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Cost cuts help Coca-Cola beat profit expectations

Coca-Cola is trying to boost sales by upping prices and diversifying into juices and energy drinks
Coca-Cola is trying to boost sales by upping prices and diversifying into juices and energy drinks

Coca-Cola has today reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped mainly by aggressive cost-cutting.

Coca-Cola is also trying to boost sales by raising prices and diversifying into beverages such as cold-pressed juices and energy drinks. The company said its net operating revenue fell 8%, the third quarterly drop in a row. 

Excluding the impact of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency, sales declined 1%. 

However, net income attributable to shareholders jumped 60.6% to $1.24 billion, or 28 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended December 31. 

The company said its selling, general and administrative expenses fell 9.2% to $3.94 billion. 

Excluding items, the company earned 38 cents per share.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of 37 cents per share and revenue of $9.91 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.