Drinks: Zero-sugar soft drinks in demand: Coca-Cola raises forecast
Good $13 billion in sales in one quarter: Coca-Cola benefits from increased sales and higher prices. One trend in particular is helping the US beverage giant.
Atlanta - Coca-Cola has again raised its annual targets following a surprisingly strong third quarter. The US beverage giant benefited from unexpectedly high sales of its soft drinks and slightly higher prices, with sugar-free drinks in particular performing well. Revenue rose by nearly 7 percent year-on-year to nearly $13.4 billion (around €12 billion), according to the company's announcement in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Even when accounting for currency effects, sales and purchases, this increase was of this magnitude. CEO Henrique Braun now expects a profit boost of at least five percent for the full year 2026. Coca-Cola last raised its target in July, having projected around 5 percent growth. Operating earnings in the reporting period were almost $4.47 billion, which was 12 percent higher than a year earlier.
Overall, profit rose by eight percent to nearly $4 billion. The company's earnings per share also improved slightly, reaching $0.91, more than expected. Management has also increased its annual targets for this metric, now expecting a growth of at least eleven percent, up from the previously anticipated nine to ten percent.
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