P.M. Briefing : EARNINGS : Coca-Cola Profits Rise 9.1%

Coca-Cola Co. said today its earnings rose 9.1% to $394.2 million, or 58 cents a share, in the third quarter, compared with $361.7 million, or 51 cents a share, in the same period last year.

Revenues increased to $2.8 billion from $2.2 billion.

For the nine months, earnings climbed 12.5% to $1 billion, or $1.60 a share, compared with $967 million, or $1.36 a share last year. Revenues rose to $7.7 billion from $6.4 billion.

Third-quarter results were not as dramatic as the second quarter’s, when earnings climbed 19.2%.

Coca-Cola, which made nearly 80% of its earnings abroad last year, said its international business continued to grow during the third quarter. The Pacific region led Coke’s international sectors with a 23% growth in per-gallon sales of concentrates and syrups and a 16% increase in retail case sales. Gallon sales grew 17% in Japan.