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Coca-Cola (KO) Q3 Earnings In Line, Revenues Beat Estimates
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The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO - Free Report) top line has beat estimates in third-quarter 2019 while the bottom line has met the same. Additionally, revenues improved year over year on robust volume and strong pricing. Meanwhile, comparable earnings declined year over year, owing to currency headwinds.
Despite posting soft bottom-line results, shares of Coca-Cola gained about 1.5% in the pre-market session. This can be attributed to investors’ optimism on the company’s volume and prices.
Moreover, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 16.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 11.1%. This is mostly attributed to the company’s growth strategies. Its focus on consumer-centric innovation, solid core brand performance and improved execution in the marketplace is aiding performance.
Quarter in Detail
Coca-Cola’s third-quarter 2019 comparable earnings of 56 cents per share were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the bottom line declined 2% from the year-ago period. Currency translations negatively impacted earnings by 6%.
Coca-Cola Company (The) Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Revenues of $9,507 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9,484 million and improved 8% year over year. Organic revenues grew 5%. The increase in reported as well as organic revenues was attributed to robust performance across all segments as well as growth in volume and price/mix.
Price/mix rose 6%, driven by revenue growth management initiatives as well as gains from a favorable geographic mix. Meanwhile, concentrate sales declined 2%, owing to the timing of shipments during the quarter. Further, increase in global value share, particularly in total non-alcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages, aided the top line.
Volume and Pricing
Coca-Cola’s total unit case volume rose 2% in the third quarter on robust growth in developing and emerging markets. Strength in North America, driven by strong demand for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, also boosted volume.
Category Cluster Performance: Sparkling soft drinks unit case volume was up 2% (compared with a 3% increase in the prior quarter), owing to 3% growth in the Coca-Cola trademark globally, with double-digit growth in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Volume for juice, dairy and plant-based beverages grew 1% year over year (compared with flat volume in the last reported quarter) on strong gains from the Minute Maid and Simply portfolios in North America as well as Minute Maid Pulpy in China. Water, enhanced water and sports drinks improved 2% (same as growth witnessed in the second quarter), and tea and coffee volume grew 4% (compared with 3% growth in the second quarter).
Segmental Details
Revenues grew 2% for North America, 4% for Latin America and 3% for the Asia Pacific segment. Meanwhile, revenues for the Europe, Middle East & Africa (“EMEA”) segment remained flat. The Bottling Investments segment’s revenues grew 8% in the quarter under review. However, the Global Ventures segment reported substantial revenue growth of 243%, gaining from the Costa acquisition.
Organic revenues grew across the board, backed by consistent innovation and revenue growth initiatives within sparkling soft drinks, with solid pricing and mix across all regions. Organic revenues improved 4% for EMEA, 12% for Latin America, 3% each for North America and the Asia Pacific, and 14% for the Global Ventures segment. The Bottling Investments segment recorded organic revenue growth of 9%.
Margins
Comparable currency-neutral operating income grew 5%. Comparable operating margin contracted 260 basis points (bps), driven by a 260-bps negative impact of unfavorable currency and net acquisitions.
Guidance
Backed by strong year-to-date performance, the company has updated its outlook for 2019.
It now estimates organic revenue growth of at least 5% in 2019. Comparable currency-neutral revenues are now expected to increase at least 12%, with about 7% gain from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items. However, unfavorable currency is now likely to affect revenues by 4-5% compared with the previously mentioned 4% headwinds.
Comparable currency-neutral operating income for 2019 is now expected to increase 12-13%, marking an increase from the earlier stated 11-12% growth. Acquisitions, divestitures and structural changes will continue to positively impact operating income by a low-single digit. However, foreign exchange is now expected to hurt comparable operating income by 8-9%. The company earlier projected currency headwinds of 7-8% on comparable operating income.
It continues to expect comparable earnings to be down 1% to up 1% from $2.08 recorded in 2018. Underlying effective tax rate is still estimated at 19.5%.
Moreover, the company expects cash from operations of at least $8.8 billion in 2019 (up from the previously mentioned $8.5 billion), with capital expenditure of nearly $2.2 billion (an increase from $2.4 billion mentioned earlier).
For the fourth quarter of 2019, it anticipates comparable net revenues to include about 12% benefit from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items. Meanwhile, currency headwinds are likely to hurt comparable net revenues by 3% and comparable operating income by 7%.
Additionally, the company provided initial view for fiscal 2020, regarding currency impacts. It expects currency headwinds of nearly 1-2% on comparable net revenues and 2-3% on comparable operating income.
Don’t Miss These Better-Ranked Consumer Staples Stocks
Carlsberg AS (CABGY - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 5%. The stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL - Free Report) , with a long-term earnings growth rate of 12.7%, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
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Coca-Cola (KO) Q3 Earnings In Line, Revenues Beat Estimates
The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO - Free Report) top line has beat estimates in third-quarter 2019 while the bottom line has met the same. Additionally, revenues improved year over year on robust volume and strong pricing. Meanwhile, comparable earnings declined year over year, owing to currency headwinds.
Despite posting soft bottom-line results, shares of Coca-Cola gained about 1.5% in the pre-market session. This can be attributed to investors’ optimism on the company’s volume and prices.
Moreover, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has gained 16.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 11.1%. This is mostly attributed to the company’s growth strategies. Its focus on consumer-centric innovation, solid core brand performance and improved execution in the marketplace is aiding performance.
Quarter in Detail
Coca-Cola’s third-quarter 2019 comparable earnings of 56 cents per share were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, the bottom line declined 2% from the year-ago period. Currency translations negatively impacted earnings by 6%.
Coca-Cola Company (The) Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Coca-Cola Company (The) price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Coca-Cola Company (The) Quote
Revenues of $9,507 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9,484 million and improved 8% year over year. Organic revenues grew 5%. The increase in reported as well as organic revenues was attributed to robust performance across all segments as well as growth in volume and price/mix.
Price/mix rose 6%, driven by revenue growth management initiatives as well as gains from a favorable geographic mix. Meanwhile, concentrate sales declined 2%, owing to the timing of shipments during the quarter. Further, increase in global value share, particularly in total non-alcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages, aided the top line.
Volume and Pricing
Coca-Cola’s total unit case volume rose 2% in the third quarter on robust growth in developing and emerging markets. Strength in North America, driven by strong demand for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, also boosted volume.
Category Cluster Performance: Sparkling soft drinks unit case volume was up 2% (compared with a 3% increase in the prior quarter), owing to 3% growth in the Coca-Cola trademark globally, with double-digit growth in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Volume for juice, dairy and plant-based beverages grew 1% year over year (compared with flat volume in the last reported quarter) on strong gains from the Minute Maid and Simply portfolios in North America as well as Minute Maid Pulpy in China. Water, enhanced water and sports drinks improved 2% (same as growth witnessed in the second quarter), and tea and coffee volume grew 4% (compared with 3% growth in the second quarter).
Segmental Details
Revenues grew 2% for North America, 4% for Latin America and 3% for the Asia Pacific segment. Meanwhile, revenues for the Europe, Middle East & Africa (“EMEA”) segment remained flat. The Bottling Investments segment’s revenues grew 8% in the quarter under review. However, the Global Ventures segment reported substantial revenue growth of 243%, gaining from the Costa acquisition.
Organic revenues grew across the board, backed by consistent innovation and revenue growth initiatives within sparkling soft drinks, with solid pricing and mix across all regions. Organic revenues improved 4% for EMEA, 12% for Latin America, 3% each for North America and the Asia Pacific, and 14% for the Global Ventures segment. The Bottling Investments segment recorded organic revenue growth of 9%.
Margins
Comparable currency-neutral operating income grew 5%. Comparable operating margin contracted 260 basis points (bps), driven by a 260-bps negative impact of unfavorable currency and net acquisitions.
Guidance
Backed by strong year-to-date performance, the company has updated its outlook for 2019.
It now estimates organic revenue growth of at least 5% in 2019. Comparable currency-neutral revenues are now expected to increase at least 12%, with about 7% gain from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items. However, unfavorable currency is now likely to affect revenues by 4-5% compared with the previously mentioned 4% headwinds.
Comparable currency-neutral operating income for 2019 is now expected to increase 12-13%, marking an increase from the earlier stated 11-12% growth. Acquisitions, divestitures and structural changes will continue to positively impact operating income by a low-single digit. However, foreign exchange is now expected to hurt comparable operating income by 8-9%. The company earlier projected currency headwinds of 7-8% on comparable operating income.
It continues to expect comparable earnings to be down 1% to up 1% from $2.08 recorded in 2018. Underlying effective tax rate is still estimated at 19.5%.
Moreover, the company expects cash from operations of at least $8.8 billion in 2019 (up from the previously mentioned $8.5 billion), with capital expenditure of nearly $2.2 billion (an increase from $2.4 billion mentioned earlier).
For the fourth quarter of 2019, it anticipates comparable net revenues to include about 12% benefit from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items. Meanwhile, currency headwinds are likely to hurt comparable net revenues by 3% and comparable operating income by 7%.
Additionally, the company provided initial view for fiscal 2020, regarding currency impacts. It expects currency headwinds of nearly 1-2% on comparable net revenues and 2-3% on comparable operating income.
Don’t Miss These Better-Ranked Consumer Staples Stocks
Britvic PLC (BTVCY - Free Report) , with a long-term earnings growth rate of 4.5%, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Carlsberg AS (CABGY - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 5%. The stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL - Free Report) , with a long-term earnings growth rate of 12.7%, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 7 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 7 breakthrough stocks now>>