(By Balachander) PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE:PEP) reported a fall in earnings for the third quarter as reported revenue fell in the Europe and AMEA divisions. However, bottom-line topped market expectations.
Core earnings per share (EPS) declined 8.4 percent to $1.20 from $1.31, yet topped Wall Street projections of $1.16. Net earnings attributable to PepsiCo dropped 5 percent to $1.90 billion.
Revenue fell 5 percent to $16.65 billion. Excluding items, revenue rose 5 percent on an organic basis due to 1 percent organic volume growth and 4 percent effective net pricing.
Consensus estimate called in for a decline of 3.90 percent in revenue.
Division wise, organic revenue at PepsiCo Americas Foods rose 6 percent, while PepsiCo Americas Beverages revenue was flat. PepsiCo Europe and PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) organic revenue increased 7 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
On a reported basis, Europe and AMEA revenue dropped 6 percent and 21 percent, respectively. Emerging and developing market revenue fell 13 percent.
The company's main businesses include: Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola.
Looking ahead for the full year, the company still expects a drop in core constant currency EPS of about 5 percent from $4.40 posted in 2011 on low-single-digit revenue growth.
The beverage giant continues to anticipate more than $3 billion in share buybacks this year, and expects to pay $3.3 billion in dividends.
In the second quarter, PepsiCo's net earnings dropped 21 percent and revenue declined 2 percent amid weakness in the Europe and AMEA divisions.
On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:KO) reported a 4 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped by global volume growth. Earnings also topped Wall Street projections, while revenue growth was slightly short of consensus. On a comparable basis, EPS fell to 51 cents from 52 cents, yet beat market expectations of 50 cents for the third quarter. GAAP earnings increased 4 percent and net operating revenue rose 1 percent.
The stock, which has been trading in the 52-week range of $61.50 to $73.66, ended Tuesday's regular trading at $70.30.