquisitions and divestitures raised to 7% to 8%; comparable EPS growth raised to 9% to 10%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year free cash flow raised to approx. $12.4 billion from approx. $12.2 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Currency tailwind on comparable net revenues lowered to approx. 1%; acquisitions and divestitures headwind lowered to 2% to 3%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Underlying effective tax rate and capital expenditures guidance kept at 19.9% and approx. $2.2 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter comparable net revenues and comparable EPS considerations were added. Source
  • Ended: The second-quarter 2026 considerations from the prior release are no longer presented.
  • New: Assumed closing of the Africa bottling sale moved to late third quarter or fourth quarter, from the second half of 2026. Source
  • New: Innovation hubs are being established across each operating unit to translate consumer insights into local innovations. Source
  • New: A FIFA World Cup campaign was run across more than 180 markets. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 7%, organic 6%: Net revenues reached $13.4 billion. Organic revenues grew 6%, with concentrate sales up 4% and price/mix up 2%. Unit case volume grew 5%. Source
  • Operating income rose 9%: Operating income was $4,672 million, up 9% from $4,280 million. Items impacting comparability and currency tailwinds were included in the reported figure. Source
  • Comparable EPS up 11%: Diluted EPS was $1.03, up 16%; comparable EPS was $0.97, up 11%. The reported figure carried a 4-point currency tailwind and the comparable figure a 2-point tailwind. Source

Segments and regions

  • Latin America operating income up 23%: Latin America unit case volume grew 3%. Operating income grew 23%, and comparable currency neutral operating income grew 4%, driven by organic growth and lower operating expenses. Source
  • Europe profit fell on marketing spend: EMEA unit case volume grew 4%, but comparable currency neutral operating income declined 5%. Management cited marketing investments and higher operating expenses. Source
  • North America profit up 12%: North America unit case volume grew 3% and price/mix grew 4%. Comparable currency neutral operating income grew 12%, despite higher input costs and marketing investment. Source
  • Asia Pacific price/mix fell 9%: Asia Pacific unit case volume grew 8%, while price/mix fell 9% on unfavorable mix and affordability initiatives. Comparable currency neutral operating income was even. Source
  • Bottling Investments profit up 75%: Bottling Investments unit case volume grew 5%, largely from India. Comparable currency neutral operating income grew 75%, partly offset by higher input costs. Source

“staying close to the changing needs of our consumers and customers”

Henrique Braun, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company

Products and brands

  • Zero Sugar and sparkling volumes grew: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volume grew 16%, across all geographic segments. Sparkling soft drinks grew 4% overall, with Trademark Coca-Cola at 5%. Source
  • Water, sports and tea grew: Water, sports, coffee and tea grew 6%. Water grew 6%, sports drinks 5% and tea 6%; coffee declined 2%, mainly in Asia Pacific. Source
  • Juice and dairy up 2%: Juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverages grew 2%, with growth in Asia Pacific and North America. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Comparable operating margin reached 35.6%: Reported operating margin was 34.9%, against 34.1%. Comparable operating margin was 35.6%, against 34.7%, a rise of 86 basis points in the reconciliation. Source
  • Lower expenses offset input costs: Organic revenue growth and lower operating expenses lifted comparable results. Higher input costs and marketing investment, partly due to timing, partly offset them. Source
  • Consolidated price/mix up 2%: Consolidated price/mix grew 2%, from pricing actions in the marketplace partly offset by unfavorable mix. Price/mix moved differently across segments. Source

“In aggregate, innovation contributed to the company’s 5% volume growth during the quarter, reflecting its focus on improving speed to market”

Coca-Cola Co., press release

Demand and value share

  • Value share gained overall: The company gained value share in total NARTD beverages, with gains in Germany, Morocco, Brazil, Mexico, and in Trademark Coca-Cola and juice in North America. Source
  • Asia Pacific share fell in India: Asia Pacific lost value share in total NARTD beverages. Gains in Japan and China did not offset a loss in India. Source
  • Concentrate shipments timing: Concentrate sales trailed unit case volume by 1 point because of when concentrate shipments were made in the quarter. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow of $7.5 billion: Six-month cash from operations was $7,543 million and free cash flow was $6,859 million, after $684 million of property, plant and equipment purchases. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks rose: Six-month dividends were $4,562 million, against $2,283 million a year earlier. Treasury stock purchases were $663 million, against $472 million. Source
  • Current debt maturities rose: Current maturities of long-term debt were $6,494 million at July 3, 2026, against $1,822 million at December 31, 2025. Long-term debt was $37,001 million. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Comparable EPS growth raised: Comparable EPS growth is now 9% to 10%, up from 8% to 9%, including an approx. 3% currency tailwind and an approx. 1% acquisitions and divestitures headwind, both kept. Source
  • Organic revenue target raised: Organic revenue growth is now approx. 5%, from 4% to 5%, after 6% growth in the quarter and 8% in the six months. Source
  • Free cash flow target raised: Free cash flow is now approx. $12.4 billion, made up of approx. $14.6 billion of cash from operations less approx. $2.2 billion of capital expenditures. Source
  • Third-quarter EPS currency tailwind: Third-quarter comparable EPS is expected to include approx. 3% currency tailwind and minimal headwind from acquisitions and divestitures. Source

Strategy and investment

  • FIFA World Cup campaign at scale: The World Cup campaign covered more than 180 markets, with more than 60 billion digital and social impressions and over 9 billion views. Source
  • Innovation hubs in each unit: Innovation hubs are being set up in each operating unit to turn consumer insights into locally relevant products and move successful ideas faster between markets. Source
  • Local adaptation of a U.S. flavor: In China, a lemon-forward version of the U.S. Sprite+Tea innovation supported Sprite volume growth during the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Zero Zero extended to more regions: Coca-Cola Zero Zero, with redesigned packaging, is being extended to Asia Pacific and Latin America after results in Europe. Source
  • BODYARMOR FIT expansion: Functional offerings are being expanded, including BODYARMOR FIT, a sparkling sports drink combining zero sugar with electrolytes and caffeine. Source
  • Africa bottling sale expected to close: Management assumes the sale closes towards the end of the third quarter or during the fourth quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Unit case volume growth Source5%
Concentrate sales growth Source4%
Sparkling soft drinks volume growth Source4%
Trademark Coca-Cola volume growth Source5%
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volume growth Source16%
Powerade volume growth Source8%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said it sees a dynamic consumer landscape and is leveraging brands and its system to gain value share. Source
  • Operational: Higher input costs partly offset comparable gains in Bottling Investments and in several other segments. Source
  • Financial: The underlying tax rate excludes any impact from the ongoing IRS tax litigation if the company were not to prevail. Source
  • Regulatory: The Africa bottling sale is subject to regulatory approvals and is assumed to close late in 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter comparable EPS was expected to include about a 3% currency tailwind; the reported result showed a 2-point tailwind.
  • Not stated: Prior guidance assumed the sale closes in the second half of 2026; the current assumption is late third quarter or fourth quarter.
  • Not stated: This was the earlier full-year organic revenue target; the current figure is approx. 5%.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.