Nordson shares soar on strong 2Q results

The results came in well ahead of Wall Street predictions, and the company also issued a strong third-quarter guidance, sending Nordson shares up $5.86, or 9.6 percent, to $67 in aftermarket trading. The stock earlier fell $1.08 to $61.14 in the regular session.

For the quarter ended April 30, Nordson earned $33 million, or 97 cents per share, compared with $21 million, or 61 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2007.

Sales increased 22 percent to $294.1 million from $241.3 million in the year-ago period.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected a profit of 83 cents per share on $279.5 million in revenue.

Organic sales rose 9 percent, while the effects of acquisitions added 6 percent to revenue and currency translation added 7 percent, the company said.

Nordson said demand for its products and services grew in all of its segments and geographic regions despite the ongoing slump in the U.S. economy.

Sales at the company's advanced technology division increased 26 percent, while adhesive dispensing sales rose 23 percent and industrial coating and automotive segment sales rose 10 percent.

On a geographic basis, Asia Pacific sales rose 31 percent, European sales increased 28 percent and U.S. sales rose 17 percent, Nordson said.

Nordson shares have traded in a 52-week range of $42.30 to $63.87.