Soft drink giant Coca-Cola Co. reported a...

Soft drink giant Coca-Cola Co. reported a 19.4% leap in first-quarter earnings, saying it overcame a tough economic climate by paying close attention to “the nuts and bolts.”

Coke’s earnings advanced to $383.1 million, or 58 cents a share, from $320.9 million, or 48 cents, in the same period last year, which the company described as a strong quarter in its own right.