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... Stock Market News and Investment Information RSS (Adds details) NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co.

(LLY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit due to a lower tax rate, and reaffirmed that earnings would grow 8 percent to 11 percent for full-year 2006, in line with Wall Street expectations.

The Indianapolis-based drugmaker earned $701 million, or 64 cents per share.

It reported a loss in the year-ago quarter of $2.4 million, or nil per share, after charges for a restructuring and taxes on repatriated earnings.

Excluding special items, the company earned 80 cents per share.

A decline in the company's tax rate helped Lilly beat the average forecast of 78 cents per share among analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

Company revenue rose ...

... Lilly posts 4th-qtr profit on lower tax rate Lilly posts 4th-qtr profit on lower tax rate Staff and agencies26 January, 2006 21 minutes ago NEW YORK - Eli Lilly - ) on Thursday reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit due to a lower tax rate, and reaffirmed that earnings would grow 8 percent to 11 percent for full-year 2006, in line with Wall Street expectations.

The Indianapolis-based drugmaker earned $701 million, or 64 cents per share.

It reported a loss in the year-ago quarter of $2.4 million, or nil per share, after charges for a restructuring and taxes on repatriated earnings.

Excluding special items, the company earned 80 cents per share.

A decline in the company‘s tax rate helped Lilly beat the average forecast of 78 cents per share among analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

Company revenue rose 6 percent to $3.88 billion on strong sales growth of treatments for diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis.

But sales of the company‘s biggest product, schizophrenia treatment Zyprexa, slipped 5 percent to $1.03 billion - losing ground to rival treatments not as closely linked with weight gains that can cause diabetes.

The drug‘s sales fell 15 percent in the United States, but grew 6 percent in overseas markets.

Sales of Strattera, Lilly‘s treatment for attention deficit disorder, slipped 8 percent to $168 million, hurt by the recent placement of a prominent warning inside the packaging that it may increase ri...

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International Politics Entertainment Technology & Science Sports Health World Crises Oddly Enough Life & Leisure Weather Video Pictures HOME Behind The Scenes YOU ARE HERE: Home Business >Article advertisement Lilly profit beats forecasts, helped by lower tax Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:49 AM ET Printer Friendly RSS Top News Hamas sweeps Palestinian election China, Iran warm to Russia nuclear proposal US military frees 5 women in Iraq VIDEO: Bush fires rage Victoria, Australia VIDEO: Heavyweights welcome new diet pill PICTURES: New Orleans Updates PICTURES: Palestinian Election Roundup MORE By Ransdell PiersonNEW YORK (Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co.

on Thursday reported a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit due largely to a lower tax rate, and reaffirmed 2006 earnings would rise 8 percent to 11 percent, in line with Wall Street estimates.The Indianapolis-based drugmaker earned $701 million, or 64 cents per share.

It reported a loss in the year-ago quarter of $2.4 million, or nil per share, after charges for restructuring and taxes on repatriated earnings.Exclu...