Brand Manager

Five defensive dividend stocks offer income with less volatility than the broader market, according to a 24/7 Wall St. analysis. All five have a beta well below 1, meaning they have historically moved less than the market. Pfizer leads with a forward yield of 5.83% at $29.49 a share. AT&T yields 4.77% at $23.27, and its $1.11 dividend uses about 42% of 2026 free cash flow guidance of $18B+. Debt of $144B is its main risk. Dominion Energy yields 4.24%, while Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive each yield 2.27%. Coca-Cola has raised its dividend every year since 1999, and Colgate's next ex-dividend date is October 20, 2026.

Anandana- The Coca-Cola India Foundation and S M Sehgal Foundation earn National recognition for community-led water stewardship in Telangana. ANI 17 Oct 2026, 12:32 GMT+ BusinessWire India Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 17: Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, and S M Sehgal Foundation have been recognised at the 20th CII National Awards for Excellence in Water Management 2026 in the "Beyond the Fence" category for their community-led water stewardship efforts in Medak district of Telangana. Implemented from January 2024 to March 2025, the "Sustainable Access to Safe Water" project rejuvenated 15 traditional village tanks across seven villages in Shivampet mandal, Medak district, Telangana, creating approximately 205 million litres of water storage and groundwater recharge potential. The initiative strengthened water security for over 15,000 people and supported agricultural livelihoods across 1,535 acres through tank desilting, bund strengthening and community participation. Approximately 2.04 lakh cubic metres of silt was removed, equivalent to around 82 Olympic-size swimming pools, and provided to 150 individual farmers and three group or community beneficiaries for use on agricultural land, supporting soil health and long-term water management. Speaking on the recognition, Devyani Rana, Vice President - Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, said, "We are humbled to see our collaborative efforts with S M Sehgal Foundation recognised for their contribution to strengthening water security. Through the restoration of traditional village tanks, community-led maintenance and the planting of 500 saplings, the project reflects our collective endeavour to improving local water availability and building resilience in water-stressed regions." Ms Anjali Makhija, Trustee and CEO, S M Sehgal Foundation, said, "The restoration of traditional village tanks is an important step towards addressing local water challenges and supporting farming communities. With the support of Anandana - The Coca-Cola India Foundation, we worked alongside village institutions and local residents to rejuvenate these water bodies and strengthen community ownership. The formation of Tank User Groups and the reuse of nutrient-rich silt on farmland are important elements of this effort, helping communities take an active role in maintaining these resources for the future." The recognition underscores the importance of collaboration between industry, implementation partners and local communities in addressing regional water challenges. Anandana and S M Sehgal Foundation continue to work together to improve water availability and support the communities that depend on these resources. The project's achievement also reflects the thinking behind "Tarang" Anandana- The Coca-Cola India Foundation's campaign that brings together diverse initiatives being taken to address India's water challenges. Through Tarang, Anandana brings together initiatives that recognise the diverse water needs across regions, highlighting how locally relevant solutions can improve access to water, support agricultural livelihoods and contribute to a water-secure future. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

KFC ends nearly 40-year PepsiCo partnership, switches to Coca-Cola in 2027. By Rajwa Quasim October 16, 2026 3 Mins Read KFC is ending its nearly four-decade partnership with PepsiCo and switching to Coca-Cola as its beverage supplier across its more than 3,700 U.S. restaurants. The fried chicken chain announced that the transition will begin in January 2027, with Coca-Cola products expected to be available at all U.S. locations by spring. KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie described the partnership as part of the company's broader effort to modernize its brand and give customers more reasons to visit its restaurants. "These are two originals, with deep consumer love," Tan-Gillespie said. "This partnership is about more than what's in the cup. It is another step in our work to evolve KFC, strengthen our restaurants, menu offerings and create a more relevant experience for today's customers." The move ends a partnership that began in 1986, when PepsiCo acquired KFC as part of its expansion into the restaurant business. PepsiCo spun off its restaurant operations in 1997, creating Yum! Brands, KFC's current parent company. Despite the separation, PepsiCo continued supplying beverages to KFC's U.S. restaurants for nearly four more decades. Earlier this month, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company's efforts to improve sales growth and profit margins were taking longer than expected. Its snacks business has also faced pressure from consumers who have become more sensitive to prices and are reconsidering their spending. Although PepsiCo will lose KFC's U.S. business, the company will retain other major restaurant partnerships. Its beverage agreements with Taco Bell in the United States and KFC in international markets will continue. PepsiCo has a 10-year agreement with Taco Bell, according to Reuters. The company also supplies beverages to restaurant chains including Subway and Jersey Mike's. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has secured beverage partnerships with several restaurant chains that previously served PepsiCo products, including Culver's, Arby's and Panda Express. The company also has longstanding partnerships with McDonald's and Wendy's. Coca-Cola's President of Foodservice and On-Premise, North America, Dagmar Boggs, said the partnership would combine KFC's food offerings with Coca-Cola's beverage portfolio and innovation capabilities to create new customer experiences and growth opportunities. Fast-food chains are increasingly looking to beverages to attract customers amid intense competition. Many have expanded their menus to include iced coffees, shakes, coolers, refreshers and customized drinks sometimes known as "dirty sodas." Jay Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, said losing a major restaurant partner such as KFC could hurt PepsiCo's image and add to the challenges facing the company.