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Coca-Cola vs. Monster Beverage: Measuring Quarter-Over-Quarter Revenue Trends
Key Points
When comparing the top-line results of these two companies, Coca-Cola generates a higher baseline of total revenue than Monster Beverage across all of the comparable reporting periods shown in the data.
Both companies demonstrated a generally positive revenue trajectory over the last eight periods, featuring overall upward momentum paired with mild quarter-over-quarter fluctuations.
Investors examining these two stocks should watch whether the absolute revenue gap between the two companies continues to widen gradually or if that long-term trend begins to flatten out in upcoming quarters.
Coca-Cola: Tracking a Gradual Upward Quarterly Revenue Trend
Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:KO) primarily earns revenue by manufacturing, marketing, and selling nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups to worldwide bottling partners.
It recently entered a holiday-themed partnership with Gaylord Hotels, while facing a legal investigation regarding a potential class action claim related to a reported customer data breach.
Monster Beverage: Sustaining Incremental Quarterly Revenue Growth Trends
Monster Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:MNST) generates revenue mainly by innovating, marketing, and distributing various energy drinks and concentrates globally.
It executed a two-for-one stock split in August, and it unveiled an upcoming product innovation pipeline featuring new energy and high-protein beverage lines during an October trade show.
Why Revenue Matters for Investors
Revenue here refers to the data provider's standardized income-statement revenue line item, which shows investors the total amount of incoming money a company brings in from selling its goods and services.
Coca-Cola vs. Monster Beverage Revenue over the last 8 quarters.
Quarterly Revenue for Coca-Cola and Monster Beverage
| Calendar quarter | Coca-Cola Revenue | Monster Beverage Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 2024 | $11.5 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024) | $1.8 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024) |
| Q1 2025 | $11.1 billion (quarter ended March 28, 2025) | $1.9 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2025) |
| Q2 2025 | $12.5 billion (quarter ended June 27, 2025) | $2.1 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2025) |
| Q3 2025 | $12.5 billion (quarter ended Sept. 26, 2025) | $2.2 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025) |
| Q4 2025 | $11.8 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025) | $2.1 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025) |
| Q1 2026 | $12.5 billion (quarter ended April 3, 2026) | $2.4 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2026) |
| Q2 2026 | $13.4 billion (quarter ended July 3, 2026) | $2.5 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2026) |
| Q3 2026 | $13.4 billion (quarter ended Oct. 2, 2026) | Not yet reported |
Foolish Take
The first thing to check for when examining a company's revenue trend is seasonality: some times of the year have stronger buying patterns than others. There usually is some seasonality for every business. In the case of Coca-Cola, the warmer summer months tend to generate more sales of its core sodas. Similarly for Monster, the summer months see slightly stronger sales, though attributed less to a refreshment cause and more to people wanting the stronger caffeine hit of Monster for outdoor activities during longer daylight periods.
As the chart shows, comparing comparable quarters makes Coke's sales less volatile, given that there is modest growth quarter over quarter compared to the prior year, such as Q1 2026 and Q1 2025. Monster's is more interesting in that, even with seasonality, the company is posting steady sequential quarterly growth. That suggests stronger growth prospects for Monster than Coke.
It's worth noting, too, that while Coke owns a large minority stake in Monster, it doesn't incorporate Monster revenues into its own accounting, which it would likely have to do if it owned a majority stake.
Revenue is perhaps the simplest metric investors have to judge a business by. As the chart shows, look for rising revenue, especially over similar periods of each year, and take comparable-quarter stagnation, or worse, declines, as a red flag.
Data source: Financial Modeling Prep. Data as of Nov. 1, 2026.
Brendan Coffey has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Monster Beverage. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.