Coca-Cola Profit Up, Strong Volume in China, India and Brazil (KO)

Coca-Cola ( KO ) Today, Coca-Cola ( KO : Charts , News , Offers ) reported a quarterly profit of 66 cents per share, in line with analysts' estimates. The company was helped by strong volume in China, India and Brazil, which offset a decline in North America, a market that is battered by bad economy, high unemployment rate, and low consumer confidence. Unlike most other companies that reported positive results in the recent months, the story is not about what Coca-Cola did last year or the year before to get to this point. It's about what they have been doing right all along. You don't have to look far to see how well-managed Coca-Cola is, despite one of the worst economic climates in history, it has managed to raise its dividend per share year over year. This is one of the reasons why, Coke is one of Berkshire's ( BRK.A : Charts , News , Offers ) core holdings. Daily Chart If you are not able to see the chart, your email client probably does not support javascript. To view it, please click here Stock Analysis Coca-Cola is a tremendous company with its world-renowned brand. But Coca-Cola didn't rest on its laurels even though it owns some of the most popular soft drinks in the world. While most companies are happy with their one killer product, Coca-Cola made it their mission to continuously expand, diversify, and innovate. Beyond Coke, it experimented and expanded into other soft drinks and beverages that include water, flavored waters, juices, teas, coffees, and sports drinks. In fact, beverages like teas, juices and water rose 9%, while carbonated beverages volume was up only 3% in the most recent quarter. Coca-Cola's commitment to expand its product line and market was highlighted by its failed bid for China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd. last year . More recently, Coca-Cola is considering buying a controlling stake in a Russian juice maker Nidan Soki from London-based private equity group Lion Capital. Again, the long history of commitment to expand beyond its current market helped Coca-Cola in the most recent quarter. Its fourth-quarter volume fell 1 percent in the North American market, after losing 4 percent in the third quarter and 1 percent in the second quarter. However, it's a different story for other markets: volume rose 7 percent in Latin America, 11 percent in the Pacific region, 1 percent in Europe and 5 percent in Eurasia and Africa divisions. Overall, unit case volume rose 5 percent worldwide, including a 6 percent increase overseas -- particularly strong markets include: 20 percent rise in India, 29 percent in China and 8 percent in Brazil. When Coca-Cola could not find a better investment to make, it invests in itself. For instance, Coca-Cola repurchased about $1.5 billion of its shares in 2009, and is expected to repurchase another $600 million by year-end 2010 . The 2009 shares buyback was a great deal because Coca-Cola stock was oversold to an artificially deflated price due to the mass panic on Wall Street. Personally, I think Coca-Cola is one of those companies that you can keep forever. Other news about Coca-Cola: 24/7 Wall St.'s Corporate Power Rankings (Week 5) -- Coca-Cola moved up one spot on the Power Rankings scale. Coca-Cola is king of pop: Company owns exclusive rights to soft drink sales (w/contracts) -- Coca-Cola is also very good at partnership deals where it establishes itself as the exclusive soft drink providers for different venues. Coca-Cola in Hard Times -- Coca-Cola ad leveraging the most popular animated series in the U.S. and economic hard time. Other stocks in the news: Toyota fights back as problems escalate -- Toyota ( TM : Charts , News , Offers ) hits the skids as its Prius brakes recall compound its sticky accelerator problem. McDonald's: Europe's Lovin' It -- McDonald's ( MCD : Charts , News , Offers ) same-store sales rose 2.6%, thanks to strong growth in Europe, Japan and Australia. UBS still losing U.S. wealth management clients, advisers -- The U.S. wealth management business of Swiss bank UBS AG ( UBS : Charts , News , Offers ) continued to bleed client assets in fourth quarter.