Coca-Cola Posts Solid Gains for Quarter, Year

Coca-Cola Co. on Wednesday reported double-digit increases in its fourth-quarter and annual profits for 1985, compared to the previous year.

The producer of the nation’s best-selling soft drink said it had net income of $189.4 million in the fourth quarter of 1985. That was 45% higher than net income of $130.4 million in the same period of 1984. Fourth-quarter revenue totaled $2.11 billion, compared to $1.27 billion a year earlier.

For all of 1985, Coca-Cola said its net income was $722.3 million, a 14.9% increase from profits of $628.8 million in 1984. The company said revenue for the full year rose to $7.9 billion from $7.2 billion a year earlier.

Coca-Cola said its soft-drink sales in the United States increased 9% during the year, nearly double the U.S. industry rate. International soft-drink unit sales grew 10%, the best annual volume growth in that sector in six years, the company said.

“Operating income from all soft-drink operations increased slightly for the full year despite significant marketing investments in the U.S. and the effects of the strong dollar,” Coca-Cola said.

The company’s entertainment business, which includes Columbia Pictures, showed a 33% increase in operating income in 1985, the report said.