Feb 10 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola on Tuesday forecast muted revenue growth for 2026 after missing fourth-quarter expectations, as demand for sodas weakened in North America and Asia, sending its shares down about 4% in premarket trading.
The company has been raising prices for its beverages to offset higher input costs, weighing on the budgets of inflation-hit U.S. consumers increasingly looking for cheaper pantry options.
Rival PepsiCo said last week it would cut prices on key snacks such as Lay's and
Doritos as consumers pushed back against several rounds of price hikes over the last few years.
Coca-Cola's unit overall case volumes rose 1% in the quarter, in line with the growth it reported in the preceding three months. They were flat for the full year, while price, which was up 4% for the year, helped drive performance.
Coca-Cola has also leaned on growth in zero-sugar sodas, sports drinks and bottled teas as U.S. consumers shift to low-sugar options amid a higher adoption of appetite-suppressing weight-loss drugs.
PepsiCo said it was betting on portion control to drive demand for its snacks. Coca-Cola has invested in products such as its protein-infused Fairlife milk to capture demand from health-conscious consumers.
Volume growth was flat in the Asia-Pacific region in the quarter as the company battles a growing shift to regional brands.
Coca-Cola reported fourth-quarter revenue of $11.82 billion, compared with estimates of $12.03 billion. On an adjusted basis, it earned 58 cents per share, compared with estimates of 56 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG.
The company expects 2026 organic revenue to grow 4% to 5%, compared with estimates of 5.3% growth and a 5% rise in 2025. It forecast annual adjusted profit per share growth of 7% to 8%, compared with expectations of 7.9% rise.
(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum and Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
