Strong overseas sales put fizz in Coca-Cola's Q4

The company, whose brands include Sprite and Diet Coke, sold 5 percent more beverages worldwide — with unit case volume up sharply in emerging markets like China and India. It also posted solid growth in Latin America.

Shares rose US$1.02 to US$53.67 in premarket trading.

The only region to report a decline in case volume was North America, which makes up about one-fourth of the company's sales. The region reported a 1 percent drop-off in the figure — a sign that those consumers are still wary about their spending.

Many U.S. shoppers have clamped down on their purchases amid the recession, and beverages are no exception. Consumers in North America are either cutting their soft drink purchases or switching to healthier juices and teas. Their shift away from restaurant dining — also a move to save money — has hurt the company's fountain business.

All of this has led Coca-Cola to concentrate more on expanding in emerging markets, said Edward Jones analyst Jack Russo.

The company will keep marketing its beverages to people who find themselves with extra money to spend as their economies improve and aspire to drink Coca-Cola, he Russo.

“We take it for granted here,” he said. “And it's not something you take for granted in these markets.”

Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, reported its fourth-quarter earnings rose to US$1.54 billion, or 66 cents per share, even with the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. These estimates typically remove one-time items.

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