Oct 27 (Reuters) - Keurig Dr Pepper ( KDP ) raised its

forecast for annual sales on Monday, banking on resilient demand

for its energy drinks and carbonated soft beverages in markets

including the United States.

Shares of the company, which also beat third-quarter sales

estimates, were up about 4% in premarket trading.

U.S. beverage makers are seeing a boost in sales, especially

for healthier drinks and low-calorie juices, as consumers opt

for wellness-focused options amid the growing popularity of

weight-loss drugs and the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement

under the Trump administration.

"Strong innovation and in-market execution drove market

share gains across key categories, with sales momentum, along

with disciplined actions to offset inflationary pressures,

contributing to solid earnings and free cash flow growth," CEO

Tim Cofer said.

Net sales in Keurig Dr Pepper's ( KDP ) U.S. refreshment beverages

segment rose 14.4% in the reported quarter, while U.S. coffee

segment saw 1.5% increase.

Price hikes in recent quarters helped the company protect

margins from rising tariff-related costs, including on coffee.

Its total prices were up about 4.2%, while volumes grew

6.4%, compared to a year ago.

Activist investor Starboard Value has been building a stake

in Keurig Dr Pepper ( KDP ) after the beverage maker in August announced

plans to buy European coffee maker JDE Peet's for

about $18 billion.

The deal would partly reverse the 2018 merger that created

Keurig Dr Pepper ( KDP ), allowing investors to focus on a single

segment instead of a diverse product mix.

The company now expects 2025 full-year net sales to grow in

a high-single-digit, up from its earlier mid-single-digit range,

while keeping its profit forecast unchanged.

Keurig Dr Pepper's ( KDP ) quarterly sales of $4.31 billion beat

analysts' estimates of $4.15 billion, according to data compiled

by LSEG.

Its adjusted profit of 54 cents per share came in line with

Wall Street estimates.