UPDATE 1-Dr Pepper's 4th-qtr revenue grows on strong Latin America sales
Feb 13 (Reuters) - Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc reported a 2 percent increase in fourth-quarter revenue as strong growth in Latin America offset flat North American volumes.
Net sales in Latin America, which accounted for about 7 percent of total revenue in 2011, rose 7 percent in the quarter ended Dec. 31.
The maker of soft drinks such as 7UP, Sunkist and Hawaiian Punch said profit rose to $170 million, or 81 cents per share, from $166 million, or 77 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed to $1.48 billion.
On an adjusted basis Dr Pepper earned 82 cents per share. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 85 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue rose to $1.48 billion, slightly below market estimates of $1.49 billion.
Dr Pepper also said it expects profit for the current year in a range of $3.04 to $3.12 per share and sales growth of about 3 percent.