NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coffin maker Hillenbrand Inc (HI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) reported on Tuesday lower second-quarter net income but reaffirmed its 2008 guidance, sending its shares up after its first results as a stand-alone company.

Spun off from its parent in March, the largest U.S. manufacturer of coffins reported earnings of $23.3 million, or 37 cents per share.

Excluding anti-trust litigation and separation costs, it earned $34.5 million, slightly higher than the $33.3 million, or 53 cents per share, reported in the year-earlier period as part of the larger company, according to a statement.

The Batesville, Indiana-based company reaffirmed its 2008 guidance of revenue in a range of $668 million to $686 million and earnings per share of $1.27 to $1.47.

Second-quarter revenue rose 6 percent to $191.4 million, helped by a "more typical" pneumonia and influenza season this year after several years of unusually low death rates, Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Camp said in a statement.

Hillenbrand, with a market capitalization of about $1.3 billion, also makes a line of cremation urns.

After the spin-off, parent Hillenbrand Industries, which makes hospital beds, stretchers and furniture, changed its name to Hill-Rom Holdings Inc (HRC.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

Hillenbrand Inc's shares were up almost 3 percent at $21.43 in light after-hours trade.

(Reporting by Helen Chernikoff; Editing by Braden Reddall)