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Empresas y finanzas

Coca-Cola beats Street, eyes cost savings


    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co reported better-than-expected quarterly results and announced a new cost-savings program on Tuesday, helping to send shares in the world's top soft drinks maker up 1 percent in premarket trading.

    Net income was $1.65 billion, or 72 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, down from $5.77 billion, or $2.46 per share, a year earlier, when the company recorded a gain related to the acquisition of its North American bottling operations.

    Excluding items, earnings were 79 cents per share in the latest quarter, beating the average estimate of 77 cents a share, as compiled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

    Revenue rose 5 percent to $11.04 billion, compared with the average estimate of $10.99 billion.

    The company also announced a new productivity program aimed at generating $550 million to $650 million by the end of 2015.

    Shares rose to $68.54 in premarket trade, from their close on Monday at $68.03 on the New York Stock Exchange.

    (Reporting By Martinne Geller in New York; Editing by Maureen Bavdek and Derek Caney)