Roche ups full-year guidance on better-than-expected first-half

Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) this morning presented financial results for the first half of 2017, showing that sale of 26.34 billion ($27.6 billion) had risen 5%, at constant exchange rates and in Swiss franc compared with the like 2016 period.

Core earnings per share increased 6% to 8.23 francs. Core operating profit was up 3% at 10.13 billion francs. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected core EPS of 7.93 francs on sales of 26.11 billion.

For full-year 2017, Roche now expects sales to grow mid-single digit, at constant exchange rates. Core earnings per share are targeted to grow broadly in line with sales, at constant exchange rates. Roche expects to further increase its dividend in Swiss francs.