J&J shares leap after profit beats Street

The diversified health-care company, whose shares rose more than 3 percent in premarket trading, said it earned $3.51 billion, or $1.26 per share, in the first quarter. That compared with $3.6 billion, or $1.26 per share, in the year-earlier period.

Analysts on intend expected $1.22 per share, according to Reuters Estimates.

J&J reaffirmed its 2009 profit foretell of $4.45 to $4.55 per share.

(Reporting close by Ransdell Pierson, Editing close by Maureen Bavdek)