MEXICO · COMPANY RESULTS
Key Facts
- The country Mexico is Latin America’s second-largest economy, and Coca-Cola bottling is one of its biggest consumer businesses.
- Why it matters More than a third of the company’s sales come from its US Southwest territory, so the results show how American soft-drink demand and pricing are holding up.
- Why now The third-quarter results came out on Friday 30 October 2026, with an investor call scheduled for 11:00 a.m. New York time that day.
- What happened Net sales rose 5.9% to 66,613 million pesos (US$3.54 billion) and EBITDA rose 6.2% to 13,625 million pesos (US$725 million), but net income fell 4.8% to 5,054 million pesos (US$269 million).
- The numbers Volume rose 4.6% to 652.3 million unit cases, with the United States up 1.1%, South America up 17.5% and Mexico up 0.8%.
- What it means for you US retailers and investors tied to Coca-Cola bottling can see price-led growth in the Southwest, where the average price per unit case rose 4.3% to US$10.40.
- Still open Whether volume growth holds in the fourth quarter is not yet clear, with financing costs more than doubling.
- Power Index Mexico ranks 2nd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 71.4 points (October 2026 edition).
In Plain English
Arca Continental is the Monterrey-based company that bottles and sells Coca-Cola drinks under license from The Coca-Cola Company, which owns the brands. EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a common measure of operating profit.
A unit case is the industry’s volume measure, equal to 24 servings of eight ounces. A basis point is one hundredth of a percentage point, so a 20 basis point drop in a margin is 0.2 percentage points.
Arca Continental, the Monterrey-based bottler that sells Coca-Cola drinks in the US Southwest, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina, lifted third-quarter net sales 5.9% to 66,613 million pesos (US$3.54 billion) while net income fell 4.8% to 5,054 million pesos (US$269 million). The company published the results on Friday 30 October 2026 for the quarter ended 30 September, and the United States supplied 35.1% of sales.
The US business grew 6.5% in dollar terms but shrank 0.8% once converted into pesos, and its EBITDA rose 3.9% in dollars while falling 3.3% in pesos. Peso figures here convert at the Banxico FIX rate of 18.7962 pesos per US dollar for Friday 30 October 2026, and further context sits on the Mexico coverage hub.
The Quarter in Numbers
EBITDA rose 6.2% to 13,625 million pesos (US$725 million), a margin of 20.5% against 20.4% a year earlier. Without currency effects, net sales grew 7.5% and EBITDA 7.9%, so currency translation cut about 1.6 points from sales growth and 1.7 points from EBITDA growth.
Net income fell from 5,311 million pesos (US$283 million) a year earlier as the comprehensive financing cost more than doubled to 1,586 million pesos (US$84 million), which includes net financial expenses of 1,280 million pesos (US$68 million) and a currency loss of 286 million pesos (US$15 million). Selling and administrative expenses grew 9.0% to 21,135 million pesos (US$1.12 billion), faster than the 5.9% rise in sales.
Volume rose 4.6% to 652.3 million unit cases, while gross profit increased 7.2% to 31,654 million pesos (US$1.68 billion) at a margin of 47.5%. Operating income grew 4.6% to 10,754 million pesos (US$572 million), but its margin slipped 20 basis points to 16.1%.
Mexico Holds Margins as Volume Stalls
In Mexico, net sales rose 3.7% to 31,278 million pesos (US$1.66 billion) and EBITDA grew 7.5% to 7,735 million pesos (US$412 million), lifting the margin 80 basis points to 24.7%. Total volume rose only 0.8%, and volume without returnable water jugs slipped 0.3% as the water category fell 12.3%.
The company says that, excluding a mineral-water effect, volume without jugs grew 2.1%, and the average price per unit case rose 3.9% to 94.9 pesos (US$5.05). Coca-Cola Zero volume jumped 32.0%, while energy drinks, tea and electrolyte drinks grew 32.4%, 15.7% and 14.6%.
The Mexican bottler Coca-Cola FEMSA, a rival, posted its own quarter four days earlier, as covered in Mexico’s Coke Bottler Lifts Profit 5.5%. Arca Continental also marked 100 years of Coca-Cola in Mexico, while Coca-Cola’s wider push into corner shops is covered in Coca-Cola Is Spending US$2 Billion on Mexico’s Corner Shops.
The US Business Grows in Dollars
In the United States, net sales fell 0.8% to 23,374 million pesos (US$1.24 billion), and EBITDA fell 3.3% to 3,846 million pesos (US$205 million). The EBITDA margin shrank 40 basis points to 16.5%, the lowest of the three regions.
Volume rose 1.1% to 117.7 million unit cases and transactions rose 1.5%, while the average price per unit case climbed 4.3% to US$10.40. Non-carbonated drinks grew 5.9%, led by the fairlife dairy brand at 20.6%, and Coca-Cola Zero volume rose 15.0%.
The company expanded its San Antonio plant to increase production, improve operating flexibility and strengthen supply-chain scalability. It also credits digital tools such as suggested ordering, promotion optimization and automated inventory balancing for operating gains.
South America Drives the Growth
South America was the fastest-growing region, with net sales up 30.1% to 11,961 million pesos (US$636 million) and EBITDA up 23.3% to 2,044 million pesos (US$109 million). Volume without jugs rose 17.5% to 163.7 million unit cases, although the EBITDA margin fell 90 basis points to 17.1%.
Peru’s volume grew 24.4%, another quarterly record since Arca Continental bought the business in 2015, and Ecuador’s rose 18.1% to a six-year high. Argentina grew 0.3%, which the company describes as a recovery from the first half of the year.
Peru is also the site of a five-year, US$1 billion production and distribution plan announced on 4 August 2026, covered in Peru’s US$1 Billion Coca-Cola Expansion to Overhaul Production. Ecuador’s digital platforms captured 76% of sales volume in the quarter, a new high.
Debt, Cash and Dividends
Cash stood at 28,646 million pesos (US$1.52 billion) and total debt at 61,717 million pesos (US$3.28 billion) at the end of September, leaving net debt of 33,071 million pesos (US$1.76 billion), or 0.7 times EBITDA. Capital spending for the period was 8,454 million pesos (US$450 million), aimed at commercial and production capacity.
On 2 October 2026 the AC Bebidas subsidiary sold 5,000 million pesos (US$266 million) of five-year floating-rate notes, rated mxAAA by S&P and AAA(mex) by Fitch Ratings. A special dividend of 2.00 pesos (US$0.11) a share was paid on 28 October, bringing 2026 payouts to 8.78 pesos (US$0.47) a share, a 77% payout ratio and a 4.3% dividend yield.
What It Means for You
More than a third of Arca Continental’s sales, 35.1% in the quarter, come from its US Southwest territory, where the average price per unit case rose 4.3% to US$10.40. Growth there is therefore led by price, since volume rose only 1.1%, rather than by a surge in cases sold.
Because 53% of quarterly sales come from the United States and South America, the peso’s exchange rate against the dollar changes the reported results, as the 1.6-point currency drag on sales growth shows. The company’s shares trade in Mexico under the symbol AC, so investors weighing the stock face both a stronger sales line and a weaker profit line.
What Is Not Known
The release and quarterly report contain no numerical full-year forecast, so it is unclear whether the 4.6% volume gain continues into the fourth quarter. It is also unclear whether Argentina’s 0.3% gain marks a lasting recovery or a one-quarter rebound.
The company does not say how much of South America’s 30.1% sales jump came from higher prices or currency moves rather than from the 17.5% volume rise. It also does not say how US consumers will respond if prices per unit case keep rising at a 4.3% pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arca Continental?
Arca Continental is a Monterrey-based company that bottles and sells Coca-Cola products in northern and western Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, northern Argentina and the US Southwest. It also makes snacks under the Bokados, Inalecsa, Wise and Deep River brands.
How much did Arca Continental earn in the third quarter of 2026?
Net income was 5,054 million pesos (US$269 million), down 4.8% from a year earlier. Net sales were 66,613 million pesos (US$3.54 billion) and EBITDA was 13,625 million pesos (US$725 million).
Does Arca Continental operate in the United States?
Yes, its US business covers the Southwest and produced 23,374 million pesos (US$1.24 billion) of third-quarter sales, 35.1% of the total. The region includes beverages, snacks and vending.
Which Arca Continental market grew fastest?
South America grew fastest, with net sales up 30.1% to 11,961 million pesos (US$636 million). Peru’s volume jumped 24.4% and Ecuador’s 18.1%, while Argentina rose 0.3%.
What exchange rate converts the peso figures?
The conversions use the Banxico FIX rate of 18.7962 pesos per US dollar for Friday 30 October 2026. The company reports only in pesos, so the dollar values are conversions at one day’s rate.
Sources: Arca Continental, 3Q26 results release, 30 October 2026; Arca Continental, 3Q26 quarterly report (PDF), 30 October 2026; Banco de México, FIX exchange rate, 30 October 2026; Excélsior, 30 October 2026; La Política Online, 30 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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