DEO vs. KO: Diageo vs. Coca-Cola Stock Comparison
How do Diageo (DEO) and Coca-Cola (KO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Diageo (DEO) and Coca-Cola (KO) both belong to the Beverages industry, though DEO is classified under Distillers & Vintners while KO falls under Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages.
Coca-Cola (KO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Diageo (DEO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Diageo plc Sponsored ADR | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Food, Beverage & Tobacco | Food, Beverage & Tobacco |
| GICS Industry | Beverages | Beverages |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Distillers & Vintners | Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages |
| Market Capitalization | 55.56 billion USD | 411.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 14, 1991 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.51% | 39.33% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -11.57% | 22.59% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -10.73% | 14.43% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.21% | 18.90% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.52 | 0.27 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -63.41% | -17.27% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.07M | 16.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.28 | 1.85 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 3.17 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Coca-Cola (KO) at 40.59% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Diageo (DEO) at 14.99%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
14.99%
- Max
- 32.02%
- Q3
- 16.61%
- DEO
- 14.99%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.10%
- Min
- -10.50%
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
40.59%
- KO
- 40.59%
- Max
- 32.02%
- Q3
- 16.61%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.10%
- Min
- -10.50%
Net Margin (TTM)
Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.65% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Diageo (DEO) at 8.84% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
8.84%
- Max
- 24.83%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- DEO
- 8.84%
- Median
- 5.94%
- Q1
- 2.05%
- Min
- -11.49%
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
28.65%
- KO
- 28.65%
- Max
- 24.83%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- Median
- 5.94%
- Q1
- 2.05%
- Min
- -11.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Diageo (DEO) at 27.04% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 33.36% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
27.04%
- Max
- 34.91%
- DEO
- 27.04%
- Q3
- 17.57%
- Median
- 11.06%
- Q1
- 4.15%
- Min
- -15.06%
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
33.36%
- Max
- 34.91%
- KO
- 33.36%
- Q3
- 17.57%
- Median
- 11.06%
- Q1
- 4.15%
- Min
- -15.06%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 14.99% | 40.59% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.48% | 9.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.84% | 28.65% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 27.04% | 33.36% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 59.82% | 62.32% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.87% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Diageo (DEO) at -2.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Coca-Cola (KO) at 23.58% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Diageo (DEO) at -26.30% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for KO.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.97% | 1.87% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.50% | 3.69% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -26.30% | 23.58% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -27.84% | 11.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Diageo (DEO) at 1.60 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.60
- Max
- 4.01
- Q3
- 2.35
- DEO
- 1.60
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 1.02
- Min
- 0.33
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.38
- Max
- 4.01
- Q3
- 2.35
- Median
- 1.53
- KO
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.02
- Min
- 0.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.07 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Diageo (DEO) at 1.71 uses more debt funding than most peers.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.71
- Max
- 2.19
- DEO
- 1.71
- Q3
- 1.11
- Median
- 0.68
- Q1
- 0.33
- Min
- 0.00
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.07
- Max
- 2.19
- Q3
- 1.11
- KO
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.68
- Q1
- 0.33
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.60 | 1.38 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.71 | 1.07 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.18 | 1.48 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Diageo (DEO) at 0.50% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 2.19% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
0.50%
- Max
- 9.38%
- Q3
- 3.77%
- Median
- 1.76%
- DEO
- 0.50%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 9.38%
- Q3
- 3.77%
- KO
- 2.19%
- Median
- 1.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Diageo (DEO) reports payout ratio above 100% at 106.52%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Coca-Cola (KO) reports 61.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
106.52%
- Max
- 199.19%
- DEO
- 106.52%
- Q3
- 81.03%
- Median
- 41.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
61.95%
- Max
- 199.19%
- Q3
- 81.03%
- KO
- 61.95%
- Median
- 41.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.50% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 106.52% | 61.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.22 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Diageo (DEO) at 31.97 sits in the richer quartile — DEO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
31.97
- Max
- 52.52
- DEO
- 31.97
- Q3
- 30.78
- Median
- 18.76
- Q1
- 12.77
- Min
- 4.72
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
28.22
- Max
- 52.52
- Q3
- 30.78
- KO
- 28.22
- Median
- 18.76
- Q1
- 12.77
- Min
- 4.72
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Diageo (DEO) at 2.83 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Coca-Cola (KO) at 8.06 prices even higher, above its industry range.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.83
- Max
- 4.64
- DEO
- 2.83
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.00
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
8.06
- KO
- 8.06
- Max
- 4.64
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both Diageo (DEO) at 91.95 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 11.01 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
DEO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
91.95
- DEO
- 91.95
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.07
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.00
KO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
11.01
- KO
- 11.01
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.07
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DEO | KO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 31.97 | 28.22 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.83 | 8.06 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 91.95 | 11.01 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.62% | 1.06% |