Coca-Cola Consolidated Reports Second Quarter and First Half 2026 Results
Key Results
(1) Volume is measured on a standard physical case basis and is used to standardize differing package configurations delivered via direct store delivery.
Second Quarter and First Half 2026 Review
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coca‑Cola Consolidated, Inc. (NASDAQ: COKE) today reported operating results for the second quarter ended July 3, 2026 and the first half of fiscal 2026.
“We delivered a very strong second quarter, with volume growth of 7.6% and revenue growth of 10.6%, as enthusiasm around America250™ and the FIFA World Cup helped drive robust demand across our portfolio,” said J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “While driving strong operating results, we remained focused on improving the strength of our balance sheet, paying down $275 million of our debt in the first half of the year. I could not be more proud of our team for their steady focus on excellence every day, which is evident in the continued strength of our business results.”
Volume was up 7.6% in the second quarter of 2026 and up 10.3% in the first half of the year, or 7.1% on an adjusted (a) basis for the first half of 2026. Our Sparkling category volume increased 7.0% in the second quarter of 2026 and 9.4% in the first half of 2026, or 6.2% on an adjusted (a) basis. Sparkling volume growth reflected broad-based gains across the portfolio, led by our zero-sugar and flavor offerings. Still category volume increased 9.4% in the second quarter of 2026 and 12.9% in the first half of 2026, or 9.8% on an adjusted (a) basis. The Still category volume growth was driven by strong performance across many brands, including Core Power, Powerade, smartwater and Monster. Dasani casepack water, which carries a lower net selling price as compared to other Still products, also contributed to a portion of the growth within our Still category. In addition, total volume in the second quarter of 2026 was also higher as compared to the second quarter of 2025 due to the timing of the Fourth of July holiday, which we estimate impacted total volume by approximately 1.0%.
Net sales increased 10.6% to $2.1 billion in the second quarter of 2026. The growth in net sales was primarily the result of our volume growth and annual pricing actions, as well as a shift in the timing of the Fourth of July holiday. Sparkling and Still net sales increased 9.7% and 11.5%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the second quarter of 2025. The increase in Sparkling category net sales was driven primarily by sales of multi-pack, take-home aluminum can packages sold within our large store, club and value channels. Net sales of our Still products were especially strong in our convenience and value store channels.
Gross profit in the second quarter of 2026 was $778.4 million, an increase of $35.9 million, or 4.8%. On an adjusted (a) basis, gross profit increased $47.3 million, or 6.4%. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2026 decreased 210 basis points to 37.9%. Adjusted (a) gross margin in the second quarter of 2026 decreased 150 basis points to 38.4%. The reduction in gross margin resulted primarily from an increase in aluminum costs, which was caused by geopolitical conflicts, supply constraints and the impact of elevated tariffs. These elevated aluminum costs resulted in approximately $45 million in additional input costs compared to the second quarter of 2025, which outpaced our annual pricing actions.
“Solid operational execution drove strong second quarter results, despite continued macroeconomic uncertainty and higher input costs that continued to pressure gross margins,” said Dave Katz, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Our fifth consecutive quarter of market share growth was led by our Sparkling, particularly zero-sugar and flavors, and Sports Drink categories. As we look to the back half of the year, we remain focused on delivering affordability to consumers while driving strong marketplace execution to continue the commercial momentum we have built. We will also cycle our incremental investment in front-line teammates from last year, which we expect will moderate operating expenses growth for the remainder of the year. I remain confident in our team that we will carry this momentum throughout the balance of the year and deliver a strong 2026.”
Selling, delivery and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses in the second quarter of 2026 increased $36.7 million, or 7.8%. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 24.7% in the second quarter of 2026 from 25.4% in the second quarter of 2025. The increase in SD&A expenses was primarily driven by an additional investment in the base wages of our front-line teammates, which became effective at the beginning of the third quarter of 2025. The growth in SD&A expenses was also driven by an increase in labor costs related to annual wage adjustments, higher employee benefit costs and elevated fuel costs. In addition, increased volume in the second quarter was also a driver of variable expenses during the quarter. SD&A expenses in the first half of 2026 increased $88.9 million or 9.8%. Approximately $25.0 million of the increase was related to the six additional days in the first half of 2026.
Income from operations in the second quarter of 2026 was $271.3 million, compared to $272.1 million in the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 0.3%. On an adjusted (a) basis, income from operations in the second quarter of 2026 was $284.9 million, an increase of $14.9 million. Operating margin for the second quarter of 2026 was 13.2% as compared to 14.7% for the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of 150 basis points. Adjusted (a) operating margin for the second quarter of 2026 was 13.9% as compared to 14.6% for the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of 70 basis points. For the first half of 2026, income from operations increased $47.0 million, or 10.2%. The six additional selling days in the first half of 2026 accounted for approximately $30.0 million of the increase in income from operations.
Net income in the second quarter of 2026 was $158.8 million, compared to $187.4 million in the second quarter of 2025, a decline of $28.6 million, or 15.2%. On an adjusted (a) basis, net income in the second quarter of 2026 was $187.7 million, compared to $195.2 million in the second quarter of 2025, a decrease of $7.5 million, or 3.8%. Net income in the second quarter of 2026 was adversely impacted by non-cash, fair value adjustments to both our acquisition related contingent consideration and commodity hedging instruments, as well as an increase in net interest expense.
Net income for the first half of 2026 was $270.4 million, compared to $291.0 million in the first half of 2025, a decline of $20.6 million, or 7.1%. Net income for the first half of 2026 was adversely impacted by an increase in net interest expense and non-cash, fair value adjustments to our acquisition related contingent consideration. These decreases in net income were offset by the six additional days in the first half of 2026, which increased net income by approximately $22.6 million during the period. Income tax expense in the first half of 2026 was $96.0 million, compared to $101.5 million in the first half of 2025, resulting in an effective income tax rate of approximately 26% for both periods.
Cash flows from operations for the first half of 2026 were $420.6 million, compared to $406.2 million for the first half of 2025. During the first half of 2026, we invested approximately $147 million in capital expenditures. In fiscal year 2026, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $300 million. During the second quarter of 2026, we made early repayments of $125 million of principal on one of our term loans, for total year-to-date early term loan repayments of $275 million.
As noted above, the first quarter of 2026 included six extra days as compared to the first quarter of 2025. The fourth quarter of 2026 will include six fewer days as compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. The full fiscal years of 2026 and 2025 have the same number of days.
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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 124 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 uncertainty around tariffs) 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, product safety and benefit programs, including supplemental nutrition assistance programs; 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, or the increased frequency of any such events due to climate change, and public expectations around combatting 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, 2025. 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.
Results for the first half of 2026 include six additional days compared to the first half of 2025. For comparison purposes, the estimated impact of the additional days in the first half of 2026 has been excluded from our adjusted (a) volume and financial results below.