Coca-Cola Consolidated Reports Third Quarter and First Nine Months 2025 Results
Rhea-AI Summary
Coca-Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE) reported third quarter 2025 results for the period ended September 26, 2025 showing continued sales and profit growth.
Key Q3 highlights: net sales $1.888B (+6.9%), gross profit $748.5M (+7.2%), gross margin 39.6%, income from operations $246.6M (+8.6%), EPS $1.64 (+24%) and adjusted EPS $2.06 (+10%). Volume rose 3.3% in Q3. Year-to-date actions include ~$210M capital spending and ~$211M returned to shareholders via buybacks and dividends; full-year capex expected ~$300M.
Positive
- Net sales +6.9% to $1.888 billion in Q3 2025
- Gross profit +7.2% to $748.5 million in Q3 2025
- Earnings per share +24% to $1.64 in Q3 2025
- Adjusted EPS +10% to $2.06 in Q3 2025
- Volume +3.3% in Q3 2025
- Returned approximately $211 million to shareholders YTD 2025
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction 21 Alerts
On the day this news was published, COKE declined 0.12%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 21 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $14M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $12.04B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
- Third quarter of 2025 net sales increased
7% versus the third quarter of 2024. - Gross profit in the third quarter of 2025 was
$749 million , an increase of7% versus the third quarter of 2024. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2025 increased 10 basis points(a) to39.6% . - Income from operations for the third quarter of 2025 was
$247 million , an increase of$20 million , or9% . Operating margin for the third quarter of 2025 increased 20 basis points to13.1% . - Earnings per share for the third quarter of 2025 increased
$0.32 t o$1.64 , an increase of24% . On an adjusted(b) basis, earnings per share increased$0.18 t o$2.06 , or10% .
| Key Results | |||||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter | First Nine Months | ||||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | Change | 2025 | 2024 | Change | |||||||||||||
| Volume(1) | 92.8 | 89.9 | 260.3 | 263.4 | (1.2)% | ||||||||||||||
| Net sales | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 39.6% | 39.5% | 39.8% | 39.9% | |||||||||||||||
| Income from operations | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating margin | 13.1% | 12.9% | 13.3% | 13.6% | |||||||||||||||
| Beverage Sales | Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||||
| (in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | Change | 2025 | 2024 | Change | |||||||||||||
| Sparkling bottle/can | |||||||||||||||||||
| Still bottle/can | |||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Volume is measured on a standard physical case basis and is used to standardize differing package configurations delivered via direct store delivery. |
Third Quarter and First Nine Months 2025 Review
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coca‑Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ: COKE) today reported operating results for the third quarter ended September 26, 2025 and the first nine months of fiscal 2025.
“Our third quarter results reflect the ongoing dedication and resilience of our 17,000 teammates,” said J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are beginning to see early returns on the teammate investment we announced last quarter, as our continued momentum in sales execution has led to solid market share growth across our portfolio. Our strong financial performance has allowed us to execute on our commitment to return capital to stockholders with over
Volume was up
Net sales increased
Gross profit in the third quarter of 2025 was
“Our team’s relentless focus on timely, thoughtful execution combined with a strong brand portfolio is resulting in impressive operating results in a demanding retail landscape,” said Dave Katz, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Investments in our supply chain and selling capabilities have allowed us to meet the increasing demands of our customers while delivering profitable growth in a dynamic period of cost inflation. Our business remains healthy, we have momentum in brands throughout our portfolio and we have a customer-focused team executing across our territory, all of which support our ability to continue to deliver strong business performance.”
Selling, delivery and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses in the third quarter of 2025 increased
Income from operations in the third quarter of 2025 was
Net income in the third quarter of 2025 was
Net income in the first nine months of 2025 was
Cash flows from operations for the first nine months of 2025 were
| (a) | All comparisons are to the corresponding period in the prior year unless specified otherwise. |
| (b) | The discussion of the operating results for the third quarter ended September 26, 2025 and the first nine months of fiscal 2025 includes selected non-GAAP financial information, such as “comparable” and “adjusted” results. The schedules in this news release reconcile such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. |
| CONTACTS: | |
| Brian K. Little (Media) | Matt Blickley (Investors) |
| Vice President, Corporate Communications Officer | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer |
| (980) 378-5537 | (704) 557-4910 |
| Brian.Little@cokeconsolidated.com | Matt.Blickley@cokeconsolidated.com |
A PDF accompanying this release is available at: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/82117286-961a-48bc-8fb7-8fe6704c4111
About Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca‑Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE) is the largest Coca‑Cola bottler in the United States. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca‑Cola Company, and other partner companies, in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia, to approximately 60 million consumers. For over 123 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably.
More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca‑Cola Consolidated on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release are “forward-looking statements” subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties which we expect will or may occur in the future and may impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this news release. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: increased costs (including due to inflation) or disruption, unavailability or shortages of raw materials, fuel and other supplies; the reliance on purchased finished products from external sources; changes in public and consumer perception and preferences, including concerns related to product safety and sustainability, artificial ingredients, brand reputation and obesity; changes in government regulations related to nonalcoholic beverages, including regulations related to obesity, public health, artificial ingredients, recycling, sustainability and product safety; decreases from historic levels of marketing funding support provided to us by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies; material changes in the performance requirements for marketing funding support or our inability to meet such requirements; decreases from historic levels of advertising, marketing and product innovation spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, or advertising campaigns that are negatively perceived by the public; any failure of the several Coca‑Cola system governance entities of which we are a participant to function efficiently or in our best interest and any failure or delay of ours to receive anticipated benefits from these governance entities; provisions in our beverage distribution and manufacturing agreements with The Coca‑Cola Company that could delay or prevent a change in control of us or a sale of our Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses; the concentration of our capital stock ownership; our inability to meet requirements under our beverage distribution and manufacturing agreements; changes in the inputs used to calculate our acquisition related contingent consideration liability; technology failures or cyberattacks on our information technology systems or our effective response to technology failures or cyberattacks on our third-party service providers’, business partners’, customers’, suppliers’ or other third parties’ information technology systems; unfavorable changes in the general economy; changes in trade policies, including the imposition of, or increase in, tariffs on imported goods; the concentration risks among our customers and suppliers; lower than expected net pricing of our products resulting from continued and increased customer and competitor consolidations and marketplace competition; the effect of changes in our level of debt, borrowing costs and credit ratings on our access to capital and credit markets, operating flexibility and ability to obtain additional financing to fund future needs; the failure to attract, train and retain qualified employees while controlling labor costs and other labor issues; the failure to maintain productive relationships with our employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, including failing to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements; changes in accounting standards; our use of estimates and assumptions; changes in tax laws, disagreements with tax authorities or additional tax liabilities; changes in legal contingencies; natural disasters, changing weather patterns and unfavorable weather; and climate change or legislative or regulatory responses to such change. These and other factors are discussed in the Company’s regulatory filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update them, except as may be required by applicable law.
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) | ||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter | First Nine Months | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,888,317 | $ | 1,765,652 | $ | 5,323,813 | $ | 5,153,221 | ||||||||
| Cost of sales | 1,139,801 | 1,067,616 | 3,205,697 | 3,097,916 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 748,516 | 698,036 | 2,118,116 | 2,055,305 | ||||||||||||
| Selling, delivery and administrative expenses | 501,882 | 470,981 | 1,409,578 | 1,353,704 | ||||||||||||
| Income from operations | 246,634 | 227,055 | 708,538 | 701,601 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 4,687 | 2,187 | 17,509 | (2,149 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other expense, net | 49,717 | 69,305 | 106,334 | 93,127 | ||||||||||||
| Income before taxes | 192,230 | 155,563 | 584,695 | 610,623 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 49,896 | 39,939 | 151,363 | 156,446 | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 142,334 | $ | 115,624 | $ | 433,332 | $ | 454,177 | ||||||||
| Basic net income per share(c): | ||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.32 | $ | 4.99 | $ | 4.97 | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding | 76,554 | 77,560 | 76,881 | 81,405 | ||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.32 | $ | 4.98 | $ | 4.93 | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of Class B Common Stock shares outstanding | 10,047 | 10,047 | 10,047 | 10,047 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per share(c): | ||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.32 | $ | 4.98 | $ | 4.96 | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution | 86,728 | 87,719 | 87,070 | 91,578 | ||||||||||||
| Class B Common Stock | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.32 | $ | 4.97 | $ | 4.90 | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of Class B Common Stock shares outstanding – assuming dilution | 10,174 | 10,159 | 10,189 | 10,173 | ||||||||||||
| (c) | All share or per share amounts impacting the net income per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of a 10-for-1 forward stock split executed by the Company during the second quarter of 2025. |
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | September 26, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,532,473 | $ | 1,135,824 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 149,061 | 301,210 | ||||||
| Trade accounts receivable, net | 575,451 | 552,979 | ||||||
| Other accounts receivable | 135,348 | 130,563 | ||||||
| Inventories | 354,857 | 330,395 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 100,550 | 96,331 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 2,847,740 | 2,547,302 | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 1,543,793 | 1,505,267 | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets - operating leases | 121,485 | 112,351 | ||||||
| Leased property under financing leases, net | 1,261 | 3,138 | ||||||
| Other assets | 210,083 | 181,048 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 165,903 | 165,903 | ||||||
| Other identifiable intangible assets, net | 778,245 | 798,130 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 5,668,510 | $ | 5,313,139 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Current portion of debt | $ | 349,945 | $ | 349,699 | ||||
| Current portion of obligations under operating leases | 24,544 | 23,257 | ||||||
| Current portion of obligations under financing leases | 548 | 2,685 | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 1,018,612 | 937,528 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,393,649 | 1,313,169 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 133,465 | 132,941 | ||||||
| Pension and postretirement benefit obligations and other liabilities | 964,089 | 918,061 | ||||||
| Noncurrent portion of obligations under operating leases | 101,614 | 92,362 | ||||||
| Noncurrent portion of obligations under financing leases | 1,330 | 2,346 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 1,438,439 | 1,436,649 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 4,032,586 | 3,895,528 | ||||||
| Equity: | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | 1,635,924 | 1,417,611 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 5,668,510 | $ | 5,313,139 | ||||
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) | ||||||||
| First Nine Months | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 433,332 | $ | 454,177 | ||||
| Depreciation expense, amortization of intangible assets and deferred proceeds, net | 163,224 | 143,179 | ||||||
| Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration | 104,468 | 90,877 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 523 | (18,030 | ) | |||||
| Change in current assets and current liabilities | 38,581 | 55,763 | ||||||
| Change in noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities | (19,120 | ) | (23,650 | ) | ||||
| Other | 1,905 | 5,577 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 722,913 | $ | 707,893 | ||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
| Additions to property, plant and equipment | $ | (209,994 | ) | $ | (287,333 | ) | ||
| Purchases and disposals of short-term investments | 156,643 | (211,256 | ) | |||||
| Other | (8,324 | ) | (9,369 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (61,675 | ) | $ | (507,958 | ) | ||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Payments related to share repurchases | $ | (145,698 | ) | $ | (574,009 | ) | ||
| Cash dividends paid | (65,310 | ) | (163,733 | ) | ||||
| Payments of acquisition related contingent consideration | (51,639 | ) | (44,243 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from bond issuance | — | 1,200,000 | ||||||
| Other | (1,942 | ) | (17,213 | ) | ||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | $ | (264,589 | ) | $ | 400,802 | |||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during period | $ | 396,649 | $ | 600,737 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,135,824 | 635,269 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 1,532,473 | $ | 1,236,006 | ||||
| COMPARABLE AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES(d) The following tables reconcile reported results (GAAP) to comparable and adjusted results (non-GAAP): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | Gross profit | SD&A expenses | Income from operations | Income before taxes | Net income | Basic net income per share(c) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reported results (GAAP) | $ | 748,516 | $ | 501,882 | $ | 246,634 | $ | 192,230 | $ | 142,334 | $ | 1.64 | ||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration | — | — | — | 49,350 | 37,111 | 0.42 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments | (378 | ) | (84 | ) | (294 | ) | (294 | ) | (221 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
| Total reconciling items | (378 | ) | (84 | ) | (294 | ) | 49,056 | 36,890 | 0.42 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted results (non-GAAP) | $ | 748,138 | $ | 501,798 | $ | 246,340 | $ | 241,286 | $ | 179,224 | $ | 2.06 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted % Change vs. Third Quarter 2024 | 7.4 | % | 6.7 | % | 8.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Third Quarter 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | Gross profit | SD&A expenses | Income from operations | Income before taxes | Net income | Basic net income per share(c) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reported results (GAAP) | $ | 698,036 | $ | 470,981 | $ | 227,055 | $ | 155,563 | $ | 115,624 | $ | 1.32 | ||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration | — | — | — | 68,592 | 51,652 | 0.57 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments | (1,426 | ) | (631 | ) | (795 | ) | (795 | ) | (599 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total reconciling items | (1,426 | ) | (631 | ) | (795 | ) | 67,797 | 51,053 | 0.56 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted results (non-GAAP) | $ | 696,610 | $ | 470,350 | $ | 226,260 | $ | 223,360 | $ | 166,677 | $ | 1.88 | ||||||||||||
Results for the first nine months of 2024 include two additional selling days compared to the first nine months of 2025. For comparison purposes, the estimated impact of the additional selling days in the first nine months of 2024 has been excluded from our comparable(b) volume results.
| First Nine Months | |||||||||
| (in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | Change | ||||||
| Volume | 260.3 | 263.4 | (1.2 | )% | |||||
| Volume related to extra days in fiscal period | — | (1.7 | ) | ||||||
| Comparable volume | 260.3 | 261.7 | (0.5 | )% | |||||
| First Nine Months 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | Gross profit | SD&A expenses | Income from operations | Income before taxes | Net income | Basic net income per share(c) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reported results (GAAP) | $ | 2,118,116 | $ | 1,409,578 | $ | 708,538 | $ | 584,695 | $ | 433,332 | $ | 4.99 | ||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration | — | — | — | 104,468 | 78,560 | 0.90 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments | (899 | ) | 770 | (1,669 | ) | (1,669 | ) | (1,255 | ) | (0.01 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total reconciling items | (899 | ) | 770 | (1,669 | ) | 102,799 | 77,305 | 0.89 | ||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted results (non-GAAP) | $ | 2,117,217 | $ | 1,410,348 | $ | 706,869 | $ | 687,494 | $ | 510,637 | $ | 5.88 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted % Change vs. First Nine Months 2024 | 3.1 | % | 4.2 | % | 0.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| First Nine Months 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | Gross profit | SD&A expenses | Income from operations | Income before taxes | Net income | Basic net income per share(c) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reported results (GAAP) | $ | 2,055,305 | $ | 1,353,704 | $ | 701,601 | $ | 610,623 | $ | 454,177 | $ | 4.97 | ||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration | — | — | — | 90,877 | 68,430 | 0.75 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments | (1,345 | ) | (420 | ) | (925 | ) | (925 | ) | (697 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total reconciling items | (1,345 | ) | (420 | ) | (925 | ) | 89,952 | 67,733 | 0.74 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted results (non-GAAP) | $ | 2,053,960 | $ | 1,353,284 | $ | 700,676 | $ | 700,575 | $ | 521,910 | $ | 5.71 | ||||||||||||
| (d) | The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of the financial statements with additional, meaningful financial information that should be considered, in addition to the measures reported in accordance with GAAP, when assessing the Company’s ongoing performance. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting. |
FAQ
What were Coca-Cola Consolidated (COKE) third quarter 2025 net sales and growth rate?
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