Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter profit rose 42.5 percent, as the company benefited from lower costs, even while its sales fell.

The company raised the lower end of its full-year guidance for the year, but shares fell as some analysts worried the change means their expectations for the fourth-quarter are too high.

The maker of Dr Pepper and Crush earned $151 million, or 59 cents per share, in the period ended Sept. 30. That compares with earnings of $106 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items such as a tax gain related to separation costs and restructuring items, the company earned 54 cents per share, beating a consensus from Wall Street analysts.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected 49 cents per share in profit and revenue of $1.44 billion.

Revenue fell 4 percent to $1.43 billion from $1.49 billion. Volume rose 3 percent, while carbonated soft drink volume rose 5 percent. Non-carbonated beverages _ including juices _ were up slightly.

Shares fell $1.25, or 4.5 percent, to $26.57 in late morning trading Thursday.

The company said its flagship Dr Pepper brand had a 3 percent increase in volume, while a grouping of its other four core brands _ 7UP, Sunkist, A&W and Canada Dry _ fell 3 percent. Crush volume more than doubled on expanded distribution.

Snapple volume fell 6 percent, but that was an improvement from prior quarters. Consumers had been switching away from the higher-priced drink amid the recession. Continued...