UPDATE: Monsanto Posts Rise In FQ2 Profit, Raises Forecast

Monsanto Co

reported a rise in its fiscal second-quarter profit. Monsanto's quarterly profit climbed to $1.21 billion, or $2.24 per share, from $1.02 billion, or $1.88 per share, in the year-ago period. Its total net sales rose to $4.75 billion from $4.13 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $2.11 per share on revenue of $4.53 billion. Monsanto lifted its full-year earnings forecast to a range of $3.49 to $3.54 per share. Monsanto shares gained 1.78% to $83.26 in pre-market trading.