H.B. Fuller fiscal 1st-quarter earnings fall

NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. specialty chemical maker H.B. Fuller Co (FUL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday its fiscal first-quarter earnings fell, as revenue declined.

The company posted earnings for the quarter ended March 1 of $18.2 million, or 32 cents a share, compared with a year-ago profit of $20.8 million, or 34 cents a share. Revenue declined 3 percent to $322.6 million from $333.4 million. Profit from continuing operations was also 32 cents a share.

In January, the company said it remained "cautiously optimistic" about 2008, after its fourth-quarter results were hurt by a slowdown in the U.S. economy, coupled with soaring raw material costs.

St Paul, Minnesota-based H.B. Fuller, which makes adhesives, sealants, paints and other chemical products, is holding its annual shareholder meeting on April 3.

The company still expects full-year profit of $1.76 to $1.86 a share. (Reporting by Euan Rocha)