KO vs PEP: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: PEP, with $93.9B of yearly revenue, about 2.0× KO's $47.9B.
  • More profitable: KO keeps 27 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 9 cents at PEP.
  • More cash from each sale: KO turns 15 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 13 cents at PEP.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

PepsiCo (PEP) is the larger business by reported revenue: $93.9B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 2.0× KO's $47.9B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). KO's net margin was 27.3% and PEP's 8.8%. Both file with the SEC under the same industry code, SIC 2080 (Beverages).

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Consumer Staples
SEC industry
Beverages
Same classification
Fiscal year ends
Different
KO December 31 · PEP December 26
Reviewed
Feb 20, 2026

KO vs PEP: quick comparison

Company factKOPEP
CompanyThe Coca-Cola CompanyPepsiCo, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
HeadquartersAtlanta, GeorgiaPurchase, New York
Founded18861898
SEC industryBeveragesBeverages
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 26
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-2010-K · 2026-02-03

KO vs PEP: audited financials

  • Scale: PEP's $93.9B of revenue is about 2.0× KO's $47.9B.
  • Net margin: KO kept 27.3% of revenue as net income versus 8.8% at PEP.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled KO 15.5% of revenue, or 0.57× net income; PEP 12.9% of revenue, or 1.47× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end 4 days apart (2025-12-31 and 2025-12-27), so these annual figures cover close to the same months.

KO: FY ending 2025-12-31 · PEP: FY ending 2025-12-27. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where KO and PEP overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Same SEC industry: both report under SIC 2080, Beverages.
  • Shared research theme: International markets.
  • Nearly aligned fiscal calendars: KO's year ends December 31 and PEP's December 26.

Differences

  • Scale: PEP reported about 2.0× the annual revenue of KO.
  • Profitability: net margin of 27.3% for KO versus 8.8% for PEP.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

Coca-Cola is the world's largest nonalcoholic beverage company, selling sparkling drinks, water, juice, and coffee through a global bottling network. Its brand strength and international reach make it a classic defensive holding.

PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)

PepsiCo combines a global beverage business with the Frito-Lay and Quaker snack and food franchises. The snack portfolio gives it a diversification advantage over pure-play drink companies.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves KO

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for KO. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-20.

What moves PEP

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for PEP. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-03.

The investment question

You now know PEP reports about 2.0× KO's revenue, and KO keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. KO's fiscal year ends December 31, while PEP's ends December 26. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 30 matched transaction rows for KO and 50 matched transaction rows for PEP. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

KO vs PEP FAQs

Are KO and PEP direct competitors?

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo share the SEC industry classification “Beverages.” That makes the operating comparison relevant, but it does not prove that every product, customer, or revenue stream competes directly.

Is KO or PEP the bigger company by revenue?

PepsiCo (PEP) is the larger business by reported revenue: $93.9B in its fiscal year ended Dec 2025, about 2.0× KO's $47.9B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). KO's net margin was 27.3% and PEP's 8.8%. Both file with the SEC under the same industry code, SIC 2080 (Beverages). Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, KO or PEP?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this KO vs PEP comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

KO vs PEP compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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