MEXICO CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Mexican bottler Arca

Continental on Wednesday posted core earnings for the

fourth quarter that were up 42% from a year earlier, boosted by

higher drink sales in the U.S.

Its core earnings, or earnings before interest, taxes,

depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), were 14.18 billion pesos

($679.07 million), above the estimate of 11.44 billion pesos of

analysts polled by LSEG.

The bottler's sales were up 30%, with the largest growth

logged in the U.S., despite volumes there dropping slightly.

Arca said net prices rose nearly 9% in the U.S. in the fourth

quarter.

Topo Chico bottled water logged double-digit volumes growth

in the U.S., backed by its flavored water line, Arca said.

Net profit at Arca, which sells bottled water, soft drinks

and snacks across the Americas, grew 16% to 5.27 billion pesos,

above LSEG estimates.

The drinks firm expects to grow its sales in the high

single digits in percentage terms this year. Last year, sales

grew 10.9% on the year to 237 billion pesos.

The firm also forecast growth for the next five years,

saying it aimed to reach a compound annual growth rate in

revenue of 6% to 8%, with EBITDA growing 8% to 10%.

Arca also sells Fairlife protein shakes, Coca-Cola

sodas, Del Valle juices and Smart Water.

($1 = 20.8829 pesos at end-December)