Yield Theory

Consumer Staples stock comparison

KO vs STZ: which business are you actually underwriting?

Compare The Coca-Cola Company with Constellation Brands, Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
Sector
Consumer
Industry
Same SIC
Shared themes
0
Updated
2026-04-22

KO vs STZ: quick comparison

Company factKOSTZ
CompanyThe Coca-Cola CompanyConstellation Brands, Inc.
ExchangeNYSENYSE
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia—
Founded1886—
SEC industryBeveragesBeverages
Fiscal year-endDecember 31February 28
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-2010-K · 2026-04-22

KO vs STZ: audited financials

KO reported about 5.2× the revenue of STZ in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, KO converted a larger share of revenue into net income (27.3% versus 18.5%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.

MetricKOSTZ
Revenue$47.9B$9.1B
Net income$13.1B$1.7B
Operating cash flow$7.4B$2.7B
Diluted EPS$3.04—
Net margin27.3%18.5%

KO: FY ending 2025-12-31 · STZ: FY ending 2026-02-28. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

How the businesses differ

Why this pair belongs in the comparison set

KO and STZ share the SEC industry classification “Beverages,” giving the comparison a primary-source operating relationship. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.

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.

Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ)

Constellation Brands produces and imports beer, wine, and spirits including Corona and Modelo in the US.

The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. KO is classified by the SEC as Beverages, while STZ is classified as Beverages. The matching industry code strengthens the peer comparison, although product mix can still differ materially.

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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.

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Which thesis does each company fit?

Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.

Study KO when…

  • Input-cost inflation and pricing power
  • Private-label competition and volume trends
  • Currency, given large international revenue
  • Defensive rotation when growth slows

Study STZ when…

  • Input-cost inflation and pricing power
  • Private-label competition and volume trends
  • Currency, given large international revenue
  • Defensive rotation when growth slows

Shared research themes

Beverages (SEC industry)

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 STZ's ends February 28. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 29matched transaction rows for KOand 13 for STZ. 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 STZ FAQs

Are KO and STZ direct competitors?

The Coca-Cola Company and Constellation Brands, Inc. 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.

Which is better, KO or STZ?

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 STZ 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 Constellation Brands, 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 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.

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