The Coca-Cola Co. said Wednesday acquisitions, growth in its key carbonated beverage brands and success overseas helped boost its first-quarter profit by 19% on a 21% increase in sales. The results beat Wall Street expectations, and its shares rose more than 2% in premarket trading.

The world’s biggest beverage company said its profit was $1.50billion, or 64 cents a share, in the three-month period ending March 28. That compared to a profit of $1.26 billion, or 54 cents a share, a year earlier.

Categories: Business
Tags: beverage, coca cola, coke, profits, success