Zyprexa

Lilly said it expects 2006 earnings of $3.10 to $3.20 per share, excluding special items.

That is in line with the average estimate of $3.13 per share among analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

The company forecast first-quarter earnings of 73 cents to 75 cents per share, representing growth of 7 percent to 10 percent over the 2005 period.

The forecast is in line with Wall Street estimates of 75 cents.

© Reuters 2006.

All Rights Reserved.

Reuters.com Help & Info Careers Reuters journalists are subject to the Reuters Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

...

Lilly said it expects 2006 earnings of $3.10 to $3.20 per share, excluding special items.

That is in line with the average estimate of $3.13 per share among analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

The company forecast first-quarter earnings of 73 cents to 75 cents per share, representing growth of 7 percent to 10 percent over the 2005 period.

The forecast is in line with Wall Street estimates of 75 cents.

| ...

year-ago profit Free!

Sign up here to receive our Personal Finance Daily e-Newsletter!

TRADING CENTER E*TRADE TRACK THESE TOPICS My Portfolio Alerts Company: Eli Lilly and Company Add Create Get breaking news sent directly to your in-box Create a Portfolio | Create an Alert Fourth-quarter net income was $700.6 million or 64 cents a share, including charges from restructuring and asset impairments.

In the fourth quarter of 2004 the company posted a net loss of $2.4 million with earnings per share of breakeven.

Lilly's (LLY: LLY News, chart, profile, more Last: Add to portfolioAnalystCreate alert InsiderDiscussFinancials Sponsored by: , , ) adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were 80 cents, compared to 75 cents a share in the year-ago period.

Sales in the quarter rose 6% to $3.88 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson First Call were expecting earnings of 78 cents a share on revenue of $3.9 billion.

Sales of Lilly's most lucrative product, Newer products, such as Alimta, Byetta, Cialis, Cymbalta, Forteo, Strattera, Symbyax, Xigris and Yentreve, contributed $791.2 million to fourth-quarter sales and accounted for 20% of total sales, compared with 14 percent of total sales in the fourth quarter of 2004....