Coca-Cola's Share Surge Continues with 27% Rally

Coca-Cola's (KO) shares have surged 27% this year after five consecutive quarters of beating earnings estimates, prompting a 'BUY' rating from 24/7 Wall St. with a price target of $101.47 over the next 12 months.

The company has maintained its premium pricing power and low capital needs due to its franchise bottling system, which includes brands such as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, fairlife, Powerade, smartwater, Fuze Tea, Costa, and Topo Chico.

Coca-Cola's operating margin is nearly double that of PepsiCo (PEP), supporting its premium status. The company has also raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years, with a current yield of 2.32%.