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Merck posts 1Q earns $1.52B vs $1.37B

Merck & Co. Thursday reported first-quarter earnings of $1.52 billion, 0r 69 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $1.37 billion, or 62 cents a share. Excluding a charge related to restructuring activities, the Whitehouse Station, N.J., drug giant earned 78 cents a share in the latest quarter. Sales rose 1% in the latest three months to $5.41 billion from $5.36 billion in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 72 cents a share in the March period on revenue of $5.47 billion. The Dow component said its first-quarter results were driven by the performance of its Zocor and Singulair products, its vaccines and partnerships and alliances. The stock closed Wednesday at $34.40, down 8 cents


Merck sees 2Q earns before items of 62-66c a share

Merck & Co. Thursday forecast earnings of 62 to 66 cents a share in the second quarter, excluding restructuring charges. Including items, the Dow component sees earnings of 55 to 61 cents a share in the period. The current average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call is for a profit of 62 cents a share in the June period. For the full year, excluding items, the Whitehouse Station, N.J., drug giant sees earnings of $2.32 to 2.40 a share. Including items, Merck forecast $2.02 to $2.16 a share for fiscal 2006. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is for a profit of $2.36 a share for the year. The stock closed Wednesday at $34.40, down 8 cents.

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