Dow Chemical Profit Beats Estimates

Dow Chemical Co's first-quarter earnings beat analysts' estimates, helped by higher demand for its seeds and crop-protection chemicals in the Americas.

Sales at its agriculture science business, which supplies seeds, oils and farm chemicals, jumped 14% in the quarter, the highest growth among its business units.

Net income rose about 33% to $550 million, or 46 cents per share, in the first quarter from $412 million, or 35 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items, earnings were 69 cents per share.

Revenue fell 2% to $14.4 billion.

Analysts on average expected earnings of 61 cents per share on revenue of $14.88 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.