Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday as consumers drank up its value-priced soft drinks.

The maker of A&W, 7UP and Canada Dry beverages said first-quarter net income rose to $132 million, or 52 cents a share, from $95 million, or 38 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding items such as gains from the termination of a distribution deal with Hansen Natural Corp , the company earned 37 cents a share. Analysts on average were expecting 29 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.

Dr Pepper Snapple shares were up 5.9 percent at $22.51 in very light trading before the market opened.

(Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)