Monsanto Co. (MON: Quote) posted an improvement in its second-quarter net income attributable to the company to $1.21 billion from year-ago quarter's $1.02 billion, with quarterly earnings per share growing to $2.24 from $1.88 last year, helped by the strong performance of the seeds and traits business and the timing of an early U.S. season.
Earnings per share from ongoing business for the recent quarter were $2.28, higher than $1.87 in the comparable period. On average, 20 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share of $2.12 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.
Net sales totaled $4.75 billion compared with $4.13 billion in the previous year, while 13 analysts estimated revenues of $4.53 billion for the quarter.
For fiscal 2012, the company currently sees earnings per share of $3.45 - $3.50 on a reported basis and $3.49 - $3.54 on an ongoing basis. Previously, the company estimated to achieve $3.39 - $3.44 of ongoing and as-reported earnings per share for fiscal 2012. Twenty-two analysts project earnings of $3.51 per share for the full year.
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by RTT Staff Writer
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