10 Best Dividend Kings Stocks to Invest in Now

4. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69

Warren Buffett’s favorite, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is an American multinational beverage corporation. The company has been grabbing analysts’ attention due to its strong market position. Recently, Piper Sandler initiated its coverage of the stock with an Overweight rating. The firm highlighted the company for its strong global brands and effective execution, which could drive sustainable growth and increase market share. Piper Sandler’s analysis emphasized Coca-Cola’s substantial brand investments and anticipated pricing strength, particularly in emerging markets, as critical elements contributing to its positive outlook.

As a global organization, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) encounters challenges in multiple regions rather than in just one area. Despite these obstacles, it has consistently managed to navigate regional issues while maintaining an unbroken streak of annual dividend increases, thereby boosting shareholder value. This showcases its remarkable resilience and commitment. Beyond its reputation for offering a dependable product, the company has also crafted outstanding marketing strategies that keep its brand highly visible and top of mind for consumers. The stock has surged by over 3% in the past 12 months.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), one of the best dividend kings, has been growing its payouts for 62 consecutive years. The company’s quarterly dividend comes in at $0.485 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.14%, as of January 13. Its dividend growth streak comes from the company’s cash generation. In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported an operating cash flow of $2.9 billion and its free cash flow amounted to $1.6 billion.

As of the close of Q3 2024, 69 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database owned stakes in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), up from 68 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a consolidated value of roughly $35 billion.