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BUD or KO or KR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) vs. The Coca-Cola Company (KO) vs. The Kroger Co. (KR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- BUD delivered strong YTD returns around 14%, buoyed by Q4 earnings beats and optimistic 2026 EBITDA growth guidance of 4-8%.
- KO showed stable YTD gains near 10%, supported by 2% full-year revenue growth to $47.9B and a leadership transition emphasizing digital transformation.
- KR led recent momentum with YTD returns over 18% and Q4 EPS beats, driven by 20% e-commerce growth despite modest sales increases.
- All three exhibit defensive qualities in consumer staples, but KR's forward P/E around 13.5x appears most attractive relative to peers.
- Recent market activity highlights BUD and KR momentum from earnings, while KO prioritizes dividend reliability as a Dividend King.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines BUD, KO, and KR, three consumer staples giants spanning beverages and grocery retail. These stocks appeal to investors seeking stability amid market volatility, offering exposure to essential goods with resilient demand. Traders may value their relative performance in recent weeks, influenced by earnings reports and strategic shifts, while long-term holders appreciate dividend histories and growth potential in e-commerce and premium brands. In the current environment, understanding their business models, momentum, and valuations aids informed positioning in defensive sectors.
BUD Overview and Recent Performance
Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), the world's largest brewer, produces beers like Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. With over 500 brands and 131,000 employees, it focuses on premiumization and operational efficiencies. In recent market activity, BUD shares traded around $73.65, reflecting YTD gains of about 14% and 1-year returns near 20%, outperforming benchmarks. Sentiment has been bolstered by Q4 2025 earnings beats, with revenue up despite volume pressures, and 2026 guidance for 4-8% organic EBITDA growth. Factors include share buybacks exceeding $696 million, a 15% dividend hike, and margin expansion to 35.8%, though currency headwinds from emerging markets tempered results.
KO Overview and Recent Performance
The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is a global beverage leader with over 200 brands in sparkling drinks, water, juices, and coffee, sold in more than 200 countries. It emphasizes brand investment and bottler partnerships for distribution. Recently, KO shares hovered near $77, posting YTD returns around 10% and steady 1-year gains of 9%. Performance reflects full-year 2025 net revenue growth of 2% to $47.9 billion and EPS up 23% to $3.04, with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volumes rising 14%. Influences include a 4% dividend increase to $0.53 quarterly, leadership changes with Henrique Braun as new CEO, and digital initiatives for efficiency. Currency fluctuations and costs posed challenges, yet operating margins expanded amid resilient consumer demand.
KR Overview and Recent Performance
The Kroger Co. (KR), one of the largest U.S. grocery retailers, operates over 2,700 stores under banners like Kroger and Ralphs, serving 11 million daily customers. It emphasizes fresh foods, digital sales, and sustainability. In recent weeks, KR shares reached near $74, with YTD returns exceeding 18% and 1-year gains around 18%. Q4 2025 identical sales without fuel rose 2.4%, e-commerce surged 20%, and adjusted EPS hit $1.28, beating estimates despite revenue slightly missing. Key drivers include new CEO Greg Foran’s focus on affordability, AI investments via a Chief Data and AI Officer, and $2 billion share repurchase authorization. Guidance targets 1-2% identical sales growth and EPS of $5.10-$5.30 for 2026.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
BUD, KO, and KR operate in consumer staples but differ in models: BUD and KO focus on branded beverages with global reach and premium growth, while KR emphasizes U.S. grocery volume and e-commerce. Growth drivers include BUD's EBITDA margin expansion, KO's volume in zero-sugar variants, and KR's digital acceleration. Recent momentum favors KR (monthly +15%) over BUD (+12% 30-day) and KO (flat). Risks encompass BUD/ KO's FX exposure in emerging markets versus KR's competitive pricing pressures. Valuation sensitivity shows KR's forward P/E ~13.5x lowest, KO ~25x premium for stability, KO balanced. Sentiment tilts positive on earnings catalysts across all.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward KR based on superior recent trend consistency, e-commerce catalysts, attractive forward valuation, and leadership refresh signaling execution. While BUD offers rebound potential and KO unmatched stability, KR's relative momentum and positioning suggest higher probability of near-term outperformance in staples.
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
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), and KR’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- BUD’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- KO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- KR’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 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KO’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and KR’s TA Score reflects 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- BUD’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- KO’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- KR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
BUD (@Food: Meat/Fish/Dairy) experienced а +6.21% price change this week, while KO (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price change was +0.98% , and KR (@Food Retail) price fluctuated -6.03% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Meat/Fish/Dairy industry was +3.29%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.21%, and the average quarterly price growth was +8.14%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was +1.66%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.85%, and the average quarterly price growth was +164975.86%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food Retail industry was +0.67%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.48%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2.76%.
Reported Earning Dates
BUD is expected to report earnings on May 05, 2026.
KO is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
KR is expected to report earnings on Jun 11, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food: Meat/Fish/Dairy (+3.29% 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 (+1.66% 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.
@Food Retail (+0.67% weekly)The food retail industry includes companies that sell food, beverage and household products. Items sold include grocery, gourmet food, fresh produce, and frozen food. Kroger Co., George Weston Ltd., Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., and Sprouts Farmers Markets, Inc. are examples of major food retailers. While e-commerce companies like Amazon have increasingly been ramping-up offerings in the food retail space, several traditional players have also been expanding their online presence to stand their ground against rising competition.
| BUD | KO | KR | |
| Capitalization | 146B | 333B | 41.6B |
| EBITDA | 21B | 18.7B | 5.43B |
| Gain YTD | 18.254 | 11.576 | 9.365 |
| P/E Ratio | 22.34 | 25.48 | 44.15 |
| Revenue | 59.3B | 47.9B | 147B |
| Total Cash | 11.8B | N/A | 879M |
| Total Debt | 73B | 45.5B | 25.2B |
BUD | KO | KR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 15 | 10 | 56 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 51 Fair valued | 42 Fair valued | 55 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 67 | 10 | 23 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 75 | 20 | 77 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 34 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 56 | 74 | 10 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 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 (42) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as BUD (51) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry, and is in the same range as KR (55) in the Food Retail industry. This means that KO's stock grew similarly to BUD’s and similarly to KR’s over the last 12 months.
KO's Profit vs Risk Rating (10) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as KR (23) in the Food Retail industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for BUD (67) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry. This means that KO's stock grew similarly to KR’s and 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, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KR (77) in the Food Retail industry. This means that KO's stock grew somewhat faster than BUD’s and somewhat faster than KR’s over the last 12 months.
KO's Price Growth Rating (34) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as BUD (45) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry, and is in the same range as KR (50) in the Food Retail industry. This means that KO's stock grew similarly to BUD’s and similarly to KR’s over the last 12 months.
KR's P/E Growth Rating (10) in the Food Retail industry is somewhat better than the same rating for BUD (56) in the Beverages Alcoholic industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KO (74) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that KR's stock grew somewhat faster than BUD’s and somewhat faster than KO’s over the last 12 months.
| BUD | KO | KR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 50% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 33% | 1 day ago 68% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 33% | 1 day ago 49% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 36% | 1 day ago 39% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 55% | 1 day ago 38% | 1 day ago 47% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 36% | 1 day ago 53% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 55% | 3 days ago 39% | 6 days ago 57% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 16 days ago 54% | 23 days ago 29% | 1 day ago 47% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 51% | 1 day ago 27% | 1 day ago 69% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 56% | 1 day ago 23% | 1 day ago 58% |
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