PREVIEW-Hansen Q3 profit to top Street view on Monster growth

* What: Hansen Natural Q3 results

* When: Thursday, after market close

* Q3 profit likely to top analysts' estimates

* Monster beverage sales to drive results

By Mihir Dalal and Nivedita Bhattacharjee

BANGALORE, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Even as Monster-logoed Jenson Button edged out Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel to win the Formula 1 auto racing championship, US sales of Hansen Natural Corp's (HANS.O) energy drink are pulling ahead of its Austrian rival.

With third-quarter results due Nov 5, Hansen is likely to post earnings above market expectations, boosted by market share gains for its Monster drink in a growing U.S. energy drinks market.

"Monster has a better brand proposition to the right demographics and a good marketing strategy," Canaccord Adams analyst Scott Van Winkle said.

Last week, on a conference call with analysts, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc (CCE.N) said Hansen's Monster Energy drink had accelerated its market share gains in the United States over the last couple of months.

The bottler has been distributing Monster in the United States since the end of last year.

Including Java Monster, the brand accounts for about 90 percent of Hansen's total revenue. New products including dairy-based espresso drink Hammer X-Presso, and Monster Import are also expected to contribute to third-quarter results.

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Mark Astrachan said he sees strong growth in the company's overseas business as shelf space for Hansen's products had improved in a number of key markets.

Currently, international sales contribute less than 15 percent of Hansen's overall revenue.

Apart from the U.S. revenue story, Hansen's bottom line is also expected to benefit from lower commodity costs -- especially aluminum -- and favorable marketing rates, Astrachan, who is expecting the company to earn 64 cents a share, said.

Analysts on average are expecting earnings of 63 cents a share, before special items, on revenue of $309.2 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Last year, Hansen's stock took a beating as falling margins sparked fears about its profitability.