- First-quarter sales up 5.6% to US$1.59bn
- Net profits in three months to end of March fall 10% to $159m
Dr Pepper Snapple Group has reported an increase in sales for Q1 2018, in what could be its final quarter of reporting as a standalone company.
Brand Dr Pepper saw volumes rise in Q1 2018
In an SEC filing yesterday, the company said that sales in the three months to the end of March rose almost 6%, compared to the same period last year. The announcement was made without a release or conference call as DPSG concentrates on its impending merger with Keurig Green Mountain.
Looking closer at the top-line lift, Stifel analyst Mark Swartzberg said bottler case sales grew 2% "on a return to positive volume for the Dr Pepper brand (+1%) and outperformance in non-carbonated beverages (+6%)".
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo analyst Bonnie Herzog credited the timing of Easter for helping to drive sales in the period.
Profits in the three-month period did not fare as well, with DPSG seeing a 10% dip compared to Q1 2017. However, Herzog said the firm's pending takeover by Keurig Green Mountain, means "investors are less focused on quarterly DPS fundamentals".
The merged company will be called Keurig Dr Pepper.
Keurig Dr Pepper - A bit good. A bit bad - Click here for a just-drinks comment
Sectors: Company results, Soft drinks, Water
Companies: Dr Pepper Snapple Group
