Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) has defied expectations by reporting higher-than-anticipated revenue in the fourth quarter, with growth in markets such as Mexico and Germany offsetting a dip in demand in the United States. The Atlanta-based beverage giant revealed on Tuesday that revenue surged by 7% to $10.8 billion during the October-December period, surpassing Wall Street’s projected $10.7 billion, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet.
The company attributed a 10% increase in revenue to higher prices in 2023, though it noted that this was partly influenced by hyperinflationary conditions in certain markets like Argentina. Looking ahead, Coca-Cola anticipates a more moderate organic revenue growth of 6% to 7% for the full year, a decrease from the previous year’s 12% growth rate.
John Murphy, Coca-Cola’s Chief Financial Officer, indicated in a conference call with investors that hyperinflationary pricing is expected to persist in 2024 but may taper off as the year progresses. Unit case volumes saw a 2% increase in the quarter, driven by sparkling soft drinks, juices, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Conversely, demand for sports drinks, coffee, and tea experienced a decline.
In North America, unit case volumes dipped by 1%, primarily due to decreased demand for water, sports drinks, coffee, and tea, despite increased sales of juice, dairy, and Coca-Cola. The company noted that North American prices rose by 8% in both the fourth quarter and the full year.
James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola, acknowledged that price hikes have impacted some consumers, particularly those reducing their outings and opting for home consumption. However, Quincey emphasized the continued strong purchasing power of consumers favoring higher-priced beverages such as Fairlife milk, Core Power protein shakes, and Simply juices.
While unit case volumes increased in other global markets, Coca-Cola reported a slight slowdown in demand attributable to the conflict in the Middle East. Similar disruptions in sales due to the war have been noted by other major U.S. companies, including Starbucks (NYSE:SBUX) and McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD).
Despite a 3% decline in net income to $1.9 billion, or 46 cents per share, Coca-Cola’s adjusted earnings of 49 cents per share, excluding one-time items like restructuring costs, aligned with Wall Street’s expectations. As a result, Coca-Cola shares remained steady in early trading.
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Author Faith Yakubu 
