SKT

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) reported wider gross and operating margins for the third quarter of 2026, although underlying expansion was more modest after excluding currency movements, acquisitions and divestitures, and items affecting comparability. Organic revenue growth supported margins, while increased marketing investment and higher operating expenses limited operating leverage.

For the three months ended October 2, 2026, reported gross margin under U.S. GAAP rose 166 basis points to 63.15% from 61.49% a year earlier. Comparable gross margin, a non-GAAP measure, also increased 166 basis points, reaching 62.69%.

On a currency-neutral basis and excluding the effect of acquisitions and divestitures, underlying gross margin increased 93 basis points to 62.24%. Coca-Cola attributed the improvement to organic revenue growth. The sale of its finished-product operations in Nigeria provided an acquisitions-and-divestitures tailwind, while items affecting comparability were related to economic hedging activities.

Reported operating margin climbed 140 basis points to 33.37% from 31.97%. Comparable operating margin increased 106 basis points to 32.93%, while comparable currency-neutral operating margin rose 46 basis points to 32.33%.

After removing acquisition and divestiture effects, underlying operating margin expanded by 21 basis points to 32.33%. Organic revenue growth was the primary driver, partially offset by higher marketing investment and operating expenses. The Nigeria transaction also contributed positively to the operating-margin comparison.

Nine-month margins

For the nine months ended October 2, Coca-Cola’s GAAP gross margin increased 86 basis points to 63.00%. Comparable gross margin rose 88 basis points to 62.81%, while underlying gross margin advanced 20 basis points to 62.45%. Organic revenue growth supported the year-to-date improvement, but higher input costs offset part of the benefit.

GAAP operating margin for the nine-month period rose 139 basis points to 34.40%. Comparable operating margin increased 88 basis points to 34.33%, and underlying operating margin expanded 37 basis points to 34.05%.

The company said year-to-date underlying operating-margin growth reflected organic revenue growth and lower operating expenses, partially offset by higher input costs and increased marketing investment. The Nigeria divestiture remained a tailwind. Items affecting comparability primarily involved economic hedging activities and prior-year charges tied to remeasuring the fairlife contingent consideration liability.

The presentation did not include broader revenue, earnings or forward-guidance figures. Its margin analysis showed that organic revenue growth continued to provide operating support, while input costs, marketing spending, operating expenses and currency effects remained important factors shaping reported and underlying profitability.

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