Higher Profit at Herbalife

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Herbalife Ltd. late Monday said its first quarter earnings rose 25 percent, driven by continued strong demand for its products in North America and the Asia Pacific region.

After the markets closed, the Los Angeles weight loss and dietary supplement distributor reported net income of $51.9 million (83 cents a share), compared with $41.5 million (67 cents). Sales rose 19 percent to nearly $619 million.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters on average expected the company to report per-share profit of 81 cents on revenues of $590 million.

Sales in the North America region rose 23 percent to $151.3 million, while Asia Pacific sales gained 24 percent to $141 million. South Korea and the U.S. lead the growth in the company’s more established markets, with India, China, Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela among the stronger emerging markets.

“Our distributors’ ongoing success using daily consumption business models is fueling the company’s momentum and driving continued growth,” said Chief Executive Michael O. Johnson in a statement, referring to programs in which distributors offer a “club” setting in which clients come in each day for weight loss shakes and fellowship.

The company gave guidance for second quarter per-share profit of 89 cents to 92 cents a share, with sales up 12 percent to 13 percent.

Shares of Herbalife were up $1.31, or 2.7 percent, to $50.32 in Tuesday midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.