Dr Pepper Snapple Group Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

PLANO, Texas, April 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) reported first quarter 2017 EPS of $0.96, which included a $0.10 per diluted share gain on the market value increase on the company's initial equity investment in Bai Brands and a $0.10 per diluted share tax benefit associated with a favorable accounting change related to stock compensation. Reported EPS were $0.96 in the prior year period. Core EPS were $1.01 for the quarter, including the two aforementioned items. $0.07 of the $0.10 tax gain was included in the company's previous guidance, while the $0.10 gain on the market value increase of the investment in Bai was not included in the company's previous guidance. Core EPS were $0.94 in the prior year period.

DPS President and CEO Larry Young said, "Our teams executed on our strategy of unlocking growth across our priority brands through integrated communication and execution in the quarter. We outperformed the CSD category and grew both dollar and volume share in IRi measured markets. We closed on our acquisition of Bai at the end of January and have been providing them with the resources they need to continue to drive strong growth on the brand. Our allied brand strategy continues to be a solid contributor to growth and our continued development of Rapid Continuous Improvement is making us better everyday."

For the quarter, sales volumes increased 1%, inclusive of the Bai acquisition. The addition of Bai sales to third party distributors added 0.2% to sales volume growth. Reported net sales increased 2%, including the Bai acquisition, which accounted for about 1 percentage point of the net sales growth. Organic net sales growth was driven by just over one-and-a-half percentage points of favorable mix and price, and an increase in organic volume. Net sales was reduced by over 1 percentage point of unfavorable foreign currency translation and unfavorable segment mix, combined.

Gross profit increased $18 million in the quarter on a favorable $15 million comparison of unrealized commodity mark-to-market gains and $7 million of incremental gross profit from the Bai acquisition, which included the effects of deferring the recognition of $9 million of gross profit on shipments of Bai product still in our inventory at the end of the quarter. Gross profit was also impacted by favorable commodity costs and flow-through from organic net sales growth. Gross profit was reduced by increases in manufacturing costs, in part driven by higher utility costs in Mexico, and unfavorable foreign currency translation and transaction, combined.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) increased $75 million in the quarter. The acquisition of Bai added $41 million, including $19 million in transaction expenses and $11 million of marketing investments that included the Bai Super Bowl commercial. SG&A also increased on an unfavorable $18 million comparison of unrealized commodity mark-to-market activity, inflationary increases in certain operating expenses, additional planned investment behind our DSD front-line sales, delivery and merchandising workforce and a $9 million increase in planned marketing investments behind our other priority brands. SG&A benefited from lower management incentive compensation expenses and the favorable comparison to a $4 million arbitration award that was recorded in the prior year.

Other income increased $28 million in the quarter due to the gain on the market value increase on the company's initial equity investment in Bai.

Income from Operations declined by $28 million, or 9% in the quarter. The results of Bai's operations, including transaction expenses, contributed $34 million of this decline, partially offset by the $28 million gain on the company's initial equity investment.

Net sales and SOP in the tables and commentary below are presented on a currency neutral basis.  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 1%, with carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) increasing 1% and non-carbonated beverages (NCBs) decreasing 2%. By geography, U.S. and Canada volume was flat, and Mexico and the Caribbean volume increased 3%.

In CSDs, Dr Pepper increased 1% driven by growth in our fountain foodservice business that was partially offset by losses in TEN. Canada Dry grew by 5%, and Schweppes grew by 8%, both on continued growth in the ginger ale and sparkling water categories. Peñafiel increased 5%, and Squirt grew 1%. These increases were partially offset by declines in A&W and 7UP, which both decreased 2%, as slight growth in 7UP in the U.S. was more than offset by declines in the Caribbean. Other CSDs declined 1%. Fountain foodservice volume increased 4% in the quarter.

In NCBs, Snapple declined 6%, primarily due to promotional activity timing, and Mott's declined 2% as growth in sauce was more than offset by declines in juice. Bai increased 80% on the acquisition and continued growth in our existing distribution, which increased 26% in the quarter. Our growth allied brands, now excluding Bai, grew 33% on strong distribution gains in BODYARMOR, Core and FIJI, as well as on BODYARMOR innovation. Clamato was flat in the quarter and other NCBs declined 9%, led by Hawaiian Punch.

Sales Volume
Sales volumes increased 1% in the quarter.

Beverage Concentrates
Net sales increased 2% in the quarter driven by concentrate price increases taken at the beginning of the year and a 2% increase in concentrate shipments, which were partially offset by higher discounts due to timing, primarily related to our fountain foodservice business. SOP declined 1% on a planned increase in marketing investments of $7 million, which was partially offset by contributions from net sales growth.

Packaged Beverages
Net sales increased 2% in the quarter on favorable product and package mix, mostly due to continued strong growth in our allied brands and growth from the Bai acquisition, partially offset by a decline in our organic volume. SOP decreased 19% as results for the two months of the acquired Bai business, excluding the distribution profits within our distribution system, was a loss of $17 million, including $11 million of marketing investments, principally the Bai Super Bowl commercial, and the effects of deferring the recognition of $9 million of gross profit on shipments of Bai product still in our inventory at the end of the quarter.

Additionally, inflationary increases in certain operating expenses and planned increases behind our DSD front-line workforce were incurred, along with a planned increase in organic marketing investments supporting our other priority brands. SOP was further reduced by adverse mix in our base business, primarily as Snapple volumes declined in the quarter.

Latin America Beverages
Net sales increased 6% in the quarter on a 3% increase in sales volumes and favorable pricing. SOP declined 20% in the quarter as the segment incurred $3 million of higher U.S. dollar denominated input costs, which caused a 20% decline in SOP. SOP was further reduced by increases in manufacturing costs, in part driven by higher utility costs in Mexico, as well as by increases in certain other operating expenses. Collectively these increases more than offset the contributions from net sales growth and a favorable comparison to a $4 million arbitration award that was recorded in the prior year.

Corporate and Other Items
For the quarter, corporate costs totaled $81 million, which included $17 million in Bai acquisition costs and $4 million of unrealized commodity mark-to-market gains. Corporate costs in the prior year period were $64 million, which included $7 million of unrealized commodity mark-to-market gains.

Net interest expense increased $6 million in the quarter, primarily driven by a higher debt balance associated with the Bai acquisition.

For the quarter, the reported effective tax rate was 28.6%, which included an $18 million tax benefit associated with a favorable accounting change related to stock compensation. The effective tax rate in the prior year period was 35.2%.

Cash Flow
For the quarter, the company generated $97 million of cash from operating activities compared to $197 million in the prior year. Cash declined by $100 million including $95 million caused by timing of trade and income tax payments. Capital spending totaled $16 million compared to $27 million in the prior year period. The company returned $125 million to shareholders in the form of stock repurchases ($28 million) and dividends ($97 million).

2017 Full Year Guidance includes the following items:

• Organic volume growth is now expected to be just over 1%; total volume growth is expected to be approximately 2%, inclusive of the Bai acquisition, which closed on January 31, 2017.                   
• Net sales growth is now expected to be about 4%, including approximately 1 percentage point of negative foreign currency translation and also includes the Bai acquisition, which is now expected to add approximately 2 percentage points to growth.
• The impact of the Bai acquisition is now expected to be only $0.02 dilutive to Core EPS, inclusive of the $0.10 gain recorded in the first quarter.
• Collectively, foreign currency translation and transaction are now expected to reduce Core EPS by $0.07, primarily driven by the Mexican peso.                   
• We continue to expect an uncertain economic and consumer environment in Mexico that reduces our 2017 Core EPS expectation by $0.04.   
• Excluding the Bai acquisition, we continue to expect packaging and ingredient costs to be inflationary by approximately 0.5% on a constant volume/mix basis.
• The company now expects to invest an incremental $10 million in marketing investments above its previous guidance.
• The company now expects its full year core tax rate to be approximately 34%.
• The company continues to expect to repurchase shares of its common stock of $450 million to $500 million. 
• The company continues to expect capital spending to be approximately 3% of net sales.
• Taking the above items into consideration, the company now expects 2017 Core EPS in the $4.56 to $4.66 range.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, as defined in Regulation G, relating to forward-looking results. We have not provided a reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures included therein to the closest equivalent GAAP financial measure because, due primarily to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projection, not all of the information necessary to forecast and quantify the exact amount of the items excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures that will be included in the closest equivalent GAAP financial measure was or is available to us without unreasonable efforts.

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.

Organic: Represents the incremental impact to our results from our pre-existing business prior to the acquisition of Bai.

Bai acquisition or acquisition of Bai: Refers to our acquisition of the Bai Brands business by DPS, which was consummated on January 31, 2017.  In part because we were an investor in Bai Brands and were their largest distributor, there were many financial aspects of the acquisition, which impacted our financial statements and our accounting for the transaction as explained in this Press Release.

Pricing refers to the impact of list price changes.

Unrealized mark-to-market: We recognize the change in the fair value of open commodity and interest rate derivative positions not designated as hedges in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As the underlying commodity is delivered, the realized gains and losses associated with commodity derivatives 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 and interest rate 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.

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 ended December 31, 2016, 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 2017. The conference call and slide presentation will be accessible live through DPS's website at http://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.

About Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is a leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have seven of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and nine of our 10 leading brands are No. 1 or No. 2 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes 7UP, A&W, Bai, Canada Dry, Clamato, Crush, Hawaiian Punch, IBC, Mott's, Mr & Mrs T mixers, Peñafiel, Rose's, Schweppes, Squirt and Sunkist soda. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas-based company, please visit www.DrPepperSnapple.com. For our latest news and updates, follow us at www.Facebook.com/DrPepperSnapple or www.Twitter.com/DrPepperSnapple.

DR PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP INFORMATION
(Unaudited)

The company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP measures that reflect the way management evaluates the business may provide investors with additional information regarding the company's results, trends and ongoing performance on a comparable basis. Specifically, investors should consider the following with respect to our quarterly results:

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.

Free Cash Flow: Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for capital spending and certain items excluded for comparison to prior year periods. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no certain items excluded for comparison to prior year periods.

Core earnings: Core earnings is defined as net income adjusted for the unrealized mark-to-market impact of commodity derivatives and interest rate derivatives not designated as hedges in accordance with U.S. GAAP and certain items that are excluded for comparison to prior year periods, adjusted for the tax impact. Tax impact is determined based upon an approximate rate for each item. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we excluded the impact of transaction and integration expenses associated with the Bai Brands Merger. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, there were no items other than mark-to-market excluded for comparison to prior year periods.

The tables on the following pages provide these reconciliations.

A-5

SOURCE Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.