Form 4: Coca-Cola CEO Quincey Reports Share Withholding for Taxes

Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey reported the disposition of 149,616 shares of common stock to cover tax liabilities related to vested performance share units.

Summary

• James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, reported a transaction involving company common stock.
• On February 27, 2026, 149,616 shares of common stock were disposed of at a price of $80.5 per share.
• This disposition was for the purpose of satisfying tax liabilities upon the vesting of performance share units.
• These performance share units were issued on February 19, 2026, as part of the 2023-2025 performance share unit program.
• Following this transaction, Quincey directly beneficially owns 528,843 shares of common stock.
• Indirect beneficial ownership includes 44,678 shares held by his wife and 8,886 shares in The Coca-Cola Company 401(k) Plan as of February 26, 2026.
• Additionally, 35,443 hypothetical shares are held indirectly through a Supplemental 401(k) Plan as of February 26, 2026.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this as a neutral event, representing a routine administrative transaction related to executive compensation rather than a strategic move or a reflection of company performance beyond the initial vesting.

Positives

• The vesting of performance share units indicates the achievement of performance targets for the 2023-2025 program, reflecting positive company performance during that period.

Negatives

• The disposition of 149,616 shares, while for tax purposes, reduces the direct beneficial ownership of the CEO in the company.

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that routine insider transactions, such as share dispositions for tax purposes upon equity award vesting, are common across all industries and do not typically signal a change in company fundamentals or executive confidence. This transaction is consistent with standard executive compensation practices in large, publicly traded companies like Coca-Cola.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This transaction, involving the withholding of shares for tax purposes upon the vesting of performance share units, is a standard practice in executive compensation across publicly traded companies. It does not lend itself to direct comparison with specific company projects or financial results of competitors like PepsiCo or Keurig Dr Pepper, as it reflects an individual's compensation event rather than a corporate operational outcome.

Stakeholder Impact

• Minimal direct impact on shareholders, as this is a routine executive compensation-related transaction. The vesting of performance shares could be seen as a positive for employees, indicating successful performance metrics.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing details a routine transaction where shares were withheld to cover tax liabilities upon the vesting of performance share units. Such an event is administrative in nature and does not provide new information regarding the company's operational performance, strategic direction, or future prospects. Therefore, it does not warrant a change in investment recommendation based solely on this filing. An investor would hold their position pending more substantive news.

Keywords

Coca-Cola, KO, James Quincey, SEC Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Ownership, Performance Share Units, Tax Withholding, Executive Compensation