Coca-Cola has long been considered a safe investment in a shaky economy, and in 2025, it’s still holding up — even as President Donald Trump weighs in on which sweetener it should use.
In a Truth Social post last week, Trump said Coca-Cola had agreed to switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar, calling it “a very good move.”
The company acknowledged the post and confirmed Tuesday that it will introduce a version made with cane sugar in the U.S. in the fall. Coca-Cola has used corn syrup in its U.S. sodas since the 1980s because it’s cheaper and easier to source domestically than cane sugar, which is typically imported from tariff-affected countries like Mexico and Brazil.
Trump’s push for cane sugar is a new twist in a year of trade-related uncertainty, though Coca-Cola’s stock has continued to perform well.
Coca-Cola shows resilience
In June, Trump doubled tariffs on imported aluminum to 50%, raising can-making costs for companies like Coca-Cola. But in April, the company had said it has “levers to manage the impact,” including shifting to plastic and sourcing more aluminum domestically.
While it’s too soon to assess the full impact of the new tariffs, Coca-Cola’s performance through mid-2025 has remained steady.
The company’s shares are up 13% this year, outpacing the broader market. Strong international demand, strategic pricing and a steady dividend have helped the stock remain a reliable pick in a volatile environment.
Coca-Cola reported quarterly earnings Tuesday morning, with adjusted revenue coming in at $12.62 billion, topping analysts’ expectations of $12.54 billion, according to LSEG. Earnings per share were 87 cents, slightly ahead of the 83-cent forecast.
While the stock doesn’t always outperform the S&P 500, investors view Coca-Cola as a dependable blue chip because it sells a product people keep buying, even during downturns, and it pays consistent quarterly dividends.
Another advantage is that most of its soda concentrate is made in the U.S., and its regional bottlers rely on local suppliers, which helps shield the company from global supply disruptions.
How much $1,000 invested 10 years would get you now
Here’s how much a $1,000 investment in Coca-Cola would be worth today, assuming dividends were reinvested, based on the stock’s closing price of $70.07 on July 21, 2025.
If you invested one year ago:
Percentage change: 10.5%Total: $1,105
If you invested five years ago:
Percentage change: 76.8%Total: $1,768
If you invested 10 years ago:
Percentage change: 132.3%Total: $2,323
If you invested 20 years ago:
Percentage change: 492.4%Total: $5,924
By comparison, the total return on an S&P 500 index fund, including reinvested dividends, would have been 109% over five years, 254% over 10 years and 652% over 20 years.
And while Coca Cola’s stock has been a historically strong performer, financial experts commonly recommend diversifying your investments instead of putting too much money into a single stock.
Low-cost index funds, which offer broad market exposure, typically provide more stability and lower fees than individual stocks.
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