Coca-Cola Co (KO): Today's Featured Food & Beverage Laggard

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Coca-Cola (KO) pushed the Food & Beverage industry lower today making it today's featured Food & Beverage laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.1%. By the end of trading, Coca-Cola fell 52 cents (-1.4%) to $37.48 on average volume. Throughout the day, 17.1 million shares of Coca-Cola exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 12.6 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $37.38-$38.05 after having opened the day at $38.05 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $38. Other companies within the Food & Beverage industry that declined today were: Reeds (REED), down 6.6%, Origin Agritech (SEED), down 4.5%, Le Gaga Holdings (GAGA), down 4%, and Feihe International (ADY), down 3%.

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The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company primarily offers sparkling beverages and still beverages. Coca-Cola has a market cap of $171.84 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.2, equal to the average food & beverage industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 8.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Coca-Cola a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Coca-Cola as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, increase in stock price during the past year, expanding profit margins and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Coca-Cola Ratings Report.

On the positive front, China New Borun Corporation (BORN), up 12.4%, SkyPeople Fruit Juice (SPU), up 6.2%, Tianli Agritech (OINK), up 3.6%, and Embotelladora Andina (AKO.B), up 3.6%, were all gainers within the food & beverage industry with Smithfield Foods (SFD) being today's featured food & beverage industry leader.

• Use our food & beverage section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the food & beverage industry could consider PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage (PBJ) while those bearish on the food & beverage industry could consider PowerShares DB Agriculture Sht ETN (ADZ).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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For more information on Coca-Cola Co click any of the following:

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