Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Coca‑Cola Consolidated, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its majority-owned subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), is intended to help the reader understand our financial condition and results of operations and is provided as an addition to, and should be read in conjunction with, our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts and the consolidated operations of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All comparisons are to the corresponding period in the prior year unless specified otherwise.
Each of the Company’s quarters, other than the fourth quarter, ends on the Friday closest to the last day of the corresponding quarterly calendar period. The Company’s fourth quarter and fiscal year end on December 31 regardless of the day of the week on which December 31 falls. The condensed consolidated financial statements presented are:
• The financial position as of September 26, 2025 and December 31, 2024.
• The results of operations, comprehensive income and changes in stockholders’ equity for the three-month periods ended September 26, 2025 (the “third quarter” of fiscal 2025 (“2025”)) and September 27, 2024 (the “third quarter” of fiscal 2024 (“2024”)) and the nine-month periods ended September 26, 2025 (the “first nine months” of 2025) and September 27, 2024 (the “first nine months” of 2024).
• The changes in cash flows for the first nine months of 2025 and the first nine months of 2024.
Our Business and the Nonalcoholic Beverage Industry
We distribute, market and manufacture nonalcoholic beverages in territories spanning 14 states and the District of Columbia. The Company was incorporated in 1980 and, together with its predecessors, has been in the nonalcoholic beverage manufacturing and distribution business since 1902. We are the largest Coca‑Cola bottler in the United States. Approximately 85% of our total bottle/can sales volume to retail customers consists of products of The Coca‑Cola Company, which include some of the most recognized and popular beverage brands in the world. We also distribute products for several other beverage companies, including Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (“Dr Pepper”) and Monster Energy Company. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably. Our Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”), is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE.”
We offer a range of nonalcoholic beverage products and flavors, including both sparkling and still beverages, designed to meet the demands of our consumers. Sparkling beverages are carbonated beverages and the Company’s principal sparkling beverage is Coca‑Cola. Still beverages include energy products and noncarbonated beverages such as bottled water, ready-to-drink tea, ready-to-drink coffee, enhanced water, juices and sports drinks.
Our sales are divided into two main categories: (i) bottle/can sales and (ii) other sales. Bottle/can sales include products packaged primarily in plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Bottle/can net pricing is based on the invoice price charged to customers reduced by any promotional allowances. Bottle/can net pricing per unit is impacted by the price charged per package, the sales volume generated for each package and the channels in which those packages are sold. Other sales include sales to other Coca‑Cola bottlers, post-mix sales, transportation revenue and equipment maintenance revenue. Post-mix products are dispensed through equipment that mixes fountain syrups with carbonated or still water, enabling fountain retailers to sell finished products to consumers in cups or glasses.
The Company’s products are sold and distributed in the United States through various channels, which include selling directly to customers, including grocery stores, mass merchandise stores, club stores, convenience stores and drug stores, selling to on-premise locations, where products are typically consumed immediately, such as restaurants, schools, amusement parks and recreational facilities, and selling through other channels such as vending machine outlets. The Company also distributes its products using alternative routes to market (“ARTM”), which include third-party distributors, the manufacturer of the product or the customer’s supply chain infrastructure.
The nonalcoholic beverage industry is highly competitive for both sparkling and still beverages. Our competitors include bottlers and distributors of nationally and regionally advertised and marketed products, as well as bottlers and distributors of private label beverages. Our principal competitors include local bottlers of PepsiCo, Inc. products and, in some regions, local bottlers of Dr Pepper products.
The principal methods of competition in the nonalcoholic beverage industry are new brand and product introductions, point-of-sale merchandising, new vending and dispensing equipment, packaging changes, pricing, sales promotions, product quality, retail
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space management, customer service, frequency of distribution and advertising. We believe we are competitive in our territories with respect to these methods of competition.
Business seasonality results primarily from higher unit sales of the Company’s products in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year, as sales of our products are typically correlated with warmer weather. We believe that we and other manufacturers from whom we purchase finished products have adequate production capacity to meet sales demand for sparkling and still beverages during these peak periods. Sales volume can also be impacted by weather conditions. Fixed costs, such as depreciation expense, are not significantly impacted by business seasonality.
Executive Summary
Volume was up 3.3% in the third quarter of 2025 and down 1.2% in the first nine months of the year. The first nine months of 2025 had two fewer selling days compared to the first nine months of 2024, which accounted for approximately 0.7% of the first nine-month volume decline, as discussed in the “Comparable and Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)” section. Our Sparkling category volume increased by 1.4% in the third quarter of 2025. The strong Sparkling volume performance was driven primarily by growth within zero-sugar and flavor offerings, while we continued to experience moderating headwinds in demand for Coca-Cola Original Taste. Still volume increased 8.9% in the third quarter of 2025 as a result of strong performance across many brands. Monster, Powerade, smartwater, Core Power, Dasani and Topo Chico all achieved volume growth in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting the strength of the brands and strong consumer demand.
Net sales increased 6.9% to $1.9 billion in the third quarter of 2025 and increased 3.3% to $5.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025. The growth in net sales was primarily the result of annual price increases executed during the first quarter of 2025 and strong volume performance during the third quarter. Sparkling and Still net sales increased 4.7% and 9.9% in the third quarter of 2025, respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2024. The increase in Sparkling category net sales was driven primarily by sales of multi-pack, take-home packages sold within our large store, club and value channels. The increase in Still category net sales was driven primarily by the solid performance of numerous brands across the category sold within large retail and convenience stores.
Gross profit in the third quarter of 2025 was $748.5 million, an increase of $50.5 million, or 7.2%. Gross margin in the third quarter of 2025 improved 10 basis points to 39.6%. Gross profit in the first nine months of 2025 was $2.1 billion, an increase of $62.8 million, or 3.1%. The annual price increases we executed earlier this year across our portfolio have been effective in offsetting the net impact of increased commodity costs, including the continued volatility of import tariffs on aluminum, across our portfolio.
Selling, delivery and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses in the third quarter of 2025 increased $30.9 million, or 6.6%. The increase in SD&A expenses in the third quarter of 2025 as compared to the third quarter of 2024 was primarily driven by the cost of labor, which includes annual wage adjustments made earlier this year and an additional investment in the base wages of our front-line teammates, which became effective at the beginning of the third quarter. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales in the third quarter of 2025 decreased 10 basis points to 26.6% as compared to the third quarter of 2024. SD&A expenses in the first nine months of 2025 increased $55.9 million, or 4.1%. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales in the first nine months of 2025 increased 20 basis points to 26.5% as compared to the first nine months of 2024.
Income from operations in the third quarter of 2025 was $246.6 million, compared to $227.1 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 8.6%. Operating margin for the third quarter of 2025 was 13.1% as compared to 12.9% for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 20 basis points. For the first nine months of 2025, income from operations improved $6.9 million to $708.5 million, an increase of 1.0%. The two fewer selling days in the first nine months of 2025 accounted for an approximately $10 million decrease in income from operations.
Net income in the third quarter of 2025 was $142.3 million, compared to $115.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $26.7 million, or 23.1%. On an adjusted basis, as defined in the “Comparable and Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)” section, net income in the third quarter of 2025 was $179.2 million, compared to $166.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $12.5 million, or 7.5%. Income tax expense for the third quarter of 2025 was $49.9 million, compared to $39.9 million for the third quarter of 2024, resulting in an effective income tax rate of approximately 26% for both periods.
Net income in the first nine months of 2025 was $433.3 million, compared to $454.2 million in the first nine months of 2024, a decline of $20.8 million, or 4.6%. On an adjusted basis, as defined in the “Comparable and Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)” section, net income in the first nine months of 2025 was $510.6 million, compared to $521.9 million in the first nine months of 2024, a decrease of $11.3 million, or 2.2%. Net income for both the first nine months of 2025 and 2024 was adversely impacted
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by routine, non-cash fair value adjustments to our acquisition related contingent consideration liability, driven by changes in the discount rate and future cash flow projections used to compute the fair value of the liability.
Cash flows from operations for the first nine months of 2025 were $722.9 million, compared to $707.9 million for the first nine months of 2024. In the first nine months of 2025, we invested approximately $210 million in capital expenditures as we continue to optimize our supply chain and invest for future growth. In fiscal year 2025, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $300 million. In the third quarter of 2025, we returned over $133 million to stockholders through approximately $111 million of share repurchases and approximately $22 million of dividends. Through the first nine months of 2025, we have returned approximately $211 million to stockholders through repurchases and dividends.
Areas of Emphasis
Key priorities for the Company include executing our commercial strategy, executing our revenue management strategy, optimizing our supply chain, generating cash flow, determining the optimal route to market and creating and maintaining a digitally enabled selling platform.
Commercial Execution : Our success is dependent on our ability to execute our commercial strategy within our customers’ stores. Our ability to obtain shelf space within stores and remain in-stock across our portfolio of brands and packages in a profitable manner will have a significant impact on our results. We are focused on execution at every step in our supply chain, including raw material and finished product procurement, manufacturing conversion, transportation, warehousing and distribution, to ensure in-store execution can occur. We continue to invest in tools and technology to enable our teammates to operate more effectively and efficiently with our customers and to drive long-term value in our business. We also continue to focus on opportunities to enhance the customer experience by adapting to changes in our customer landscape, enabling operational flexibility and focusing on customer service.
Revenue Management : Our revenue management strategy focuses on pricing our brands and packages optimally within product categories and channels, creating effective working relationships with our customers and making disciplined fact-based decisions. Pricing decisions are made considering a variety of factors, including brand strength, competitive environment, input costs, the roles certain brands play in our product portfolio and other market conditions.
Supply Chain Optimization : We are continually focused on optimizing our supply chain, which includes identifying nearby warehousing and distribution operations that can be consolidated into new facilities to increase capacity, expand production capabilities, reduce overall production costs and add automation to allow the Company to better serve its customers and consumers. The Company has made, and expects to continue to make, significant capital investments to optimize our supply chain and to invest for future growth.
Cash Flow Generation : We have several initiatives in place to optimize cash flow, improve profitability, prudently manage capital expenditures and enhance capital returns to our stockholders. We believe strengthening our balance sheet gives us the flexibility to make optimal capital allocation decisions for long-term value creation. We have returned, and expect to continue to return, value to our stockholders.
Optimal Route to Market : We are focused on implementing optimal methods of distribution of our products within our territory. Direct store delivery (“DSD”) is our preferred and primary route to market. Our typical DSD method uses Company-owned vehicles and warehouses, but we increasingly shifted to alternative methods of distribution, or ARTM, during 2024 and continued to use ARTM during the first nine months of 2025. For example, in instances of post-mix delivery for use in fountain machines, we have shifted, and continue to shift, our delivery method towards alternative distributors in order to enhance profitability and customer service. We receive a fee from our brand partners on these post-mix gallons delivered to locally managed customers in our territory, which is recorded as a reduction to cost of sales.
In instances of bottle/can delivery, we have shifted certain products for certain customers and channels of business to ARTM. These ARTM include third-party distributors, the manufacturer of the product or the customer’s supply chain infrastructure. These bottle/can arrangements generally come with favorable commercial terms for the Company, and, because we have the exclusive distribution rights for nonalcoholic beverages within our franchise territory, we receive fees from our brand partners for the delivery of qualified product in our territory. These fees are reported in net sales.
During the first nine months of 2025, nearly two-thirds of our post-mix gallons and less than 10% of our bottle/can volume was delivered through ARTM.
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Digitally Enabled Selling Platform : Through our investment in CONA Services LLC, we, along with other Coca-Cola bottlers, have built a digitally enabled selling platform called MyCoke that we believe has enabled, and will continue to enable, us to better serve our customers. This platform creates a more seamless order and payment platform for certain customers and we expect this platform will continue to enable us to enhance customer service and create more selling opportunities for our teammates. This platform is currently targeted to certain on-premise and small store customers.
Results of Operations
Third Quarter Results
The Company’s results of operations for the third quarter of 2025 and the third quarter of 2024 are highlighted in the table below and discussed in the following paragraphs.
Third Quarter
(in thousands) 2025 2024 Change
Net sales $ 1,888,317 $ 1,765,652 $ 122,665
Cost of sales 1,139,801 1,067,616 72,185
Gross profit 748,516 698,036 50,480
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses 501,882 470,981 30,901
Income from operations 246,634 227,055 19,579
Interest expense, net 4,687 2,187 2,500
Mark-to-market on acquisition related contingent consideration 49,350 68,592 (19,242)
Other expense, net 367 713 (346)
Income before taxes 192,230 155,563 36,667
Income tax expense 49,896 39,939 9,957
Net income 142,334 115,624 26,710
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 60 451 (391)
Comprehensive income
$ 142,394 $ 116,075 $ 26,319
Net Sales
Net sales increased $122.7 million, or 6.9%, to $1.89 billion in the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $1.77 billion in the third quarter of 2024. The increase in net sales was driven by higher average bottle/can sales price per unit charged to retail customers, which increased net sales by approximately $60 million during the third quarter of 2025. The increase in net sales was also positively impacted by higher case sales volume, which increased net sales by approximately $60 million during the third quarter of 2025 as compared to the third quarter of 2024.
Net sales by product category were as follows:
Third Quarter
(in thousands) 2025 2024 % Change
Bottle/can sales:
Sparkling beverages $ 1,083,139 $ 1,034,690 4.7 %
Still beverages 643,287 585,527 9.9 %
Total bottle/can sales 1,726,426 1,620,217 6.6 %
Other sales:
Sales to other Coca‑Cola bottlers 97,622 88,363 10.5 %
Post-mix sales and other 64,269 57,072 12.6 %
Total other sales 161,891 145,435 11.3 %
Total net sales $ 1,888,317 $ 1,765,652 6.9 %
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Product category sales volume of standard physical cases (as defined below) and the percentage change by product category were as follows:
Third Quarter
(in thousands) 2025 2024 % Change
Bottle/can sales volume:
Sparkling beverages 67,695 66,781 1.4 %
Still beverages 25,122 23,078 8.9 %
Total bottle/can sales volume 92,817 89,859 3.3 %
A standard physical case is a volume metric used to standardize differing package configurations in order to measure delivered cases on an equivalent basis. As the Company evaluates its volume metrics, it reassesses the way in which physical case volume is measured, which may lead to differences from previously presented results in order to conform with current period standard volume measurement techniques, as used by management. Additionally, as the Company introduces new products, it reassesses the category assigned to its products at the SKU level, therefore categorization could differ from previously presented results in order to conform with current period categorization. Any differences are not material.
The bottle/can sales volume above represents volume that is delivered directly to our customer outlets using Company-owned vehicles and warehouses. In order to serve our customers in the most efficient way, respond to customer demands and increase profitability, the Company has, in certain circumstances, shifted the delivery of our products to third-party distributors, the manufacturer of the product or the customer’s supply chain infrastructure, rather than using Company-owned vehicles and warehouses. As a result of not physically delivering the product, the sales volume delivered using these alternative methods of distribution is not reflected in our volume metrics. Changes in the delivery of our products to our customers impacted our reported volume and net sales during 2024 and the first nine months of 2025.
Cost of Sales
Inputs representing a substantial portion of the Company’s cost of sales include: (i) purchases of finished products, (ii) raw material costs, including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, carbon dioxide and sweetener, (iii) concentrate costs and (iv) manufacturing costs, including labor, overhead and warehouse costs. In addition, cost of sales includes shipping, handling and fuel costs related to the movement of finished products from manufacturing plants to distribution centers, amortization expense of distribution rights, distribution fees of certain products and marketing credits and post-mix funding from our brand partners. Input costs for products we produce, including underlying commodity costs for aluminum cans, plastic bottles, carbon dioxide and sweetener, as well as labels and other packaging materials, and excluding concentrate, represent approximately 20% of total annual cost of sales.
Cost of sales increased $72.2 million, or 6.8%, to $1.14 billion in the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $1.07 billion in the third quarter of 2024. The increase in cost of sales was driven by higher case sales volume, which increased cost of sales by approximately $35 million during the third quarter of 2025 as compared to the third quarter of 2024. The increase in cost of sales was also impacted by higher input costs, which increased cost of sales by approximately $25 million during the third quarter of 2025.
The Company relies extensively on advertising and sales promotions in the marketing of its products. The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies that supply concentrates, syrups and finished products to the Company make substantial marketing and advertising expenditures, including national advertising programs, to develop their brand identities and to promote sales in the Company’s territories. Our brand partners also provide funding related to the delivery of post-mix gallons to locally managed customers within the Company’s territory. Certain of these marketing, advertising and other funding expenditures are made pursuant to annual arrangements. Total funding support from The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, which includes both direct payments to the Company and payments to customers for marketing programs, was $56.9 million in the third quarter of 2025 and $48.5 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Selling, Delivery and Administrative Expenses
SD&A expenses include the following: sales management labor costs, distribution costs resulting from transporting finished products from distribution centers to customer locations, distribution center overhead including depreciation expense, distribution center warehousing costs, delivery vehicles and cold drink equipment, point-of-sale expenses, advertising expenses, cold drink equipment repair costs, amortization of intangible assets and administrative support labor and operating costs. Labor costs represent approximately 60% of total annual SD&A expenses.
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SD&A expenses increased $30.9 million, or 6.6%, to $501.9 million in the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $471.0 million in the third quarter of 2024. The increase in SD&A expenses was primarily driven by an increase in labor costs related to annual wage adjustments and an additional investment in the base wages of our front-line teammates, which became effective at the beginning of the third quarter of 2025. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 26.6% in the third quarter of 2025 from 26.7% in the third quarter of 2024.
Shipping and handling costs included in SD&A expenses were approximately $221 million in the third quarter of 2025 and approximately $206 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net increased $2.5 million to $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2024. The increase in interest expense, net was primarily driven by lower interest income on average cash, cash equivalent and short-term investment balances in the third quarter of 2025 as compared to the third quarter of 2024.
Mark-to-Market on Acquisition Related Contingent Consideration
Each reporting period, the Company adjusts its acquisition related contingent consideration liability to fair value, which is determined by discounting future expected acquisition related sub-bottling payments using the Company’s estimated weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) and future cash flow projections, and records the fair value adjustment as mark-to-market on acquisition related contingent consideration in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
Mark-to-market on acquisition related contingent consideration was an increase of $49.4 million in the third quarter of 2025 and an increase of $68.6 million in the third quarter of 2024. During the third quarter of 2025, the $49.4 million increase in the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability was driven by a decrease in the WACC used to calculate the fair value of the liability and higher projections of future cash flows in the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments. During the third quarter of 2024, the $68.6 million increase in the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability was primarily driven by higher projections of future cash flows in the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments, as well as a decrease in the WACC used to calculate the fair value of the liability.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net was $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Income Tax Expense
The Company’s effective income tax rate was 26.0% for the third quarter of 2025 and 25.7% for the third quarter of 2024. The Company’s income tax expense increased $10.0 million, or 24.9%, to $49.9 million for the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $39.9 million for the third quarter of 2024. The increase in income tax expense was primarily attributable to higher income before taxes during the third quarter of 2025 as compared to the third quarter of 2024.
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax
Other comprehensive income, net of tax was $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2025 and $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2024.
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First Nine Months Results
Our results of operations for the first nine months of 2025 and the first nine months of 2024 are highlighted in the table below and discussed in the following paragraphs.
First Nine Months
(in thousands)
2025 2024 Change
Net sales $ 5,323,813 $ 5,153,221 $ 170,592
Cost of sales 3,205,697 3,097,916 107,781
Gross profit 2,118,116 2,055,305 62,811
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses 1,409,578 1,353,704 55,874
Income from operations 708,538 701,601 6,937
Interest expense (income), net 17,509 (2,149) 19,658
Mark-to-market on acquisition related contingent consideration 104,468 90,877 13,591
Other expense, net 1,866 2,250 (384)
Income before taxes 584,695 610,623 (25,928)
Income tax expense 151,363 156,446 (5,083)
Net income 433,332 454,177 (20,845)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 14 324 (310)
Comprehensive income
$ 433,346 $ 454,501 $ (21,155)
Net Sales
Net sales increased $170.6 million, or 3.3%, to $5.32 billion in the first nine months of 2025, as compared to $5.15 billion in the first nine months of 2024. The largest driver of the increase in net sales was higher average bottle/can sales price per unit charged to retail customers, which increased net sales by approximately $160 million during the first nine months of 2025. Net sales was also positively impacted by shifts in product mix during the first nine months of 2025, as certain of the Company’s higher-priced brands, including energy, enhanced water and protein products, had strong sales during the period. These improvements were offset by lower case sales volume, which decreased net sales by approximately $60 million, as well as the impact of two fewer selling days in the first nine months of 2025 as compared to the first nine months of 2024.
Net sales by product category were as follows:
First Nine Months
(in thousands) 2025 2024 % Change
Bottle/can sales:
Sparkling beverages $ 3,096,931 $ 3,025,902 2.3 %
Still beverages 1,778,522 1,694,676 4.9 %
Total bottle/can sales 4,875,453 4,720,578 3.3 %
Other sales:
Sales to other Coca‑Cola bottlers 278,931 259,459 7.5 %
Post-mix sales and other 169,429 173,184 (2.2) %
Total other sales 448,360 432,643 3.6 %
Total net sales $ 5,323,813 $ 5,153,221 3.3 %
Product category sales volume of standard physical cases and the percentage change by product category were as follows:
First Nine Months
(in thousands) 2025 2024 % Change
Bottle/can sales volume:
Sparkling beverages 193,811 196,212 (1.2) %
Still beverages 66,439 67,211 (1.1) %
Total bottle/can sales volume 260,250 263,423 (1.2) %
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The following table summarizes the percentage of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume to its largest customers, as well as the percentage of the Company’s total net sales that such volume represents:
First Nine Months
2025 2024
Approximate percent of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume:
Walmart Inc. (1)
21 % 21 %
The Kroger Co. (2)
15 % 15 %
Total approximate percent of the Company’s total bottle/can sales volume 36 % 36 %
Approximate percent of the Company’s total net sales:
Walmart Inc. (1)
17 % 17 %
The Kroger Co. (2)
12 % 12 %
Total approximate percent of the Company’s total net sales 29 % 29 %
(1) Includes bottle/can sales volume related to the Walmart, Sam’s Club and Walmart Neighborhood Market chains.
(2) Includes bottle/can sales volume related to the Kroger and Harris Teeter chains.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales increased $107.8 million, or 3.5%, to $3.21 billion in the first nine months of 2025, as compared to $3.10 billion in the first nine months of 2024. The increase in cost of sales was primarily driven by higher input costs, which increased cost of sales by approximately $105 million during the first nine months of 2025. Cost of sales also increased due to shifts in product mix to higher cost Still products as compared to the first nine months of 2024. The increase in cost of sales was partially offset by lower case sales volume, which decreased cost of sales by approximately $35 million as compared to the first nine months of 2024.
Total funding support from The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies was $154.5 million in the first nine months of 2025, as compared to $143.1 million in the first nine months of 2024.
Selling, Delivery and Administrative Expenses
SD&A expenses increased $55.9 million, or 4.1%, to $1.41 billion in the first nine months of 2025, as compared to $1.35 billion in the first nine months of 2024. The increase in SD&A expenses was primarily driven by an increase in labor costs related to annual wage adjustments and an additional investment in the base wages of our front-line teammates, which became effective at the beginning of the third quarter of 2025. SD&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 26.5% in the first nine months of 2025 from 26.3% in the first nine months of 2024.
Shipping and handling costs included in SD&A expenses were approximately $622 million in the first nine months of 2025 and approximately $599 million in the first nine months of 2024.
Interest Expense (Income), Net
Interest expense (income), net changed $19.7 million to $17.5 million of interest expense, net in the first nine months of 2025, as compared to $2.1 million of interest income, net in the first nine months of 2024. The change in interest expense (income), net was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on higher average debt balances in the first nine months of 2025 as compared to the first nine months of 2024, partially offset by an increase in interest income due to higher average cash, cash equivalent and short-term investment balances.
Mark-to-Market on Acquisition Related Contingent Consideration
Mark-to-market on acquisition related contingent consideration was an increase of $104.5 million in the first nine months of 2025 compared to an increase of $90.9 million in the first nine months of 2024. During the first nine months of 2025, the $104.5 million increase in the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability was primarily driven by a decrease in the WACC used to calculate the fair value of the liability, as well as higher projections of future cash flows in the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments. During the first nine months of 2024, the $90.9 million increase in the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability was primarily driven by higher projections of future cash flows in the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments.
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Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net was $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2025 and $2.3 million in the first nine months of 2024.
Income Tax Expense
The Company’s effective income tax rate was 25.9% for the first nine months of 2025 and 25.6% for the first nine months of 2024. The Company’s income tax expense decreased $5.1 million, or 3.2%, to $151.4 million for the first nine months of 2025, as compared to $156.4 million for the first nine months of 2024. The decrease in income tax expense was primarily attributable to lower income before taxes during the first nine months of 2025 as compared to the first nine months of 2024.
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax
Other comprehensive income, net of tax was $0.0 million in the first nine months of 2025 and $0.3 million in the first nine months of 2024.
Segment Operating Results
The Company evaluates segment reporting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280, Segment Reporting, each reporting period, including evaluating the reporting package reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the “CODM”). The Company has concluded the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as a group, represent the CODM. Segment asset information is not provided to the CODM.
The Company has three operating segments, each identified by its unique products and services. Nonalcoholic Beverages represents the vast majority of the Company’s consolidated net sales and income from operations. The additional two operating segments, which include Data Ventures, Inc. and the Red Classic subsidiaries, do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate reporting, either individually or in the aggregate, and, therefore, have been combined into “All Other.” The accounting policies of the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies presented in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024.
The CODM uses net sales, gross profit and income from operations in the annual budgeting and forecasting process. Monthly, the CODM considers budget-to-actual variances and current year to prior year variances for these profit measures when making strategic business decisions and allocating resources to Company operations.
The Company’s segment results are as follows:
Third Quarter 2025
(in thousands) Nonalcoholic Beverages All Other Eliminations (1)
Total
Net sales $ 1,876,999 $ 85,702 $ (74,384) $ 1,888,317
Cost of goods sold 1,147,875 47,168 (55,242) 1,139,801
Gross profit 729,124 38,534 (19,142) 748,516
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses:
Payroll costs (2)
$ 314,529 $ 13,689 $ — $ 328,218
Fleet costs (3)
25,723 8,281 — 34,004
Depreciation and amortization expense (4)
29,137 552 — 29,689
All other segment items (5)
121,374 7,739 (19,142) 109,971
Total selling, delivery and administrative expenses 490,763 30,261 (19,142) 501,882
Income from operations $ 238,361 $ 8,273 $ — $ 246,634
Total depreciation and amortization expense (4)
$ 49,993 $ 5,093 $ — $ 55,086
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Third Quarter 2024
(in thousands) Nonalcoholic Beverages All Other Eliminations (1)
Total
Net sales $ 1,751,495 $ 86,230 $ (72,073) $ 1,765,652
Cost of goods sold 1,066,387 54,656 (53,427) 1,067,616
Gross profit 685,108 31,574 (18,646) 698,036
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses:
Payroll costs (2)
$ 297,420 $ 13,165 $ — $ 310,585
Fleet costs (3)
26,210 7,801 — 34,011
Depreciation and amortization expense (4)
25,859 497 — 26,356
All other segment items (5)
111,547 7,128 (18,646) 100,029
Total selling, delivery and administrative expenses 461,036 28,591 (18,646) 470,981
Income from operations $ 224,072 $ 2,983 $ — $ 227,055
Total depreciation and amortization expense (4)
$ 44,511 $ 4,259 $ — $ 48,770
First Nine Months 2025
(in thousands) Nonalcoholic Beverages All Other Eliminations (1)
Total
Net sales $ 5,291,060 $ 242,900 $ (210,147) $ 5,323,813
Cost of goods sold 3,224,211 137,341 (155,855) 3,205,697
Gross profit 2,066,849 105,559 (54,292) 2,118,116
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses:
Payroll costs (2)
$ 875,401 $ 39,612 $ — $ 915,013
Fleet costs (3)
72,812 22,654 — 95,466
Depreciation and amortization expense (4)
86,517 1,637 — 88,154
All other segment items (5)
342,651 22,586 (54,292) 310,945
Total selling, delivery and administrative expenses 1,377,381 86,489 (54,292) 1,409,578
Income from operations $ 689,468 $ 19,070 $ — $ 708,538
Total depreciation and amortization expense (4)
$ 147,427 $ 15,797 $ — $ 163,224
First Nine Months 2024
(in thousands) Nonalcoholic Beverages All Other Eliminations (1)
Total
Net sales $ 5,106,359 $ 260,930 $ (214,068) $ 5,153,221
Cost of goods sold 3,090,378 165,902 (158,364) 3,097,916
Gross profit 2,015,981 95,028 (55,704) 2,055,305
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses:
Payroll costs (2)
$ 843,169 $ 39,833 $ — $ 883,002
Fleet costs (3)
77,989 23,587 — 101,576
Depreciation and amortization expense (4)
76,398 1,485 — 77,883
All other segment items (5)
327,186 19,761 (55,704) 291,243
Total selling, delivery and administrative expenses 1,324,742 84,666 (55,704) 1,353,704
Income from operations $ 691,239 $ 10,362 $ — $ 701,601
Total depreciation and amortization expense (4)
$ 131,332 $ 11,847 $ — $ 143,179
(1) The entire net sales elimination represents net sales from the All Other segment to the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment. The entire cost of goods sold and SD&A eliminations represent costs incurred by the All Other segment in the generation of net sales to the Nonalcoholic Beverages segment.
(2) Payroll costs includes compensation, incentive plans, defined contribution plans, healthcare benefits and tax-advantaged spending accounts.
(3) Fleet costs includes fleet repairs, maintenance and fuel and oil costs.
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(4) Total depreciation and amortization expense is included within both cost of goods sold and SD&A expenses. For segment reporting, the difference between total depreciation and amortization expense and the portion within SD&A expenses is the amount within cost of goods sold.
(5) All other segment items includes information technology costs, stewardship, insurance and other costs incurred in the selling and delivery of the Company’s products.
Comparable and Adjusted Results (Non-GAAP)
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of the financial statements with additional, meaningful financial information that should be considered, in addition to the measures reported in accordance with GAAP, when assessing the Company’s ongoing performance. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s non-GAAP financial information does not represent a comprehensive basis of accounting.
The following tables reconcile reported results (GAAP) to comparable and adjusted results (non-GAAP):
Third Quarter 2025
(in thousands, except per share data) Gross profit SD&A expenses Income from operations Income before taxes Net income Basic net income per share (1)
Reported results (GAAP) $ 748,516 $ 501,882 $ 246,634 $ 192,230 $ 142,334 $ 1.64
Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration (2)
— — — 49,350 37,111 0.42
Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments (3)
(378) (84) (294) (294) (221) —
Total reconciling items (378) (84) (294) 49,056 36,890 0.42
Adjusted results (non-GAAP) $ 748,138 $ 501,798 $ 246,340 $ 241,286 $ 179,224 $ 2.06
Third Quarter 2024
(in thousands, except per share data) Gross profit SD&A expenses Income from operations Income before taxes Net income Basic net income per share (1)
Reported results (GAAP) $ 698,036 $ 470,981 $ 227,055 $ 155,563 $ 115,624 $ 1.32
Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration (2)
— — — 68,592 51,652 0.57
Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments (3)
(1,426) (631) (795) (795) (599) (0.01)
Total reconciling items (1,426) (631) (795) 67,797 51,053 0.56
Adjusted results (non-GAAP) $ 696,610 $ 470,350 $ 226,260 $ 223,360 $ 166,677 $ 1.88
Results for the first nine months of 2024 include two additional selling days compared to the first nine months of 2025. For comparison purposes, the estimated impact of the additional selling days in the first nine months of 2024 has been excluded from our comparable volume results.
First Nine Months
(in thousands) 2025 2024 Change
Standard physical case volume 260,250 263,423 (1.2) %
Volume related to extra days in fiscal period — (1,760)
Comparable standard physical case volume 260,250 261,663 (0.5) %
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First Nine Months 2025
(in thousands, except per share data) Gross
profit SD&A
expenses Income from
operations Income before taxes Net
income Basic net income per share (1)
Reported results (GAAP) $ 2,118,116 $ 1,409,578 $ 708,538 $ 584,695 $ 433,332 $ 4.99
Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration (2)
— — — 104,468 78,560 0.90
Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments (3)
(899) 770 (1,669) (1,669) (1,255) (0.01)
Total reconciling items (899) 770 (1,669) 102,799 77,305 0.89
Adjusted results (non-GAAP) $ 2,117,217 $ 1,410,348 $ 706,869 $ 687,494 $ 510,637 $ 5.88
First Nine Months 2024
(in thousands, except per share data) Gross
profit SD&A
expenses Income from
operations Income before taxes Net
income Basic net income per share (1)
Reported results (GAAP) $ 2,055,305 $ 1,353,704 $ 701,601 $ 610,623 $ 454,177 $ 4.97
Fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration (2)
— — — 90,877 68,430 0.75
Fair value adjustments for commodity derivative instruments (3)
(1,345) (420) (925) (925) (697) (0.01)
Total reconciling items (1,345) (420) (925) 89,952 67,733 0.74
Adjusted results (non-GAAP) $ 2,053,960 $ 1,353,284 $ 700,676 $ 700,575 $ 521,910 $ 5.71
Following is an explanation of non-GAAP adjustments:
(1) All share or per share amounts impacting the basic net income per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effects of the Stock Split (as defined below) executed by the Company during the second quarter of 2025. Refer to the discussion in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for further details related to the Stock Split.
(2) This non-cash, fair value adjustment of acquisition related contingent consideration fluctuates based on factors such as long-term interest rates and future cash flow projections of the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments.
(3) The Company enters into commodity derivative instruments from time to time to hedge some or all of its projected purchases of aluminum, PET resin, diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline in order to mitigate commodity price risk. The Company accounts for its commodity derivative instruments on a mark-to-market basis.
Financial Condition
Total assets were $5.67 billion as of September 26, 2025, which was an increase of $355.4 million from December 31, 2024. Net working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was $1.45 billion as of September 26, 2025, which was an increase of $220.0 million from December 31, 2024.
Significant changes in net working capital as of September 26, 2025 as compared to December 31, 2024 were as follows:
• An increase in cash and cash equivalents of $396.6 million, primarily as a result of strong operating performance and net proceeds from the purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments during the first nine months of 2025, partially offset by additions to property, plant and equipment and payments related to share repurchases.
• A decrease in short-term investments of $152.1 million, primarily due to the sales and maturities of short-term investments in the third quarter of 2025.
• An increase in accounts payable, trade of $27.5 million and an increase in accounts payable to The Coca-Cola Company of $40.4 million, primarily due to the timing of cash payments.
• An increase in other accrued liabilities of $46.2 million, primarily driven by an increase in accrued interest on debt balances and an increase in the liability related to the acquisition related contingent consideration.
• A decrease in accrued compensation of $33.0 million, primarily as a result of the timing of bonus and incentive payments in the first nine months of 2025.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s sources of capital include cash flows from operations, available credit facilities and the issuance of debt and equity securities. As of September 26, 2025, the Company had $1.53 billion in cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s cash
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equivalent balance as of September 26, 2025 consisted predominantly of investments in money market funds, time deposits and commercial paper with maturities of 90 days or less. As of September 26, 2025, the Company had $149.1 million in short-term investments, which consisted primarily of U.S. Treasury securities and investment-grade corporate bonds with maturities of one year or less. The Company has obtained its debt from public markets, private placements and bank facilities. Management believes the Company has sufficient sources of capital available to finance its business plan, to meet its working capital requirements and to maintain an appropriate level of capital spending for at least the next 12 months from the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
In the third quarter of 2025, the Company retired 31,488,535 shares of Common Stock and 6,281,140 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Class B Common Stock”), included in treasury stock. The retired treasury stock had a carrying value of approximately $162.6 million. The retirement of treasury stock was recorded as a reduction to Common Stock and Class B Common Stock at par value, with the excess of carrying value over par value recorded as a deduction from retained earnings.
On March 4, 2025, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a 10-for-1 forward stock split (the “Stock Split”) of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Stock Split was effected through an amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amendment”). The Amendment also effected a proportionate increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The Amendment obtained stockholder approval at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which took place on May 13, 2025. Each stockholder of record as of the close of business on May 16, 2025 received nine additional shares for each share of Common Stock or Class B Common Stock held as of such date reflected in the stockholder’s account on May 23, 2025. Trading began on a split-adjusted basis on May 27, 2025. The par value per share of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock remains unchanged.
The Company is authorized to repurchase up to $1.00 billion of Common Stock through the share repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and announced by the Company on August 20, 2024 (the “Share Repurchase Program”). The Company expects share repurchases to be made from time to time in the open market or through private transactions or block trades. The timing and amount of repurchases will depend on market conditions, the prevailing market price, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The share repurchase authorization is discretionary and has no expiration date. During the third quarter of 2025, the Company repurchased and retired 961,379 shares of Common Stock under the Share Repurchase Program for an aggregate purchase price of $113.8 million, excluding fees and expenses related to the share repurchases. As of September 26, 2025, the total remaining share repurchase authorization was $800.1 million.
The Company’s debt as of September 26, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was as follows:
(in thousands) Maturity Date September 26, 2025 December 31, 2024
Senior bonds (the “2025 Senior Bonds”) (1)
11/25/2025 $ 350,000 $ 350,000
Senior notes 10/10/2026 100,000 100,000
Senior bonds (the “2029 Senior Bonds”) (2)
6/1/2029 700,000 700,000
Revolving credit facility (3)
6/10/2029 — —
Senior notes 3/21/2030 150,000 150,000
Senior bonds (the “2034 Senior Bonds”) (4)
6/1/2034 500,000 500,000
Unamortized discount on senior bonds (1)(2)(4)
Various (1,271) (1,482)
Debt issuance costs (10,345) (12,170)
Total debt 1,788,384 1,786,348
Less: Current portion of debt (1)
349,945 349,699
Total long-term debt $ 1,438,439 $ 1,436,649
(1) The 2025 Senior Bonds were issued at 99.975% of par. As of September 26, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the 2025 Senior Bonds, net of debt issuance costs and unamortized discount, were classified as current portion of debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company intends to use cash on hand to repay the 2025 Senior Bonds at maturity.
(2) The 2029 Senior Bonds were issued at 99.843% of par.
(3) The Company’s revolving credit facility has an aggregate maximum borrowing capacity of $500 million. The Company currently believes all banks participating in the revolving credit facility have the ability to and will meet any funding requests from the Company.
(4) The 2034 Senior Bonds were issued at 99.893% of par.
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The indentures under which the 2025 Senior Bonds, the 2029 Senior Bonds and the 2034 Senior Bonds were issued do not include financial covenants, but do limit the incurrence of certain liens and encumbrances as well as indebtedness by the Company’s subsidiaries in excess of certain amounts. The agreements under which the Company’s nonpublic debt, including its revolving credit facility, was issued include two financial covenants: a consolidated cash flow/fixed charges ratio and a consolidated funded indebtedness/cash flow ratio, each as defined in the respective agreement. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of September 26, 2025. These covenants have not restricted, and are not expected to restrict, the Company’s liquidity or capital resources.
All outstanding debt has been issued by the Company and none has been issued by any of its subsidiaries. There are no guarantees of the Company’s debt.
The Company’s credit ratings are reviewed periodically by certain nationally recognized rating agencies. Changes in the Company’s operating results or financial position could result in changes in the Company’s credit ratings. Lower credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs for the Company or reduced access to capital markets, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operating results or financial position. As of September 26, 2025, the Company’s credit ratings and outlook for its debt were as follows:
Credit Rating Rating Outlook
Moody’s Baa1 Stable
Standard & Poor’s BBB+ Stable
The Company’s Board of Directors has declared, and the Company has paid, dividends on the Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock and each class of common stock has participated equally in all dividends declared by the Board of Directors and paid by the Company for more than 30 years. The amount and frequency of future dividends will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in light of the earnings and financial condition of the Company at such time, and no assurance can be given that dividends will be declared or paid in the future.
We review supplier terms and conditions on an ongoing basis, and we have negotiated payment term extensions in recent years in connection with our efforts to improve cash flow and working capital. Separate from those term extension actions, the Company has an agreement with a third-party financial institution to facilitate a supply chain finance program (the “SCF program”), which allows qualifying suppliers to sell their receivables from the Company to the financial institution in order to negotiate shorter payment terms on their outstanding receivable arrangements. The Company’s obligations to its suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by a supplier’s participation in the SCF program. See Note 13 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information related to the SCF program.
The Company’s only Level 3 asset or liability is the acquisition related contingent consideration liability. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities from Level 1 or Level 2 in any period presented. Fair value adjustments were non-cash and, therefore, did not impact the Company’s liquidity or capital resources. Following is a summary of the Level 3 activity:
Third Quarter First Nine Months
(in thousands) 2025 2024 2025 2024
Beginning balance - Level 3 liability $ 675,300 $ 657,246 $ 654,191 $ 669,337
Payments of acquisition related contingent consideration (16,430) (20,567) (51,639) (44,243)
Reclassification to current payables (400) 300 800 (10,400)
Increase in fair value 49,350 68,592 104,468 90,877
Ending balance - Level 3 liability $ 707,820 $ 705,571 $ 707,820 $ 705,571
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Cash Sources and Uses
A summary of cash-based activity is as follows:
First Nine Months
(in thousands) 2025 2024
Cash Sources:
Net cash provided by operating activities (1)
$ 722,913 $ 707,893
Proceeds from the disposal of short-term investments 506,646 72,232
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 6,385 425
Proceeds from bond issuance — 1,200,000
Total cash sources $ 1,235,944 $ 1,980,550
Cash Uses:
Purchases of short-term investments $ 350,003 $ 283,488
Additions to property, plant and equipment 209,994 287,333
Payments related to share repurchases 145,698 574,009
Cash dividends paid 65,310 163,733
Payments of acquisition related contingent consideration 51,639 44,243
Investment in equity method investees 14,709 9,794
Payments on financing lease obligations 1,675 1,848
Debt issuance fees 267 15,365
Total cash uses $ 839,295 $ 1,379,813
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during period $ 396,649 $ 600,737
(1) Net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2025 included net income tax payments of $150.3 million, net interest payments of $46.3 million and pension plan contributions of $5.0 million. Net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2024 included net income tax payments of $171.2 million, net interest payments of $14.4 million and pension plan contributions of $2.0 million.
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
During the first nine months of 2025, cash provided by operating activities was $722.9 million, as compared to $707.9 million during the first nine months of 2024, which was an increase of $15.0 million.
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
During the first nine months of 2025, cash used in investing activities was $61.7 million, which was a decrease of $446.3 million as compared to the first nine months of 2024. The decline in cash used in investing activities was primarily a result of an increase in net proceeds from the purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments of approximately $368 million as compared to the first nine months of 2024.
Additions to property, plant and equipment were $210.0 million during the first nine months of 2025 and $287.3 million during the first nine months of 2024. The decrease in additions to property, plant and equipment was largely due to the purchase of our leased Nashville, Tennessee production facility for approximately $56 million during the third quarter of 2024. There were $24.0 million and $34.8 million of additions to property, plant and equipment accrued in accounts payable, trade as of September 26, 2025 and September 27, 2024, respectively. The additions to property, plant and equipment reflect the Company’s focus on optimizing its supply chain and investing for future growth. The Company anticipates additions to property, plant and equipment in 2025 will be approximately $300 million.
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
During the first nine months of 2025, cash used in financing activities was $264.6 million, as compared to cash provided by financing activities of $400.8 million during the first nine months of 2024. The primary driver of the change was the cash received from the issuance of $1.20 billion of bonds during the first nine months of 2024. Cash used in financing activities related to payments for share repurchases decreased from $574.0 million during the first nine months of 2024 to $145.7 million during the first nine months of 2025. Dividend payments decreased from $163.7 million during the first nine months of 2024 to
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$65.3 million during the first nine months of 2025. Dividend payments during the first nine months of 2024 included special dividend payments of approximately $150 million. During the first nine months of 2025, we have returned approximately $211 million to stockholders through share repurchases and dividends.
The Company had cash payments for acquisition related contingent consideration of $51.6 million during the first nine months of 2025 and $44.2 million during the first nine months of 2024. For the next five future years, the Company anticipates that the amount it could pay annually under the acquisition related contingent consideration arrangements for the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments will be in the range of approximately $50 million to $80 million.
Hedging Activities
The Company uses commodity derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in certain commodity prices where practicable. Fees paid by the Company for commodity derivative instruments are amortized over the corresponding period of the instrument. The Company accounts for its commodity derivative instruments on a mark-to-market basis with any expense or income being reflected as an adjustment to cost of sales or SD&A expenses, consistent with the expense classification of the underlying hedged item.
The Company uses several different financial institutions for commodity derivative instruments to minimize the concentration of credit risk. The Company has master agreements with the counterparties to its commodity derivative instruments that provide for net settlement of derivative transactions. The net impact of the commodity derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations was as follows:
Third Quarter First Nine Months
(in thousands) 2025 2024 2025 2024
(Decrease) increase in cost of sales $ (147) $ (1,542) $ 281 $ (1,472)
Increase in SD&A expenses 273 1,267 10 1,885
Net impact $ 126 $ (275) $ 291 $ 413
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this report, or in other public filings, press releases, or other written or oral communications made by the Company, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which we expect will or may occur in the future and may impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s best judgment based on current information, and, although we base these statements on circumstances that we believe to be reasonable when made, there can be no assurance that future events will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking information. As such, the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the projected results and expectations discussed in this report. Factors that might cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: increased costs (including due to inflation) or disruption, unavailability or shortages of raw materials, fuel and other supplies; the reliance on purchased finished products from external sources; changes in public and consumer perception and preferences, including concerns related to product safety and sustainability, artificial ingredients, brand reputation and obesity; changes in government regulations related to nonalcoholic beverages, including regulations related to obesity, public health, artificial ingredients, recycling, sustainability and product safety; decreases from historic levels of marketing funding support provided to us by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies; material changes in the performance requirements for marketing funding support or our inability to meet such requirements; decreases from historic levels of advertising, marketing and product innovation spending by The Coca‑Cola Company and other beverage companies, or advertising campaigns that are negatively perceived by the public; any failure of the several Coca‑Cola system governance entities of which we are a participant to function efficiently or in our best interest and any failure or delay of ours to receive anticipated benefits from these governance entities; provisions in our beverage distribution and manufacturing agreements with The Coca‑Cola Company that could delay or prevent a change in control of us or a sale of our Coca‑Cola distribution or manufacturing businesses; the concentration of our capital stock ownership; our inability to meet requirements under our beverage distribution and manufacturing agreements; changes in the inputs used to calculate our acquisition related contingent consideration liability; technology failures or cyberattacks on our information technology systems or our effective response to technology failures or cyberattacks on our third-party service providers’, business partners’, customers’, suppliers’ or other third parties’ information technology systems; unfavorable changes in the general economy; changes in trade policies, including the imposition of, or increase in, tariffs on imported goods; the concentration risks among our
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customers and suppliers; lower than expected net pricing of our products resulting from continued and increased customer and competitor consolidations and marketplace competition; the effect of changes in our level of debt, borrowing costs and credit ratings on our access to capital and credit markets, operating flexibility and ability to obtain additional financing to fund future needs; the failure to attract, train and retain qualified employees while controlling labor costs and other labor issues; the failure to maintain productive relationships with our employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, including failing to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements; changes in accounting standards; our use of estimates and assumptions; changes in tax laws, disagreements with tax authorities or additional tax liabilities; changes in legal contingencies; natural disasters, changing weather patterns and unfavorable weather; climate change or legislative or regulatory responses to such change; and the risks discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024 and elsewhere in this report.
Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this report. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. In evaluating forward-looking statements, these risks and uncertainties should be considered, together with the other risks described from time to time in the Company’s reports and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.