The Coca-Cola Company (KO) has strong soft drink brands, leading market shares, and generates solid cash flow. The company's new CEO, Muhtar Kent, will continue with Isdell's revitalization plan to deal with the challenges of sluggish volume trends.Though world-wide volume growth has begun to improve, it is being driven by non-carbonated beverages and international markets along with incremental marketing spending of $400 million annually.Profit warnings by two Coca-Cola bottlers -- Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) and Coca-Cola Hellenic (CCH) -- are concerning. The Hold recommendation is maintained.Read the full analyst report on KORead the full analyst report on CCERead the full analyst report on CCH "KO" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"CCE" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"CCH" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?...

Hedge Fund ActivismCorporations & Activist Hedge FundsThe Conference Board Working Group on Hedge Fund Activism has released its final recommendations for those corporations and institutional investors that may find themselves involved in an activism campaign mounted by hedge funds.The recommendations were formulated by a heterogeneous group of high-level corporate and investor representatives, instituted under the auspices of The Conference Board Governance Center. They include guidelines on monitoring securities holdings, responding to requests for change, ensuring voting integrity, and overseeing hedge fund management. Working Group members include:• Major pension funds and asset management firms, including TIAA-CREF, Florida State Board of Administration, and Barclays;• Corporations at the forefront of corporate governance developments, including Pfizer, American Express, and The Coca-Cola Company; and• Industry associations and service providers such as Managed Funds Association, the National Investor Relations Institute, ISS-RiskMetrics Group, Standard ...