DuPont Says Profit to Beat Estimates

DuPont Co. said it expects to post first-quarter profit that exceeds analysts’ highest estimates as the second-largest chemical maker cuts jobs and benefits from higher sales of farm chemicals and seeds.

The high estimate from Thomson Financial/First Call is for 51 cents a share.

DuPont’s costs are falling after the company eliminated 5,500 jobs in the last year. The company also had higher sales of crop-protection chemicals and seeds at its Pioneer Hi-Bred International unit.

Shares of Wilmington, Del.- based DuPont fell 68 cents to $46.67 on the New York Stock Exchange. It will report first-quarter results April 23.