Coca-Cola tops earnings estimates, hikes full-year outlook as global demand rises

• Coca-Cola beat second-quarter earnings estimates and raised its full-year outlook.
• Unit case volume grew globally, but dipped slightly in North America.
• The results come after Coke's rival PepsiCo reported weaker U.S. consumer demand.

Coca-Cola on Tuesday raised its full-year outlook as global demand for its drinks rose in the second quarter.

For 2024, Coke now expects organic revenue growth of 9% to 10%, up from its prior forecast of 8% to 9%. The company also raised its outlook for comparable earnings growth to a range of 5% to 6% from a previous range of 4% to 5%.

"Our updated 2024 guidance reflects the momentum of our business in the first half of the year and our confidence in our ability to execute on our plans during the second half of this year," CFO John Murphy said on Coke's conference call.

Shares of the company rose around 1% in morning trading.

Here's what Coke reported for the second quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

• Earnings per share: 84 cents adjusted versus 81 cents expected
• Revenue: $12.36 billion versus $11.76 billion expected

Coke posted second-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of $2.41 billion, or 56 cents per share, down from $2.55 billion, or 59 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding restructuring costs, charges related to the value of the Fairlife milk brand and other items, the beverage giant earned 84 cents per share.

Net sales rose 3% to $12.36 billion. Organic revenue, which strips out acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency, climbed 15% in the quarter.

Coke's unit case volume rose 2% for the quarter, helped by its international markets. The metric strips out the impact of pricing and foreign currency to reflect demand.

But in North America, volume fell 1% for the quarter. Coke said North American volume declined for its water, sports, coffee, tea, trademark Coca-Cola and other soda brands, offsetting growth for its juice, dairy and plant-based beverages. Coke's rival, PepsiCo, reported earlier this month that the U.S. consumer has weakened, hurting demand for its own drinks and snacks.

Coke CEO James Quincey blamed weak sales in away-from-home channels for North America's declining unit case volume. To boost demand, Coke is partnering with food service customers to market food and drink combo meals, according to Quincey.

CNBC previously reported that Coke contributed marketing funds to McDonald's for its $5 value meal, which includes a small soft drink, to make it more attractive to franchisees who can otherwise be wary of steep discounts.

Coke's sparkling soft drinks division, which includes its namesake soda, saw its global volume rise 3%, thanks to strong demand in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions. Its juice, dairy and plant-based beverages business reported volume growth of 2%. And the water, sports, coffee and tea division saw flat volume, hurt by shrinking demand for bottled water and falling Costa coffee sales in the United Kingdom.

Coke's overall prices were up 9% compared with the year-ago period, but about half of that came from hyperinflation in certain markets, like Argentina.

For the third quarter, Coke anticipates that foreign currency will again drag on its results. The company is forecasting a 4% currency headwind to its comparable net sales and an 8% currency headwind to its comparable earnings per share.