PRINCETON, N.J. -Church & Dwight Co., the make of Arm & Hammer baking soda said Tuesday that its fourth-quarter profit jumped 36 percent, boosted by steep increases in demand for its consumer products in the U.S. and overseas.
The results beat Wall Street predictions. The company issued a 2012 profit outlook that pleased analysts, sending its shares up $1.94, or 4.3 percent, to $47.18 in morning trading. Shortly after Tuesday's opening bell, the shares jumped as high as $47.93, topping the 52-week high of $47.
Church & Dwight earned $63.8 million, or 44 cents per share, up from $47 million, or 32 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.
Excluding one-time charges, the company had an adjusted profit of 53 cents per share, up from 43 cents per share in the 2010 period. Sales jumped 11 percent to $731.1 million.
Analysts, on average, expected a profit of 51 cents per share on $697.7 million in revenue, according to FactSet. Analysts' estimates usually exclude one-time charges.
Church & Dwight said domestic sales of consumer products rose 10 percent to $519.6 million on higher demand for laundry detergents, cat litter and electric toothbrushes. Sales of Oxiclean laundry products and Arm & Hammer toothpaste fell.
International sales of consumer products jumped 21 percent to $145 million on higher sales in Canada, Australia, and Mexico, as well as increased U.S. exports.
For the full year 2011, the company earned $309.6 million, or $2.12 per share, up from $270.7 million, or $1.87 per share, in 2010. Sales rose to $2.75 billion from $2.59 billion.
Church & Dwight expects tough economic conditions and weak consumer spending this year, with higher commodity prices and stiff competition.
The company expects to post a 2012 profit of $2.41 to $2.43 per share. Analysts forecast a profit of $2.41 per share for the year.
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