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.
| Profile Item | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Coca-Cola Company | Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Food, Beverage & Tobacco | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Beverages | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 411.56 billion USD | 386.44 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | September 30, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
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.
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.90% | 60.50% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.27 | 1.63 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -17.27% | -75.26% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 16.05M | 27.20M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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%
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.38 | 7.10 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.48 | -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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KO | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 28.22 | 112.94 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.06 | 53.02 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.01 | 34.41 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.06% | 0.69% |