Better Buy: Coca Cola vs. National Beverage

Investors today are often confronted with a choice: Buy the exciting (but expensive) disruptor or the threatened (but less expensive) incumbent? Think Tesla versus General Motors, Amazon versus Wal-Mart, or Netflix versus Walt Disney.

As it turns out, the beverage world is no different. Today, let's pit National Beverage (NASDAQ: FIZZ), owner of the hit sparkling water brand La Croix, against 131 year-old industry giant Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO).

At first glance, the difference between each company's growth prospects couldn't be more stark. National Beverage posted 20% revenue growth and 31% operating income growth in the most recently reported quarter, while Coca-Cola posted a 15% revenue decline along with a 7% decline in operating income.

Source: Fool.com