Mexico City, Jan. 24 - Mexican soft-drink company Embotelladoras Arca SAB said Thursday it expects to report year-on-year sales growth of 7.8% for the fourth quarter, with sales volume up 5.5%.
In a filing with the Mexican Stock Exchange, Monterrey-based Arca said that its operating profit will probably be 35% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2006, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, 30% higher.
In the fourth quarter of 2006, Arca reported sales of 4.01 billion pesos ($368 million), Ebitda of MXN704.3 million, and operating profit of MXN527.1 million. Inflation last year was 3.76%.
Arca shares trading on the Mexican stock market were down 3.1% around 1:40 p.m. EST Thursday at MXN34.50, compared with a 12-month high of MXN42.70 and 12-month low of MXN33.10.
The company, Mexico's second-largest bottler of Coca-Cola brands, said it plans to report its fourth-quarter earnings Feb. 20.