Value Stocks Gain Ground As Inflation, Recession Fears Grow: 4 ETFs To Capitalize On The Trend
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 31 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Value Stocks Gaining Popularity: The Russell 1000 Value Index has outperformed the Russell 1000 Growth Index by 11% over the past three months, as investors seek safety amid economic uncertainties, shifting focus from growth stocks to value stocks.
Recommended Value ETFs: Four value-based ETFs are highlighted for investors looking to capitalize on this trend: iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD), Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV), and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD), each offering diverse exposure to value stocks with competitive expense ratios.
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Analyst Views on KO
Wall Street analysts forecast KO stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 79.390
Low
71.00
Averages
79.33
High
85.00
Current: 79.390
Low
71.00
Averages
79.33
High
85.00
About KO
The Coca-Cola Company is a beverage company. The Company's segments include Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Latin America; North America; Asia Pacific, and Bottling Investments. It sells multiple brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Its portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Its water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Its juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and Santa Clara. It operates in two lines of business: concentrate operations and finished product operations. Its concentrate operations sell beverage concentrates, syrups, including fountain syrups, and certain finished beverages to authorized bottling operations. Its finished product operations sell sparkling soft drinks and a variety of other finished beverages.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 is up nearly 10% this year, adding to a 78% increase over the past three years, driven by excitement around AI stocks, though recent volatility highlights the need for caution in uncertain times.
- Investment Opportunity: Coca-Cola (KO), the world's largest non-alcoholic beverage maker, boasts a strong brand and distribution network, ensuring its presence in 200 countries, making it an attractive option for investors seeking stable returns in a volatile market.
- Financial Performance: Coca-Cola reported over $12 billion in net revenue for the recent quarter, a 12% year-over-year increase, and gained market share for the 20th consecutive quarter, demonstrating resilience amid commodity pressures and geopolitical turmoil.
- Dividend Growth: As a Dividend King, Coca-Cola has raised its dividend for 50 consecutive years, currently paying $2.12 per share with a yield of 2.6%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 1%, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholders and financial strength.
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- Volatile Stock Performance: Since going public on June 12, SpaceX's stock has experienced significant volatility, soaring from an IPO price of $135 to a peak of $225, but has since retreated to around $180 to $185, indicating market uncertainty about its future performance.
- Complex Lockup Provisions: Unlike typical IPO stocks, SpaceX's staggered lockup provisions allow insiders to sell shares as early as late summer, which could flood the market with new shares and exert downward pressure on the stock price.
- Diverging Market Confidence: While some investors remain optimistic about SpaceX's long-term prospects, more cautious investors may prefer high-quality dividend stocks for steadier returns, reflecting a growing preference for stability in the current market environment.
- Strong Competitor Performance: In this market context, companies like Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble, known for their stable dividend growth, are viewed as safer investment choices, highlighting a shift in investor sentiment towards more reliable returns.
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- Stock Volatility: Since its IPO on June 12, SpaceX's stock has experienced significant volatility, soaring from an initial price of $135 to a peak of $225, but has since retreated to around $180 to $185, indicating market uncertainty about its future performance.
- Lock-Up Structure: Unlike typical IPOs, SpaceX's staggered lock-up provisions allow insiders to sell shares as early as late summer, following the company's first quarterly earnings release, which could flood the market with new shares and exert downward pressure on the stock price.
- Investment Alternatives: Given SpaceX's high volatility, analysts recommend considering high-quality dividend growth stocks such as Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble, which offer more stable returns amid market uncertainty.
- Dividend Growth Benefits: Companies like Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson have raised dividends for 65 consecutive years, demonstrating strong cash flow stability and risk resilience, making them suitable core holdings for long-term investors during market fluctuations.
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- Price Fluctuation Analysis: HDV's 52-week low is $23.156 per share and high is $28.178, with the last trade at $27.09, indicating stable demand as the price hovers near its high point.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average provides investors with valuable insights for market trend assessment and potential buying opportunities.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs with notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), assessing their impact on underlying assets and market sentiment.
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- Tax Dispute Focus: Coca-Cola is preparing for a pivotal lawsuit that could affect its $20 billion tax liability, with the case being heard in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, centering on the legality of its profit allocation among international subsidiaries.
- Potential Financial Impact: A loss could raise Coca-Cola's future tax rate, resulting in substantial cash obligations, while the company has already paid approximately $6 billion in taxes, with an additional $14 billion liability looming if the ruling extends to later tax years.
- Industry-Wide Implications: This case is critical not only for Coca-Cola but also for other multinationals, particularly in technology and pharmaceuticals, as they face similar scrutiny over profit reporting, potentially altering global operational structures.
- Future Outlook: A ruling is expected later this year, although further appeals remain possible, prompting investors to closely monitor the case's developments to assess its long-term strategic implications for the company.
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- Stock Price Decline: Coca-Cola's stock price fell approximately 5% from $83.59 on June 10 to around $79.29, primarily due to a shift in investor risk appetite despite the absence of direct company catalysts.
- Valuation Concerns: The P/E ratio reached 25 on June 10, which, while not high for tech stocks, is considered elevated for a consumer staple like Coca-Cola, prompting investors to reassess their positions.
- Market Sentiment Shift: Investors are rotating out of stable consumer staples into tech stocks, driven by excitement around IPOs like SpaceX, which may have intensified selling pressure on Coca-Cola.
- Analyst Optimism: Despite the stock's pullback, 88% of analysts rate Coca-Cola as a buy with a median price target of $88, suggesting an 11% upside, highlighting its long-term appeal as a high-yield dividend stock.
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