S&P Increases Outlooks On Coca-Cola, Bottlers

NEW YORK (AP) — Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said Monday that it increased the outlooks of Coca-Cola Co. and bottlers Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. and Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Co. SA of Greece to stable from negative.

Analyst Jean C. Stout said in a statement that the revised outlooks account for the stable operating performance of the businesses and Coke's "more balanced debt profile."

The ratings agency maintained the long-term corporate credit ratings and short-term corporate credit and commercial paper ratings of the companies.

Shares of Coca-Cola fell 22 cents to $53.65 in afternoon trading.