Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) investors back directors, oppose sustainability proposals
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
The Coca-Cola Company reported results of its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareowners held on April 29, 2026. All director nominees were elected, with support generally above 94% of votes cast; the lowest support was 76.00% for director Thomas S. Gayner and the highest was 99.84% for Henrique Braun.
Shareowners approved the advisory vote on executive compensation, with 90.84% of votes cast in favor. They also ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors, with 93.56% of votes cast in favor.
All eight shareowner proposals were rejected. Support for the proposals ranged from 0.81% of votes cast for a plastics packaging report to 22.31% for a proposal on plans to increase sustainability disclosure, with several others on sustainability, diversity and ingredients also receiving low support.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
8-K Event Classification
Item 5.07 — Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
1 item
Item 5.07
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Governance
Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.
Key Figures
Support for Henrique Braun: 99.84% votes for
Support for Thomas S. Gayner: 76.00% votes for
Say-on-pay support: 90.84% votes for
+5 more
8 metrics
Support for Henrique Braun
99.84% votes for
Election as director at 2026 Annual Meeting
Support for Thomas S. Gayner
76.00% votes for
Election as director at 2026 Annual Meeting
Say-on-pay support
90.84% votes for
Advisory vote to approve executive compensation
Auditor ratification support
93.56% votes for
Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors
Sustainability disclosure proposal support
22.31% votes for
Proposal on plans to increase sustainability disclosure
Plastics packaging proposal support
0.81% votes for
Proposal on plastics packaging policies report
DEI report proposal support
11.27% votes for
Proposal on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts
Ingredients risks proposal support
11.37% votes for
Proposal on risks related to ingredients
Key Terms
broker non-votes, Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation, independent auditors, shareowner proposal, +2 more
6 terms
broker non-votes financial
"Pursuant to Delaware law and the Company’s By-Laws, abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast"
Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.
Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation financial
"Item 2. Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation. Votes regarding this advisory proposal were as follows"
independent auditors financial
"Item 3. Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors."
Independent auditors are outside, licensed accountants who examine a company’s books, records and internal controls and issue an objective opinion on whether the financial statements accurately reflect the business’s financial position. Investors treat their report like a neutral inspector’s stamp — it increases trust, makes financial results easier to compare, and alerts readers if there are errors, omissions or other problems that could affect investment decisions.
abstentions financial
"abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast and do not affect the outcome of the votes"
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
May 1, 2026 (April 29, 2026 )
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | ||||||||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (404) 676-2121
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. ☐
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
(a)The 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareowners of The Coca-Cola Company (the “Company”) was held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The results of the matters submitted to a vote of the shareowners at the meeting are set forth below. Pursuant to Delaware law and the Company’s By-Laws, abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast and do not affect the outcome of the votes. Therefore, only votes for and against each matter are included in the percentages below.
(b)Item 1. Election of Directors. Shareowners elected each of the persons named below as Directors, to serve until the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareowners, as follows:
| FOR | % FOR | AGAINST | % AGAINST | ABSTENTIONS | BROKER NON-VOTES | |||||||||||||||
| Herb Allen | 3,070,951,760 | 95.76 | 135,974,332 | 4.24 | 7,088,305 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Bela Bajaria | 3,178,560,395 | 99.05 | 30,433,567 | 0.95 | 5,022,733 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Ana Botín | 3,142,319,991 | 97.91 | 67,007,690 | 2.09 | 4,668,652 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
Henrique Braun | 3,203,953,804 | 99.84 | 5,078,771 | 0.16 | 4,985,022 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher C. Davis | 3,044,263,740 | 94.86 | 164,902,725 | 5.14 | 4,851,132 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Carolyn Everson | 3,148,791,385 | 98.12 | 60,360,828 | 1.88 | 4,865,384 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Thomas S. Gayner | 2,438,766,678 | 76.00 | 770,081,008 | 24.00 | 5,180,451 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
Max Levchin | 3,176,167,552 | 98.98 | 32,652,507 | 1.02 | 5,211,278 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Amity Millhiser | 3,118,147,038 | 97.16 | 90,986,006 | 2.84 | 4,898,104 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| James Quincey | 3,144,443,152 | 98.00 | 64,283,428 | 2.00 | 5,304,568 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| Caroline J. Tsay | 3,151,127,216 | 98.20 | 57,677,917 | 1.80 | 5,226,204 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
| David B. Weinberg | 3,105,146,920 | 96.77 | 103,708,472 | 3.23 | 5,175,895 | 463,652,223 | ||||||||||||||
Item 2. Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation. Votes regarding this advisory proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 2,906,500,165 | 90.84 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 293,071,998 | 9.16 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 14,455,974 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | 463,652,223 | |||||||
Item 3. Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Auditors. Votes regarding this proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 3,435,467,152 | 93.56 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 236,395,960 | 6.44 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 5,820,375 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | N/A | |||||||
Item 4. Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Sustainability Committee By-Law Amendment. Votes regarding this proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 27,802,908 | 0.87 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 3,155,848,505 | 99.13 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 30,378,038 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | 463,652,223 | |||||||
Item 5. Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report Evaluating the Company’s Plastics Packaging Policies. Votes regarding this proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 25,722,443 | 0.81 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 3,165,079,075 | 99.19 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 23,226,971 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | 463,652,223 | |||||||
Item 6. Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on the Extent of the Company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts. Votes regarding this proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 358,483,570 | 11.27 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 2,823,426,583 | 88.73 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 32,118,353 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | 463,652,223 | |||||||
Item 7. Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on Risks Related to Ingredients. Votes regarding this proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 362,312,002 | 11.37 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 2,823,970,923 | 88.63 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 27,748,405 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | 463,652,223 | |||||||
Item 8. Shareowner Proposal Requesting a Report on the Company’s Plans to Increase Sustainability Disclosure. Votes regarding this proposal were as follows:
| Votes Cast For: | 711,641,137 | 22.31 | % | |||||
| Votes Cast Against: | 2,478,506,619 | 77.69 | % | |||||
| Abstentions: | 23,883,407 | |||||||
| Broker Non-Votes: | 463,652,223 | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE COCA-COLA COMPANY (REGISTRANT) | ||||||||
Date: May 1, 2026 | By: | /s/ Monica Howard Douglas | ||||||
| Monica Howard Douglas Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel | ||||||||
FAQ
How strongly did Coca-Cola (KO) investors support the board’s director nominees?
All director nominees were elected, with most receiving more than 94% of votes cast in favor. Support ranged from 76.00% for Thomas S. Gayner to 99.84% for Henrique Braun, indicating generally high backing for the board slate across the shareholder base.
Was Coca-Cola (KO) executive compensation approved in the 2026 advisory vote?
Yes. The advisory vote on executive compensation received 2,906,500,165 votes cast for, or 90.84% of votes cast, and 293,071,998 votes cast against. This level of support indicates strong shareowner approval of the company’s current executive pay program and related policies.
What were the results for Coca-Cola (KO) proposals on diversity and ingredient risks?
The proposal on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts received 11.27% of votes cast for and 88.73% against. The proposal on risks related to ingredients received 11.37% of votes cast for and 88.63% against, so both measures failed with limited shareowner support overall.