Hospira Q2 Profit Beats Estimates

(RTTNews) - Hospira, Inc. (HSP) Wednesday announced a more than double increase in second quarter net income to $145.1 million from $70.9 million in the prior year. Earnings per share grew 95.2 percent to $0.82 from $0.42 last year. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $0.85, up 18.1 percent to $0.72 per share last year.

On average, analysts were looking for $0.80 per share. Analysts estimates usually exclude special items.

Net sales for the quarter increased 4.2 percent to $1.183 billion from $1.135 billion in the previous year. Excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, net sales increased 8.8 percent. Wall Street analysts expected $1.18 billion.

In view of the pending merger with Pfizer Inc. (PFE) in a deal worth around $17 billion, Hospira has not provided annual projections for 2015.