Coca-Cola's answer to lower sales is higher profits

Although the Coca-Cola Co.'s sales fell 6.9 percent to $10.6 billion in its most recent quarter, the company's profit of 49 cents a share beat analysts' projections. Coke achieved this, according to its report, by way of a $3 billion cost-cutting initiative and by guiding consumers to smaller, higher-margin bottles and cans. The company also managed to increase its North American sales, resulting in a revenue increase of 3.3 percent.