UPDATE 1-Lockheed expects charge for health reform

ATLANTA, March 31 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), the world's largest defense contractor, said on Wednesday that it expects a first-quarter charge of about $96 million after tax, or about 25 cents a diluted share, from the recently enacted U.S. healthcare reform.

The charge is tied to elimination of tax deductions that have been available to companies for retiree prescription drug expenses, the maker of fighter jets said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The change takes effect in 2013.

Lockheed Martin said it was continuing to evaluate potential effects of the new law, and added it would update its financial outlook for this year when it posts quarterly earnings on April 21.

In late January, Lockheed had forecast per-share profit of $7.15 to $7.35 a share for 2010.

For the first quarter, analysts expected profit of $1.61 a share, compared with $1.68 a share for the year earlier, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Earlier on Wednesday, aerospace companies Boeing Co (BA.N) and Goodrich Corp (GR.N) also said they expect first-quarter charges tied to healthcare reform. (Reporting by Karen Jacobs; Editing by Gary Hill)