Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), one of Warren Buffett’s best-known and longest-held stock favorites, has gained more than 26% in 2026, lifting the value of Berkshire Hathaway’s (NYSE: BRK.A) 400 million-share stake above $35 billion.
As of July 28, KO shares had rallied 26.26%, closing the day at about $88.27. During the pre-market session on July 29, KO traded at around $87.82.
The Coca-Cola Co. stock has gained over 20% year-to-date (YTD) following technical bullish breakouts in early February and July. Notably, KO’s share price climbed from a low of $67.50 earlier this year to roughly $81 by early March, following the company’s strong fourth-quarter 2025 results and an increase in its 2026 revenue expectations, as Finbold reported.
After a multi-month consolidation from March to mid-July, KO stock has gained 7.39% over the last seven days. Coca-Cola shares experienced stronger bullish sentiment this week due to robust fundamentals, including better-than-expected earnings.
Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected second-quarter 2026 results, with comparable EPS (earnings per share) of $0.97 beating the $0.93 consensus estimate and net revenues of $13.4 billion exceeding the $13.16 to $13.17 billion forecast.
As such, Berkshire Hathaway’s 400 million-share stake in Coca-Cola, representing 9.3% of the company’s outstanding shares, was worth $35.128 billion at the time of reporting.
Why is Buffett bullish on KO stock?
Coca-Cola’s strong 2026 performance has been matched by growing optimism on Wall Street. Following the company’s better-than-expected second-quarter earnings on July 28, seven analysts updated their ratings or price targets.
Peter Galbo of Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) and Robert Ottenstein of Evercore ISI lifted their 12-month price targets for KO stock to $100, implying a potential 13.29% upside. As a result, 16 analysts have set a ‘Strong Buy’ consensus rating on KO stock for the next 12 months, according to a survey from TipRanks.
Buffett could be bullish on Coca-Cola due to its consistent dividend payments. The company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, payable on October 1, 2026, backed by higher expected earnings. Moreover, Coca-Cola raised its full-year 2026 guidance from 4% organic revenue growth and 8%-9% comparable EPS growth to roughly 5% and 9%–10%, respectively.
Together, Coca-Cola’s earnings strength, improved outlook, and shareholder-friendly capital allocation continue to cement its position as one of Berkshire Hathaway’s most enduring and successful investments in 2026.
