From Caterpillar to Coca-Cola, America Inc's stockpiles set to hit US GDP

Bottlers stocking up ahead of a potentially disruptive Brexit added to Coke's first-quarter profits

US companies including Coca-Cola Co., Whirlpool Corp. and Caterpillar Inc. confront the need to reverse bloated stockpiles of products after inventories surged across corporate America the past three quarters.

At Coca-Cola, the largest soft-drink maker, European customers bought in advance of possible disruptions from the U.K. exit from the European Union. At appliance seller Whirlpool and construction-equipment giant Caterpillar, there are moves to better align stocks with sales.

In the first quarter, surging inventories contributed to 3.2 percent annualized growth in gross domestic product, far more than economists expected, Commerce Department figures showed Friday. Companies built stocks in advance of potential tariffs