Dover profit, outlook beat forecasts

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Diversified manufacturer Dover Corp (DOV.N) posted a second-quarter profit that handily beat expectations on Friday, raised its forecast, and said order rates are running ahead of shipments.

Dover reported net earnings of $169.9 million, or 90 cents per share, up from $97.1 million, or 52 cents a share, a year before.

Stripping out a loss from discontinued operations, Dover's profit of 91 cents per share was well above the 78 cents Wall Street expected.

Sales jumped 29 percent to $1.8 billion, compared with the $1.66 billion that had been forecast. The company cited broad-based demand for industrial equipment,

Dover forecast full-year profit in a range of $3.05 per share to $3.25 per share from continuing operations, compared with analysts' average estimate of $2.96 a share.

(Reporting by Nick Zieminski, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)