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BUD vs KO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) vs. Coca-Cola (KO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- BUD has shown stronger YTD performance at around 12%, outpacing KO's 11% gain amid recent market activity.
- Both stocks reported solid Q4 2025 earnings beats, with BUD delivering underlying EPS of $0.95 and revenue up 4.8% year-over-year.
- KO offers a higher dividend yield of approximately 2.7%, compared to BUD's 1.8%, appealing to income-focused investors.
- BUD trades at a lower trailing P/E of 21.4 versus KO's 25.6, suggesting relative value in the brewer.
- Recent momentum favors BUD with premiumization and beyond-beer growth, while KO benefits from resilient non-alcoholic demand.
- Market caps stand at $142B for BUD and $335B for KO, reflecting differing scales in consumer staples.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines BUD (Anheuser-Busch InBev) and KO (Coca-Cola), two beverage giants navigating shifting consumer preferences in the consumer staples sector. Both companies operate globally, with BUD focusing on beer and beyond-beer products and KO dominating non-alcoholic beverages. Traders seeking relative performance insights and investors eyeing dividend stability or growth potential will find value here, especially amid recent earnings-driven momentum and economic uncertainties affecting discretionary spending in beverages.
BUD Overview and Recent Performance
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD), the world's largest brewer, produces and sells beer across regions including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Its portfolio includes megabrands like Budweiser and Stella Artois, alongside flavored malt beverages, soft drinks, and energy drinks. In recent market activity, BUD shares have gained about 12% YTD, supported by Q4 2025 results showing revenue up 4.8% to $15.56 billion and underlying EPS of $0.95, beating estimates. Full-year normalized EBITDA rose 4.9% with margin expansion to 35.8%, driven by premiumization, revenue per hectoliter growth of 4.4%, and megabrand momentum despite softer volumes. Sentiment has improved on disciplined cost management and free cash flow of $11.3 billion, though volumes dipped amid consumer pressures.
KO Overview and Recent Performance
The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is a leading non-alcoholic beverage firm, offering sparkling soft drinks, waters, juices, teas, and coffees across more than 200 countries. Its iconic Trademark Coca-Cola anchors a portfolio serving 2.2 billion drinks daily. Recently, KO shares advanced around 11% YTD, bolstered by Q4 2025 net revenues up 2% to $11.8 billion and comparable EPS growing 6% to $0.58, topping expectations. Full-year organic revenues increased 5%, with EPS up 23% to $3.04, fueled by price/mix gains and emerging market strength despite a Q4 impairment charge. Performance reflects brand resilience, value share in nonalcoholic ready-to-drink, and 64th consecutive dividend hike, though currency headwinds persisted.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
BUD and KO both thrive in beverages but diverge in models: BUD's brewing emphasizes premium beers and beyond-beer diversification, while KO's concentrate sales enable asset-light global reach. Growth drivers include BUD's premiumization (revenue per hl +4.4%) versus KO's price/mix and nonalcoholic share gains. Recent momentum tilts to BUD with YTD outperformance, but KO shows stability (beta 0.33 vs. 0.74). Risks for BUD involve volume sensitivity to economic slowdowns; KO faces currency volatility. Sector exposure overlaps in staples, but BUD has alcohol cyclicality while KO leans defensive. Sentiment favors BUD's earnings beats, trading at a discount P/E.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors BUD over KO based on superior recent trend consistency, YTD relative performance, lower valuation (P/E 21.4 vs. 25.6), and catalysts like premium growth and cash flow strength. While KO excels in dividend reliability and defensive positioning, BUD's momentum and earnings trajectory suggest higher probability of near-term outperformance in the current environment.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is BUD is a Hold and KO is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
BUD’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileKO’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- BUD’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- KO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
BUD’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KO’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- BUD’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- KO’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 7 bearish.
Price Growth
BUD (@Food: Meat/Fish/Dairy) experienced а +0.04% price change this week, while KO (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price change was -2.23% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Meat/Fish/Dairy industry was -0.04%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.93%, and the average quarterly price growth was +5.62%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was -0.77%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.88%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2073.90%.
Reported Earning Dates
BUD is expected to report earnings on May 05, 2026.
KO is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food: Meat/Fish/Dairy (-0.04% weekly)The meat, fish, and dairy food industry processes livestock, fish and milk products for consumer consumption. Some companies also process dairy byproducts. Tyson Foods, Inc., Hormel Foods Corporation and Pilgrims Pride Corp. are some of the biggest producers in this industry. Many of these companies are recipients of American farm subsidies. On the other hand, new-age food innovation like plant-based meat substitutes (which are designed to simulate chicken, beef, and pork sausage) could potentially augur disruptions and/or create new competition in this space.
@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic (-0.77% weekly)Non-alcoholic drinks include traces of alcohol or low alcohol content or without alcohol or alcohol removed. Functional Beverages, Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs), Sports Drinks, Fruit Beverages, and Bottled Water are some common types of non-alcoholic beverages. The largest segment in this market is soft drinks (think Pepsi and Coke). Many established companies in this space have also been stepping up production of low to zero-calorie varieties in recent years, to cater to a rising number of health-conscious consumers. Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Monster Beverage Corporation are some major non-alcoholic beverage makers.
| BUD | KO | BUD / KO | |
| Capitalization | 148B | 326B | 45% |
| EBITDA | 21B | 18.7B | 112% |
| Gain YTD | 18.301 | 9.084 | 201% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.35 | 24.91 | 90% |
| Revenue | 59.3B | 47.9B | 124% |
| Total Cash | 11.8B | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 73B | 45.5B | 160% |
BUD | KO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 18 | 71 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 50 Fair valued | 41 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 69 | 13 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 75 | 20 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 46 | 52 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 65 | 78 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 32 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
KO's Valuation (41) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as BUD (50) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry. This means that KO’s stock grew similarly to BUD’s over the last 12 months.
KO's Profit vs Risk Rating (13) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is somewhat better than the same rating for BUD (69) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry. This means that KO’s stock grew somewhat faster than BUD’s over the last 12 months.
KO's SMR Rating (20) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is somewhat better than the same rating for BUD (75) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry. This means that KO’s stock grew somewhat faster than BUD’s over the last 12 months.
BUD's Price Growth Rating (46) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry is in the same range as KO (52) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that BUD’s stock grew similarly to KO’s over the last 12 months.
BUD's P/E Growth Rating (65) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry is in the same range as KO (78) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that BUD’s stock grew similarly to KO’s over the last 12 months.
| BUD | KO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 67% | 3 days ago 75% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 42% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 43% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 40% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 35% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 31% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 54% | 11 days ago 39% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 30% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 15% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 48% | 3 days ago 21% |
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