Almost of all that excess cash is heading toward dividend payments. Coke paid $8 billion in 2023, the last full fiscal year. Management raised that payout by 5% in mid-February, meaning investors can expect roughly $8.4 billion of dividend payments in fiscal 2024.

Amid fluctuating sentiments in the United States stock market, investors have recently experienced a mix of relief and caution following the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates, coupled with ongoing concerns about inflation.

Shares of Coca-Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE) -- the largest bottler of products from The Coca-Cola Company as well as a bottler of other beverages -- skyrocketed over $1,000 this morning after the company reported financial results for the first quarter of 2024 and announced a massive plan to repurchase shares.

Super Bowl commercials are famous for pulling out all the stops to be memorable. Still, some companies have timeless classics that don’t need rebranding: the Budweiser Clydesdales, the E*TRADE babies and,