SBEV vs COKE vs PEP vs FIZZ

For growth investors, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

(COKE) is the stronger pick with 4. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -78. 0% for Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (SBEV). National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) offers the better valuation at 17. 7x trailing P/E (17. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. (COKE) a "Hold" — based on 1 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, National Beverage Corp.

(FIZZ) is the cheapest at 17. 7x versus Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. at 26. 1x. On forward P/E, National Beverage Corp. is actually cheaper at 17. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: National Beverage Corp. wins at 2. 36x versus PepsiCo, Inc. 's 5. 53x.

Over the past 5 years, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

(COKE) delivered a total return of +530. 9%, compared to -99. 9% for Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (SBEV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COKE returned +1005% versus SBEV's -99. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PepsiCo, Inc.

(PEP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus Splash Beverage Group, Inc. 's 2. 87β — meaning SBEV is approximately 8910% more volatile than PEP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 2% for PepsiCo, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

(COKE) is pulling ahead at 4. 8% versus -78. 0% for Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (SBEV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: National Beverage Corp. grew EPS 5. 3% year-over-year, compared to -35. 1% for Splash Beverage Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, COKE leads at 5. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

National Beverage Corp.

(FIZZ) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 6% net margin versus -571. 7% for Splash Beverage Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FIZZ leads at 19. 6% versus -386. 2% for SBEV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PEP leads at 54. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 36x versus PepsiCo, Inc. 's 5. 53x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ) trades at 17. 6x forward P/E versus 18. 0x for PepsiCo, Inc. — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PEP: 11. 3% to $174. 00.

In this comparison, FIZZ (9.

2% yield), PEP (3. 6% yield), COKE (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. SBEV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

(COKE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 18), 0. 6% yield, +1005% 10Y return). Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (SBEV) carries a higher beta of 2. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (COKE: +1005%, SBEV: -99. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SBEV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; COKE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PEP is a large-cap income-oriented stock; FIZZ is a small-cap deep-value stock. COKE, PEP, FIZZ pay a dividend while SBEV does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.