Perrigo outlook tepid; shares fall
By Suzannah Benjamin
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Generic drugmaker Perrigo Co (PRGO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) posted better-than-expected third-quarter results, helped by strong sales of two new products, but shares fell almost 15 percent on its full-year outlook, which implied a tepid fourth quarter.
The company, which sells over-the-counter drugs, said it expects to earn $1.55 to $1.60 a share for the year.
Based on the company's earnings of $1.18 a share for the first nine months, the fourth-quarter earnings are expected to be between 37 cents and 42 cents a share, falling below analysts' estimates of 45 cents a share.
For the latest quarter ended March 29, the company reported earnings of $40 million, or 42 cents a share, compared with $17.1 million, or 18 cents a share, a year ago.
Excluding restructuring and other charges, it earned 47 cents a share.
Revenue rose 39 percent to $503.7 million.
Analysts were expecting a profit of 42 cents a share, excluding items, on revenue of $450.6 million, according to Reuters Estimates.
New product revenue in the quarter was $97 million, led by Perrigo's heartburn drug, omeprazole, and allergy drug, cetirizine. Continued...
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