PepsiCo Inc., the world's second-largest soft drink maker, said today that its third-quarter profit rose 17 percent on double-digit growth in international sales. Profit for the quarter ended Sept. 8 was $1.74 billion, or $1.06 per share, up from $1.49 billion, or 89 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 11 percent to $10.17 billion from $9.13 billion last year. PepsiCo Inc.'s (PEP) third-quarter net income climbed 17% as foreign sales jumped and the company reaped the benefits of a weaker dollar worldwide and a tax benefit. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had predicted earnings of 96 cents per share on revenue of $9.91 billion.
