Coca Cola (KO) Tops Q1 EPS by 2c; Provides FY19 Growth Outlook

Coca Cola (NYSE: KO) reported Q1 EPS of $0.48, $0.02 better than the analyst estimate of $0.46. Revenue for the quarter came in at $8 billion versus the consensus estimate of $7.89 billion.

• Net Revenues Grew 5% in First Quarter; Organic Revenues (Non-GAAP) Grew 6%, Including a 2% Benefit from Timing
• Operating Income Grew 29%; Comparable Currency Neutral Operating Income (Non-GAAP) Grew 16%
• Operating Margin was 29.1%; Comparable Operating Margin (Non-GAAP) was 30.5%, Including the Impact from Currency Headwinds and Acquisitions
• EPS from Continuing Operations Grew 24% to $0.38; Comparable EPS from Continuing Operations (Non-GAAP) Grew 2% to $0.48, Impacted by 11% Currency Headwind and a 2 Cent Benefit from Timing

"We\'re encouraged by our first quarter results as our disciplined growth strategies continue to deliver strong underlying performance," said James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. "We remain confident in our full year guidance as we continue to make progress on our transformation as a consumer-centric total beverage company."

Quarterly Performance

• Revenues: Net revenues grew 5% to $8.0 billion. Organic revenues (non-GAAP) grew 6%. An estimated 2 points of revenue growth was attributable to timing, primarily related to bottler inventory build in order to manage uncertainty related to Brexit. Additionally, the quarter included one less day, which resulted in an approximate 1-point headwind to revenue growth.
• Margin: Operating margin for the quarter, which included items impacting comparability, was 29.1% versus 23.7% in the prior year. Comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) was 30.5% versus 30.7% in the prior year. Strong underlying margin (non-GAAP) expansion was offset by an approximate 260 basis point negative impact from currency headwinds and net acquisitions.
• Earnings per share: EPS from continuing operations grew 24% to $0.38. Comparable EPS from continuing operations (non-GAAP) grew 2% to $0.48, despite an 11-point currency headwind. EPS included an estimated 2 cent benefit from timing, primarily from the bottler inventory build related to Brexit.
• Market share: The company continued to gain value share in total nonalcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages.
• Cash flow: Cash from operations was $699 million, up 14%. Free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $335 million, down 1% as strong underlying cash generation was offset by currency headwinds along with an increase in capital expenditures and cash tax payments.
• Share repurchases: Purchases of stock for treasury were $397 million. Net share repurchases (non-GAAP) totaled $243 million.

Outlook

The 2019 outlook information provided below includes forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, which management uses in measuring performance. The company is not able to reconcile full year 2019 projected organic revenues (non-GAAP) to full year 2019 projected reported net revenues, full year 2019 projected comparable currency neutral net revenues (non-GAAP) to full year 2019 projected reported net revenues, full year 2019 projected comparable currency neutral operating income (non-GAAP) to full year 2019 projected reported operating income, or full year 2019 projected comparable EPS from continuing operations (non-GAAP) to full year 2019 projected reported EPS from continuing operations without unreasonable efforts because it is not possible to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty the actual impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates; the exact timing and amount of acquisitions, divestitures and/or structural changes; and the exact timing and amount of comparability items throughout 2019. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on full year 2019 GAAP financial results.

Full Year 2019 Revenues:

• Approximately 4% growth in organic revenues (non-GAAP) – No Change
• 12% to 13% growth in comparable currency neutral net revenues (non-GAAP), including an 8% to 9% tailwind from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items – No Change
• Comparable net revenues (non-GAAP): 3% to 4% currency headwind based on the current rates and including the impact of hedged positions – No Change

Full Year 2019 Operating Income:

• 10% to 11% growth in comparable currency neutral operating income (non-GAAP), including a low single-digit tailwind from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items – No Change
• Comparable operating income (non-GAAP): 6% to 7% currency headwind based on the current rates and including the impact of hedged positions – No Change

Full Year 2019 EPS:

• -1% to 1% growth versus $2.08 in 2018 in comparable EPS from continuing operations (non-GAAP) – No Change

Full Year 2019 Other Items:

• Underlying effective tax rate (non-GAAP): Estimated to be 19.5% – No Change
• Cash from operations: At least $8.0 billion – No Change
• Capital expenditures (excluding discontinued operations): Approximately $2.0 billion – No Change
• Net share repurchases (non-GAAP): Share repurchases to offset dilution from employee stock-based compensation plans – No Change

Second Quarter 2019 Considerations – New:

• Comparable net revenues (non-GAAP): 6% tailwind from acquisitions, divestitures and structural items; 4% to 5% currency headwind based on the current rates and including the impact of hedged positions
• Comparable operating income (non-GAAP): 7% currency headwind based on the current rates and including the impact of hedged positions

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Coca Cola (KO) click here.

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