Herbalife 1Q profit jumps 51 percent on strong sales

LOS ANGELES—Herbalife Ltd., which sells nutritional supplements and weight-loss products, said Thursday its first quarter profit jumped 51 percent, mainly from much higher sales in South America and China.

For the quarter ended March 31, net income climbed to $62.4 million, or 93 cents per share, from $41.2 million, or 55 cents per share in the prior year quarter.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profit of 80 cents per share.

Herbalife, which sells products through a network of distributors who then recruit other sellers, said revenue rose 19 percent to $604.4 million from $508.1 million in the first quarter of 2007. Analysts predicted revenue of $582 million.

Sales grew substantially in the South America, helped by triple-digit sales growth in Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru. Sales in China were also strong. In North America, meanwhile, sales rose nearly 14 percent.