US soft-drinks giant Coca-Cola reported on February 9, 2011, soaring profits that beat expectations, largely due to a comeback in the North American market and the buyout of its main bottler. Coca-Cola said fourth-quarter profit more than tripled to $5.8 billion, from $1.5 billion in the same period a year earlier, pushing earnings per share to $2.46. The average analyst estimate was 72 cents. Revenue jumped 39 per cent in the October-December period to $10.5 billion, buoyed by an eight per cent rise in sales in North America. Worldwide, sales rose six per cent. The acquisition of the North American bottling business of Coca-Cola Enterprises resulted in a five billion dollar one-time gain, the Atlanta, Georgia-based company said.