Beverage behemoths Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) dominate the soda, water, and other drink aisles in your local grocery store. Their stocks also have a lot in common, including rich dividend histories, steady years of growth, and a recession-proof business that makes them reliable holdings for long-term investors.

But some differences set them apart, including their drinks' tastes (sorry, Coca-Cola and Pepsi do not taste the same). These subtle differences make one a better buy than the other. What are they? Open a can of your preferred soda brand, and take a look.

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are similar companies, so it's tempting to jump right to valuation and think: "This one's cheaper, so it must be the better buy." But it's not that simple. For starters, the stocks are very similar in these areas:

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Source Fool.com