Coca-Cola’s (KO) third quarter turned out better than expected as consumers continue to be picky with their dollars.
On Wednesday morning, the soda giant posted revenue of $11.9 billion, beating expectations of $11.61 billion, though down from $12 billion in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings came in at $0.77 a share, above estimates for $0.74.
Higher prices have helped counter factors like ongoing pressure from cautious consumers, the prospect of less favorable commodity costs, and more challenging trends in international markets.
CEO James Quincey said Coca Cola showcased “resilience in the face of a dynamic external environment,” cited in a company release. The team continues to “manage near-term challenges while also remaining focused on long-term growth opportunities,” he added.
Coca-Cola shares slipped 2% in premarket trading after the report’s release.
Rival PepsiCo (PEP) revised its 2024 sales outlook earlier in October after its North America and international sales lagged Wall Street’s expectations in the third quarter.
In a phone interview with Yahoo Finance, Pepsico CEO Ramon Laguarta said consumers are “very challenged” and that they are making a “lot of trade-offs” when it comes to food. Those trade-offs are weighing on the snacks business most acutely, per Laguarta.
Prior to the results, JPMorgan analyst Andrea Teixeira wrote that consumers, especially in the US, are “more choiceful with less money in pocket”. That has forced Coca-Cola to raise prices to keep up growth, Teixeira said in a note to clients.
“Coca-Cola is deploying its revenue growth management capabilities to offer price points both for single-serve in convenience & gas channel as well as multi-serve in larger stores,” Teixeira wrote. She pointed to the example of a single-serve 20 oz. can costing $2.25 to $2.69, compared to $1.99 previously.
She also said management has been comparing the cost of eating at home to dining out, especially for low- to middle-income households.
The cost of groceries increased 1.3% year over year in September, while the cost to eat out jumped 3.9%, per the Consumer Price Index. Coke’s management is working with grocers to navigate the environment, per Teixeira. One effort is to “merchandise a rotisserie chicken with an affordable [2 liter] bottle, which would still represent a substantial savings compared to meals out-of-home,” she said.
Coca Cola’s unit case volume declined 1% internationally, led by a slowdown in China, Mexico, and Turkey, though there was growth in Brazil, Japan, and the Philippines.
