Coca-Cola Consolidated: A Strong Finish to Fiscal Year 2024
Thursday, Feb 6, 2025 4:17 pm ET
Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ: COKE) is set to release its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results, providing investors with valuable insights into the company's performance and strategic direction. As the beverage industry continues to evolve, Coca-Cola Consolidated has demonstrated a strong commitment to growing its beverage portfolio and driving long-term value for shareholders.

The company's strategic focus on its beverage portfolio has contributed to its financial performance in the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024. By prioritizing growing brands across categories that add incremental system profit over the long term, Coca-Cola Consolidated has successfully expanded its water, sports, and tea offerings to 12 billion-dollar brands. This growth has added nearly $9 billion in incremental brand value since 2020, reflecting the company's relentless consumer centricity and ability to meet evolving consumer needs.
Coca-Cola Consolidated's commercial execution and pricing strategy have had a significant impact on its Sparkling and Still beverage categories. The company's strong commercial execution, coupled with pricing actions taken during the first quarter of 2024, has driven revenue growth in the Sparkling category. This growth is reflected in the company's net sales, which increased by 5.8% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, the company's gross margin improved by 90 basis points to 39.5% in the third quarter of 2024, partly due to the shift in product mix towards Sparkling beverages, which typically carry higher gross margins.
However, the company acknowledges the need to improve the performance of its Dasani and BodyArmor brands in the Still category. To address this, Coca-Cola Consolidated is excited about upcoming Still category offerings designed to strengthen this segment of the business. By reinvesting in the business to support overall growth and addressing distribution challenges, the company can continue to drive growth in both its Sparkling and Still beverage categories.

In conclusion, Coca-Cola Consolidated's strong finish to fiscal year 2024 is a testament to the company's strategic focus on its beverage portfolio and commitment to driving long-term value for shareholders. As the company continues to execute strong commercial strategies and reinvest in the business, investors can expect to see further growth and improved performance in both its Sparkling and Still beverage categories. With a strong foundation in place, Coca-Cola Consolidated is well-positioned to continue its success in the years to come.