Coke vs. Pepsi... Who Cares?

The debate over Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Pepsi (NYSE: PEP) seems to never end. Just today, some co-workers of mine debated over the qualities of each and which was the superior cola beverage. A professed Pepsi drinker, I can say I do have a preference. However, its crazy to me when people launch tirades over which is the better beverage. To me, bubbly is bubbly. If Pepsi is available, I'll go for that. If it isn't, I won't cry about it I'll simply just go with a Coke. Sometimes if I'm feeling adventurous I'll just go for Coke to switch things up. Call me crazy.

Now there's taste tests and all that jazz on the drink people prefer. Now if you like Coke or Pepsi, so be it. But that doesn't mean you should go biblical on others and force your beverage of choice upon them. Yes they do taste different. I'm no expert, but I'd say Coke is a bit more bubbly and Pepsi is a bit more sweet. I don't know if anyone else notices this, but I'd definitely say that Coke/Pepsi in a can tastes different than Coke/Pepsi in a bottle and still more different than Coke/Pepsi from the tap. It also depends what type of glass you put it in (plastic/glass/etc.). I'm sure at restaurants you order one thing, but they give you whatever they have there. Also, I'm sure most people go with "I'll have a coke (not specifying brand)" rather than sounding like a tool and saying "Make mine a Pepsi." Well at least thats what I say. The restaurant could give me some third party brand (RC Cola anyone?) and I probably wouldn't know the difference. Truth is, fountain sodas are way too inconsistent on their syrup to whatever ratio and it never tastes the same.

Alas, no matter what your cola of choice is, I say if you feel so strongly about it you end up looking like a silly fool. Yes, thats right silly fool. I'm a silly fool for wasting the time to write this entry. Anyway, by being so brand-loyal you've fallen for their multi-million dollar marketing campaigns and have become enslaved to the corporation. Call me frugal/cheap or what you will, but if I'm in the grocery store I'd go with whatever costs less because at the end of the day, are those seconds you have the bubbly dancing on your tongue worth that extra dough just because its from a particular brand? To me it ain't.

So as you chug down your cola (you actually shouldn't it's bad for your teeth... wash it down with water after you're done or go brush your teeth) in the end it doesn't matter. There's plenty of room in this world for both of these outfits. As seen in the charts below, both Coca-Cola and Pepsi have done quite well for themselves. As poor chaps like me continue to drink the stuff even with all the health warnings (not unlike tobacco...), these stocks seem to have a solid customer base that keeps refreshing itself. So maybe you should just invest in these stocks instead of drinking them. This way you can stay brand loyal by choosing your company and have a brighter smile by avoiding the stains these colas bring.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

Pepsico (PEP)

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