Dr Pepper Snapple Group Reports First Quarter 2016 Results

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) reported first quarter 2016 EPS of $0.96compared to $0.81 in the prior year period. Core EPS were $0.94, up 16%, compared to $0.81 in the prior year period.

For the quarter, reported net sales increased 2% on favorable product and package mix of 3%, price increases of 1% and a 1% increase in sales volumes. These increases were partially offset by 2 percentage points of unfavorable foreign currency translation. Net sales growth was also partially offset by unfavorable segment mix, as well as higher discounts, which were primarily related to our fountain foodservice business. Reported segment operating profit (SOP) increased 11%, or $36 million, on net sales growth, commodity deflation and planned lower marketing costs, partially offset by inflationary increases in certain operating expenses.

Reported income from operations for the quarter was $313 million, including $7 million in unrealized commodity mark-to-market gains. Reported income from operations was $270 million in the prior year period, including a $1 million unrealized commodity mark-to-market loss. Core income from operations for the quarter was $306 million, up 13%, representing 20.6% of net sales compared to 18.7% in the prior year period.

DPS President and CEO Larry Young said, "We're off to a good start this year. Our teams stayed focused on our strategy of unlocking growth across our priority brands through integrated communication and execution. We gained dollar share in both CSDs and sparkling waters in Nielsen measured markets and delivered both product and package innovation to meet consumers' evolving needs. Rapid Continuous Improvement (RCI) continues to enhance growth and productivity across the business."

Net sales and SOP in the tables and commentary below are presented on a currency neutral basis. Beginning in the second quarter of 2015, we excluded the impact of realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions from our currency neutral calculation. Refer to the Definitions section of this press release for details on how the company calculates currency neutral metrics. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures see pages A-5 through A-8 accompanying this release.

BCS Volume

For the quarter, BCS volume increased 2%, with both carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) and non-carbonated beverages (NCBs) increasing 2%.

By geography, U.S. and Canada volume increased 2%, and Mexico and the Caribbeanvolume increased 6%.

In CSDs, brand Dr Pepper increased 4% driven by growth in our fountain foodservice business. Schweppes and Crush grew 10% and 6%, respectively, on increased promotional activity at a large retailer. Peñafiel grew 5%, and Squirt grew 3%. These increases were partially offset by our Core 4 brands, which decreased 3%, as a mid-single-digit increase in Canada Dry was more than offset by a double-digit decrease in 7UP, a mid-single-digit decrease in Sunkist soda and a low-single-digit decrease in A&W. Fountain foodservice volume increased 10% in the quarter, partially impacted by the timing of orders for a large customer.

In NCBs, our water category grew 22% on strong growth in Bai brands, Aguafiel and FIJI. Snapple grew 4%, while Clamato grew 10% primarily on increased promotional activity. Hawaiian Punch decreased 7% on higher single serve pricing, while Mott's declined 4% in the quarter.

Sales Volume

Sales volumes increased 1% in the quarter.

Beverage Concentrates

Net sales increased 1% in the quarter driven by concentrate price increases taken at the beginning of the year and a 1% increase in concentrate shipments, which were partially offset by higher discounts, primarily related to our fountain foodservice business. SOP increased 3% on net sales growth and planned lower marketing costs, which were partially offset by increases in certain operating costs.

Packaged Beverages

Net sales increased 4% in the quarter on favorable product and package mix and price increases, partially offset by a 1% decline in sales volumes. SOP increased 24% on net sales growth and lower commodity, logistics and marketing costs, which were partially offset by increases in certain operating expenses.

Latin America Beverages

Net sales increased 6% in the quarter on a 6% increase in sales volumes. SOP was flat in the quarter, as net sales growth, lower commodity costs and ongoing productivity improvements were partially offset by the higher cost of certain U.S. dollar denominated input costs as a result of the strengthening U.S. dollar.

Furthermore, a $4 million arbitration award related to our Mexican joint venture reduced SOP growth by 24 percentage points in the quarter.

Corporate and Other Items

For the quarter, corporate costs totaled $64 million, which included $7 million in unrealized commodity mark-to-market gains. Corporate costs in the prior year period were $71 million, which included a $1 million unrealized commodity mark-to-market loss.

Net interest expense increased $6 million in the quarter primarily driven by higher debt balances and refinancing of certain debt in the prior year.

For the quarter, the reported effective tax rate was 35.2%. The effective tax rate in the prior year period was 35.7%.

Cash Flow

For the quarter, the company generated $177 million of cash from operating activities compared to $101 million in the prior year. Capital spending totaled $27 million compared to $20 million in the prior year period. The company returned $269 million to shareholders in the form of stock repurchases ($179 million) and dividends ($90 million).

2016 Full Year Guidance

The company now expects full year reported net sales to be up approximately 2% and core EPS to be at the high end of the previously communicated $4.20 to $4.30 range. Collectively, foreign currency translation and transaction are now expected to negatively impact net sales by approximately 1% and core EPS growth by about 2.5%.

Packaging and ingredient costs are now expected to decrease COGS by approximately 0.5% on a constant volume/mix basis.

The company continues to expect its core tax rate to be approximately 35.5%.

The company continues to expect capital spending to be approximately 3% of net sales.

The company continues to expect to repurchase$650 million to $700 million of its common stock.

Definitions

Bottler case sales (BCS) volume: Sales of finished beverages, in equivalent 288 fluid ounce cases, sold by the company and its bottling partners to retailers and independent distributors and excludes contract manufacturing volume. Volume for products sold by the company and its bottling partners is reported on a monthly basis, with the first quarter comprising January, February and March.

Sales volume: Sales of concentrates and finished beverages, in equivalent 288 fluid ounce cases, shipped by the company to its bottlers, retailers and independent distributors and includes contract manufacturing volume.

Pricing refers to the impact of list price changes.

Unrealized mark-to-market: We recognize the change in the fair value of open commodity derivative positions between periods in corporate unallocated expenses, as these instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. As the underlying commodity is delivered, the realized gains and losses are subsequently reflected in the segment results.

EPS represents diluted earnings per share.

Core financial measures are determined utilizing reported financial numbers adjusted for the unrealized mark-to-market impact of commodity derivatives and certain items that are excluded for comparison to prior year periods.

Core metrics are determined based on the core financial measures.

Net sales and Segment Operating Profit, as adjusted to currency neutral: Net sales and Segment Operating Profit are calculated on a currency neutral basis by converting our current-period local currency financial results using the prior-period foreign currency exchange rates. Beginning in the second quarter of 2015, we excluded the impact of realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions from our currency neutral calculation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, in particular, statements about future events, future financial performance including earnings estimates, plans, strategies, expectations, prospects, competitive environment, regulation, and cost and availability of raw materials. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "intend" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements have been based on our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Our actual financial performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections, and our financial performance may be better or worse than anticipated. Given these uncertainties, you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year endedDecember 31, 2015, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. We do not undertake any duty to update the forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, after the date of this release, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

Conference Call

At 9 a.m. (CDT) today, the company will host a conference call with investors to discuss first quarter results and the outlook for 2016. The conference call and slide presentation will be accessible live through DPS's website athttp://www.drpeppersnapple.com and will be archived for replay for a period of 14 days.

In discussing financial results and guidance, the company may refer to certain non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations of any such non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures in accordance with GAAP can be found on pages A-5 through A-8 accompanying this release and under "Financial News" on the company's website at http://www.drpeppersnapple.com in the "Investors" section.

For additional information about Dr Pepper Snapple Group, please reference the "DPS Overview" presentation slideshow under "Events and Presentations" on the company's website at http://www.drpeppersnapple.com in the "Investors" section.