Nov. 5 - Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc posted quarterly profit that beat Wall Street estimates Thursday, helped by higher sales volume and price increases, and it raised the low end of its full-year earnings forecast.
The maker of Dr Pepper, Sunkist and 7UP sodas said net income was $151 million, or 59 cents per share, in the third quarter, up from $106 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the company earned 54 cents per share.
Net sales fell 4 percent to $1.43 billion.
Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 49 cents per share on revenue of $1.44 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Dr Pepper Snapple expects 2009 earnings of $1.92 to $1.96 per share, excluding items, on sales growth of about 2 percent, excluding the loss of Hansen Natural Corp drinks it no longer distributes.
Its prior 2009 profit forecast was $1.88 to $1.96 per share, excluding items, on adjusted net sales growth of 2 percent to 4 percent.