Boston, MA 06/20/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Western European bottler for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Coca Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:CCE), has affirmed its full year guidance as earlier issued at the Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) Global Consumer Conference in Paris. For the full year, the company expects its earnings to increase by about 10% in constant currency terms. Recent rates indicate that currency’ could benefit earnings by about 5%.
CCE Exposed To Economic Uncertainties
Constant net sales, on the other hand, are expected to grow in the low single digit range with operating income growing in mid-single digit range. Operating income should also improve towards the second half of the year. Revenue and operating income outlooks are to be below long term targets of between 4-6% and 6-8% respectively.
Focused geographically on Western Europe markets, the company remains exposed to economic uncertainties as well as debt burdens from some countries as well as the challenging consumer spending environment. Coca Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:CCE) has for some time been grappling with operating and marketplace challenges such as increased price competition in Britain and difficult beverage-market conditions in France, as well as increased French Exercise tax.
CCE To Return $1 Billion To Shareholders
Earnings per share growth guidance of 10% are still above the long term target of single digit growth range and will mostly be driven by share buybacks. The Coca Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:CCE) expects its free cash flow for the full year to be $650 million with capital expenditures of approximately $350 million. Analysts at Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $2.91 with a 5.6% increase in revenue, to approximately $8.67 billion. For 2013, the company generated earnings per share of $2.44 on net sales of $8.21 billion.
Coca Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:CCE) Plans to return $1 billion in cash to shareowners.
