{
  "id": 16744687,
  "title": "Drinks: Zero-sugar soft drinks in demand: Coca-Cola raises forecast",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/getranke-zuckerfreie-softdrinks-gefragt-coca-cola-erhoht-prognose",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-27T12:13:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/getraenke-zuckerfreie-softdrinks-gefragt-coca-cola-erhoeht-prognose/100265309.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}