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KO vs. PLTR: Coca-Cola vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR) 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

Coca-Cola (KO) is classified in the Consumer Staples sector (Food, Beverage & Tobacco), whereas Palantir (PLTR) belongs to Information Technology (Software & Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Coca-Cola (KO) has more than two decades of public-market history since January 2, 1962, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemKOPLTR
NameThe Coca-Cola CompanyPalantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryBeveragesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustrySoft Drinks & Non-alcoholic BeveragesApplication Software
Market Capitalization411.56 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KO
PLTR
GSPC
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
Total Return (1Y)39.33%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.59%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.43%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KO
PLTR
GSPC
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Palantir (PLTR) has an aggressive beta of 1.63, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Coca-Cola (KO) is defensive at 0.27 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.90%60.50%
Beta (5Y)0.271.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-17.27%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)16.05M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KO and PLTR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.85-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.17-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Coca-Cola (KO) at 40.59% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.65% and Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Coca-Cola (KO) at 33.36% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
ROE (TTM)40.59%40.91%
ROA (TTM)9.59%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)28.65%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)33.36%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)62.32%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.87%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Coca-Cola (KO) at 23.58% also sits in the top quartile.

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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.87%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.69%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.58%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)11.55%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.38 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.07 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.387.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.02
Net Debt / EBITDA1.48-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Coca-Cola (KO) reports a yield of 2.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Coca-Cola (KO) reports a payout of 61.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.19%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)61.95%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.22 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR
112.94
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Coca-Cola (KO) at 8.06 and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Coca-Cola (KO) at 11.01 and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Food, Beverage & Tobacco and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Coca-Cola (KO) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricKOPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.22112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)8.0653.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.0134.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.06%0.69%