Coca-Cola

KO

Market cap $351B

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Greg Abel identified four large Berkshire equity investments—Apple, American Express, Coca Cola and Moody's—and suggested they are forever stocks, or close to it.

The first member of royalty is the world's most prominent beverage company. The second is a retailer familiar to millions of consumers around the world.

Swiss watchmakers survived the quartz revolution. Now strategists say Apple, Coca-Cola, and other top consumer brands could prove resilient against AI disruption thanks to strong emotional loyalty.

The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat ETF (NOBL) is up 9.39% YTD in 2026, decisively outperforming SPY's 1.08%. Dividend Aristocrats are regaining momentum after a weak 2025, with 55 outpacing SPY and 39 posting double-digit gains this year already. Dividend growth is lagging, with 2026's average increase currently at 3.22%, below last year's trend and potentially signaling headwinds.

Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on December 31, 2025, after six decades leading the conglomerate he transformed from a struggling textile mill into a $1 trillion empire.

Investors love dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return.

Coca-Cola's iconic brands help it maintain huge profits, even as input costs rise. Realty Income bets on the boring yet reliable parts of the economy.

Realty Income has come through with 113 quarters of dividend hikes. Next month, that streak should stretch to 114 quarters.

Investors expect AI giants to command the market's richest valuations. But right now, Warren Buffett 's favorite soda is trading at a premium to one of the most important technology companies in the world.