Top Insiders Are Trading Their Shares of This Giant Beverage Company

April 05, 2011

Barry Diller, who is a Director of Coca Cola (NYSE:KO), is very bullish on the company. On February 28th, 2011, he bought 235,000 shares at a market price of $64.44, for a total cost of $15,142,930. KO is trading at $67.60, making his stake worth close to $16 million.

Other insiders who recently acquire or sold stakes in KO (NYSE:KO):

Harry L Anderson, who is a Senior Vice President, exercised 41,750 options at a cost of $44.66 per option, and subsequently sold 41,750 shares at market prices between $64.90 and $64.95, for net proceeds of $846,273. He presently holds 39,802 shares, out of a float of about 3,200,000,000.
Alexander B Cummings, Jr., who is an Executive Vice President, sold 5,500 shares at a market price of $65 per share, for total proceeds of $357,500. He presently holds 120,059 shares, out of a float of approximately 3,200,000,000.
J Alexander Douglas, Jr., who is a Group President, exercised 24,000 options at a cost of $44.66 per option, and subsequently sold 36,948 shares at a market price of $65 per share, for net proceeds of $1,329,900. He presently holds 108,012 shares, out of a float of about 3,200,000,000.
Evan G Greenberg, who is a Director, bought 3,896 shares at a market price of $64.17, for a total cost of $249,995. He presently holds 3,896 shares, out of a float of approximately 3,200,000,000 shares.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) has returned 2.71% year-to-date and 22.15% over the past 52 weeks. Its market capitalization is $155.04 billion as of the most recent trade today, its price-to-earnings ratio is 13.38, and its beta is 0.6. The company has been solidly profitable over the past year. Its net profit margin is 33.7%, its operating profit margin is 24.06%, its EBITD margin is 27.78%, its return on assets is 19.51%, and its return on equity is 42.32%.

About the company: The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) manufactures, markets, and distributes soft drink concentrates and syrups. The Company also distributes and markets juice and juice-drink products. Coca-Cola distributes its products to retailers and wholesalers in the United States and internationally. Companies in Coca-Cola’s category (i.e. allies and competitors) include: Pepsi (NYSE:PEP), Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), Jones Soda (NASDAQ:JSDA), Hansen Natural Corp (NASDAQ:HANS), Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE:DPS), Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE:CCE), Sonic Corp (NASDAQ:SONC), Wendy’s (NYSE:WEN), Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM), Heckmann Corp (NYSE:HEK) and McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD).