how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola

Warren Buffett’s Ownership of Coca‑Cola Stock

Introduction

The question how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola is a common one for investors and observers of Berkshire Hathaway. This article answers that question with up‑to‑date, verifiable figures, historical context, dividend impact and links to primary reporting channels. Readers will learn the number of Coca‑Cola shares Berkshire Hathaway holds, the position’s market value at representative dates, why Buffett keeps the stake, how dividends contribute to Berkshire’s cash flow, and where to verify the holdings through regulatory filings.

As a reminder, this article is informational and not investment advice. For trading or custody, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet when choosing services.

Overview

The phrase how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola refers specifically to the stake held by Berkshire Hathaway (the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett) in The Coca‑Cola Company (ticker: KO). Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola position is one of its longest‑held and most famous equity investments. Historically, Berkshire purchased a large position beginning in the late 1980s and has retained a multi‑hundred‑million‑share stake that provides significant dividend income and long‑term capital appreciation potential.

截至 2023-12-31，据 Berkshire Hathaway 的 13F 报告（在 2024 年 2 月提交并由多家媒体报道）显示，Berkshire 持有的可口可乐普通股数量接近 400,000,000 股；不同报道在具体股数和估值上有轻微差异，具体以最新 13F 和公司披露为准（来源：Nasdaq 的 2024 年报道、Yahoo Finance / Benzinga 的后续报道）。

Note on phrase usage: the exact query how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola appears throughout this article for clarity and SEO alignment.

History of the Position

Initial Purchases (1988–1994)

Warren Buffett began accumulating a substantial stake in Coca‑Cola in 1988 after the 1987 market downturn. Buffett has described the purchase as part of his search for stable, high‑quality businesses with strong brands and predictable cash flows. The initial purchases were made after thorough diligence; by the early 1990s, Berkshire Hathaway had established a cornerstone position in Coca‑Cola that it largely held rather than actively traded.

截至 1993-12-31，据多方历史记载与 Berkshire 以往公开信汇总，Berkshire 已建立起所谓的“核心持仓”，并在随后多年维持或小幅调整该头寸（来源：多家财经回顾与 Motley Fool 历史分析）。

Subsequent Buys and Sells (1990s–present)

From the 1990s onward, Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola holdings were largely long‑term with episodic adjustments. Public transaction summaries (including SEC filings and aggregators that track institutional activity) show occasional small increases or decreases over decades, but no complete exit. In modern filings (quarterly 13F reports), the share count appears relatively stable compared with more actively traded holdings.

截至 2024-02-14，据 StockCircle 与 GuruFocus 对 Berkshire 13F 数据的汇总报道，Berkshire 在不同季度曾有细小调仓，但未出现对该头寸的实质性清仓或大幅度缩减（来源：StockCircle, GuruFocus 报告）。

Holdings: Shares, Value and Ownership Percentage

Number of Shares Held

A commonly reported figure for Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola holdings is roughly 400 million shares. Exact counts fluctuate with filing periods and corporate actions. When answering how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola, it is important to reference the filing date.

• 截至 2023-12-31，据 Berkshire Hathaway 向 SEC 提交的 13F（并由 Nasdaq 在 2024 年报道）及多家媒体摘要，Berkshire 持有可口可乐普通股约 400,000,000 股（来源：Nasdaq, Yahoo Finance / Benzinga 报道）。

Please check the latest SEC 13F or Berkshire’s investor documents for the most recent quarter to confirm the current count.

Market Value Over Time

The dollar value of Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola stake moves with KO’s share price. Representative examples show material swings across years:

• 截至 2023-12-31，据 Nasdaq 与 Yahoo Finance 汇总，若按当时 KO 股价计算，约 400 million 股的市值在数百亿美元范围（来源：Nasdaq, Yahoo Finance）。

• 在市场波动与长期上涨期间，该头寸的市值可从数十亿美元到超百亿美元不等，具体取决于 reporting date 的 KO 市价。

Because market value fluctuates daily, answering how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola in dollar terms requires specifying a date and the KO market price at that date.

Percentage of Outstanding Shares and Portfolio Weighting

Historically, Berkshire’s stake represented a mid‑single‑digit to low‑double‑digit percentage of Coca‑Cola’s outstanding shares. Estimates commonly place Berkshire’s ownership around 9%–10% of KO’s outstanding common stock at certain reporting points.

• 截至 2023-12-31，据 Wikipedia 中“List of assets owned by Berkshire Hathaway”与 GuruFocus 的持仓汇总，Berkshire 对可口可乐的股权占比大致在 9% 左右（具体百分比随总股本和持股变动而变化，来源：Wikipedia, GuruFocus）。

Within Berkshire’s public‑equity portfolio, the Coca‑Cola stake has historically been among the largest single‑stock holdings by value, but the portfolio itself is large and diversified. The stake’s portfolio weighting therefore tends to be a single‑digit to low‑double‑digit percentage of Berkshire’s public‑equity portfolio value depending on market moves.

Dividend Receipts and Income Contribution

A central reason Berkshire has held Coca‑Cola for decades is dividend income. Coca‑Cola is a reliably paying dividend company, and Berkshire’s large position generates substantial annual cash flow.

• 截至 2023 年度，公司披露和财经媒体汇总数据显示，Berkshire 从可口可乐获得的年度股息总额在数亿美元量级，近年的分红收入约在 7–8 亿美元区间（来源：Yahoo Finance/Benzinga 年度分析、Motley Fool 投资回顾）。

Dividends have been an important component of Berkshire’s total return from Coca‑Cola. Buffett has often emphasized cash returns from high‑quality businesses — dividends provide deployable cash for Berkshire’s other investments or operations.

Note: dividend totals depend on the dividend per share in a given year and the share count at the dividend record dates. For exact annual dividend receipts, consult Berkshire’s annual report and Coca‑Cola’s dividend history.

Investment Rationale and Significance

Warren Buffett’s publicly stated rationale for owning Coca‑Cola centers on brand strength, predictable consumer demand, pricing power, and strong free cash flow. Coca‑Cola’s global footprint, durable product portfolio and consistent cash generation align with Buffett’s preference for businesses that can be held indefinitely if management remains able and the economics hold.

Because investors often ask how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola to infer Berkshire’s view on consumer staples or dividend strategies, it’s useful to highlight Buffett’s broader preference for long‑term ownership and compounding through both dividends and capital appreciation.

Reporting and Regulatory Filings

Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola stake is disclosed publicly through standard regulatory and company channels:

• SEC Form 13F: Institutional investment managers file quarterly 13F reports listing long positions in U.S. equities. These are the primary public source for quarter‑end holdings counts.

• Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters and annual reports: Buffett’s annual letters and financial statements discuss major holdings and rationale but do not replace SEC filings for precise quarter‑end counts.

• 10‑K / 10‑Q: Berkshire’s periodic filings include portfolio summaries that can reference major equity investments.

• 截至 2024-02-14，据 Nasdaq 与 GuruFocus 对 2023 年第四季度 13F 的报道，13F 报告是确认 Berkshire 在指定报告期内持股数量的权威文件（来源：Nasdaq, GuruFocus）。

To verify current holdings, consult the latest SEC 13F filing for Berkshire Hathaway and specialized institutional‑holdings aggregators that summarize those filings.

Market Impact and Public Perception

Berkshire’s large, longstanding position in Coca‑Cola affects market perception in several ways:

• Signaling: A major institutional holding by Buffett signals confidence in Coca‑Cola’s business model for many retail and professional investors.
• Dividend narratives: Because the stake produces material dividends, it reinforces Coca‑Cola’s reputation as a dividend stalwart.
• Media attention: Large changes in Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola holdings (if they occur) typically trigger widespread media coverage and speculation about Berkshire’s strategy.

That said, markets also recognize Berkshire’s long‑term approach — the presence of a patient, value‑oriented, large shareholder can be stabilizing rather than speculative.

Notable Anecdotes and Media Coverage

A well‑known anecdote is Buffett’s personal affinity for Coca‑Cola products (Buffett has mentioned drinking Coca‑Cola frequently). Media outlets often link Buffett’s personal preference to his investment, though Buffett’s investment rationale emphasizes business fundamentals rather than personal consumption alone.

• 截至 2022–2024 年度，多家媒体在年度回顾中再次提到 Buffett 与可口可乐之间的“文化”联系（来源：Motley Fool、Kiplinger 年度回顾）。

Media headlines frequently frame the holding in dollar terms (e.g., “Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola stake worth $X billion as of date Y”), so be sure to check the reporting date when reading valuation headlines.

Performance and Returns

Since the initial purchases in the late 1980s, Coca‑Cola has delivered a combination of capital appreciation and regular dividends. Total return for Berkshire on this position has been outsized relative to the original outlay, thanks to long‑term share price appreciation and recurring dividend receipts.

Quantifying exact returns depends on assumptions about reinvestment of dividends, specific purchase prices, and the chosen holding window. For an accurate total‑return calculation for a specific period, combine historical KO price data with documented dividend amounts and Berkshire’s historical buy/sell transaction history from primary filings.

Controversies, Criticisms and Risks

Common critiques or risks related to Berkshire’s Coca‑Cola stake include:

• Concentration risk: Holding a large position in a single non‑financial company increases exposure to company‑specific developments.
• Consumer health and regulatory risks: Shifts in consumer preferences and regulatory scrutiny around sugary beverages present long‑term competitive risks.
• Market and currency exposure: As a global beverage company, Coca‑Cola faces foreign currency and international market risks.

These are standard company‑level risks and are part of the reason investors watch large institutional stakes closely.

See Also

• Berkshire Hathaway holdings
• Warren Buffett
• The Coca‑Cola Company (KO)
• Dividend investing
• SEC Form 13F

References

• 截至 2023-12-31，据 Nasdaq 报道并基于 Berkshire Hathaway 于 2024 年提交的 13F 报告，Berkshire 对可口可乐的持股接近 400,000,000 股（来源：Nasdaq，2024‑02 报道）。
• 截至 2024-02-14，据 Yahoo Finance / Benzinga 对 13F 及市场数据的汇总报道表明，不同媒体在估值与时点上存在差异，需以 SEC 原始文件为准（来源：Yahoo Finance / Benzinga，2024‑02 报道）。
• 截至 2024-02-14，据 StockCircle 对 Berkshire 交易汇总记录，历史上该头寸多为长期持有，只有小幅调整（来源：StockCircle，2024‑02 报道）。
• 截至 2023 年度累计数据，Motley Fool 与 Kiplinger 的分析回顾了可口可乐为 Berkshire 带来的股息收入与长期回报（来源：Motley Fool, Kiplinger，2023 年度回顾）。
• Wikipedia: “List of assets owned by Berkshire Hathaway” 对历史持仓与公开信息做了集中说明（检阅日期：2024‑02）。
• GuruFocus: 持仓摘要与历史 13F 汇总，用于交叉验证持股数量（检阅日期：2024‑02）。

进一步阅读与验证方法

• To confirm how much stock does warren buffett own in coca cola at the current moment, check Berkshire Hathaway’s most recent SEC Form 13F (quarterly) and Berkshire’s public investor materials. Financial news outlets summarize these filings, but the 13F is the authoritative source for quarter‑end long positions.

• For dividend history and KO share price time series, consult Coca‑Cola’s investor relations disclosures and historical market data services.

Actionable next steps (non‑investment suggestions)

• Want to track institutional holdings and filings closely? Use recognized data providers or the SEC EDGAR system to monitor Berkshire’s Form 13F filings each quarter.
• If you plan to trade or custody equities, consider exploring Bitget for trading services and Bitget Wallet for custody solutions. Bitget provides a user‑oriented platform and secure wallet options for investors seeking streamlined access to markets.

更多实用建议：若需掌握最新持股数字，请以最新季度的 13F 报告为准；若需对比估值，请同时核对报告发布日期与当日 KO 市价。