Two beverage partners are headed in opposite directions these days. Shares of soft drink giant Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) have traded sideways for 52 weeks (including the benefit of reinvested dividends), while energy drink specialist Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST) rose 31% in the same span. For reference, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) index stands between these extremes with a total gain of 15%.

These opposing price trends have many investors wondering where the two drink titans and longtime business partners will go next. Can Coke pull off a turnaround? Will Monster's momentum continue? And which beverage stock is the better buy right now?

Let's take a look.

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Source Fool.com