$CCEP Soars to 12-Month Peak: Analysts Ramp Up Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC Price Targets

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC ($CCEP) just smashed through its yearly ceiling—proving even fizzy stocks can have explosive momentum.

Wall Street’s sipping the Kool-Aid: Analysts scramble to hike targets as the beverage giant’s stock leaves bears flat. No surprise—when markets get shaky, investors always reach for ''defensive'' sugar water.

Behind the surge: A classic case of institutional FOMO meets low volatility. Because nothing says ''safe haven'' like a company whose product rots teeth and gets sold at a 500% markup.

Closing thought: In a world where ''growth'' stocks crash harder than crypto, maybe $CCEP’s steady climb is the ultimate rebellion. Or maybe analysts just needed an excuse to justify their bloated price targets. Bottoms up.

TLDR

• CCEP stock reaches $93.61, marking a new 52-week high

• Analysts raise price targets; UBS and Barclays set targets above $100

• Dividend payout reduced; yield stands at 2.4%

• Share buyback program continues with recent purchases in US and UK markets

• Stock shows strong multi-year returns, outperforming the FTSE 100

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC (NASDAQ: CCEP) traded at $93.24 on June 13, 2025, down 0.32% in early market activity after hitting a 52-week high of $93.61 the previous day.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC (CCEP)

The company’s strong market momentum has attracted significant investor attention, supported by favorable analyst ratings and ongoing share repurchase activity.

Analyst Upgrades Signal Positive Outlook

Recent analyst reports have contributed to the stock’s rise. UBS lifted its price target from $96.00 to $100.00, maintaining a “buy” rating. Barclays followed suit, raising its target to $101.00 with an “overweight” rating. Evercore ISI also raised its target to $90.00 with an “outperform” rating, while Kepler Capital Markets downgraded the stock to “reduce.” Overall, MarketBeat data shows an average “Moderate Buy” rating with a consensus target price of $88.50.

Dividend Adjustment Reflects Capital Allocation Strategy

The company recently cut its semi-annual dividend to $0.8993 per share, providing a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was May 16, 2025, and the payout ratio now stands at 16.26%. This MOVE reflects a shift in capital allocation, allowing for greater investment in share buybacks and other strategic initiatives.

Ongoing Share Buyback Program Supports Shareholder Value

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners continues its €1 billion share repurchase program. On May 28, 2025, the company bought 34,426 shares in the US and 16,000 shares in London. These transactions, facilitated by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, align with the firm’s focus on enhancing shareholder returns by reducing share count and improving earnings per share.

Institutional Investment Trends

Major institutional investors have shown renewed interest. Vanguard Group increased its stake by 462.7% in the first quarter, now holding nearly 10 million shares valued at $862 million. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings by 26.3%, while Norges Bank and Nuveen LLC initiated new positions worth over $350 million combined. Institutional ownership now accounts for 31.35% of outstanding shares.

Strong Historical Returns vs. FTSE 100

CCEP has delivered superior returns compared to the FTSE 100. The stock is up 23.57% year-to-date and 28.32% over the past year. Its three-year and five-year returns stand at 93.73% and 186.50%, far exceeding the FTSE 100’s respective gains of 22.94% and 45.10%.

Company Profile and Growth Prospects

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners operates across multiple regions, producing and distributing a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages, including soft drinks, water, energy drinks, teas, and coffees. The company’s broad product portfolio and local market focus have strengthened its position in the global beverage industry.

With revenue nearing $11 billion over the past twelve months and steady growth of 6.78%, CCEP continues to demonstrate strong operational performance. The company’s strategic emphasis on capital returns, innovation, and market expansion positions it well for sustained growth, despite changing consumer preferences and competitive pressures.