UPDATE: Monsanto Posts Upbeat Q1 Profit

Monsanto Co

reported a rise in its fiscal first-quarter profit. Monsanto's quarterly earnings surged to $339 million, or $0.63 per share, from $126 million, or $0.23 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its total net sales climbed to $2.94 billion from $2.44 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.36 per share on revenue of $2.64 billion. Monsanto shares gained 4.15% to $99.88 in pre-market trading.