Sigma-Aldrich 2Q Net Rises 16% As Demand Continues Recovery

Sigma-Aldrich Corp.'s (SIAL) second-quarter earnings rose 16% as the company's sales continued to benefit from strong demand.

Sigma-Aldrich, a supplier of chemicals for high-tech scientific research, has seen its sales improve in recent quarters, as the chemical industry experiences sharply increased demand after slumping in early 2009. Driving demand are materials and precursors for semiconductor and light-emitting-diode applications and for industrial cell culture media used to produce biological drugs.

Sigma-Aldrich reported a profit of $113 million, or 91 cents a share, up from $97 million, or 79 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding restructuring costs, earnings rose to 93 cents from 81 cents. Sales jumped 15% to $637 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast earnings of 92 cents on revenue of $621 million.

Operating margin rose to 25.1% from 17.5%.

Shares of Sigma-Aldrich, which also backed its full-year guidance, closed at $73.70 and were inactive premarket. The stock has risen 29% over the past year.

-By Melodie Warner, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2283; [e-mail]