By Bageshri Banerjee

May 5 (Reuters) - Medical device maker Solventum ( SOLV )

said on Tuesday it expects annual profit to be at the

higher end of its previous forecast range, primarily driven by

strong demand for its wound care and sterilization products.

Shares were down about 2% in extended trading.

The company said it now expects full-year profit to come in

at the higher end of its prior $6.40 to $6.60 per-share

forecast, implying a midpoint above analysts' expectations of

$6.44.

"We delivered first-quarter results ahead of our plan and

ahead of expectations. Organic sales growth and EPS both

exceeded our plan, again reflecting very strong execution across

the organization and the momentum that we've already built," CEO

Bryan Hanson said.

After more than a year under pressure from activist Trian

Fund Management, Solventum ( SOLV ) faced fresh demands last week from

the Nelson Peltz-founded firm to cut overhead costs, sell

non-core businesses and improve capital allocation as part of a

turnaround push.

The Minnesota-based company is one of the largest providers

of sterilization devices, wound dressings, medical tape and

other hospital consumables.

Solventum's ( SOLV ) MedSurg business, which sells wound dressings

and surgical equipment, accounts for more than half the

company's revenue. Sales in the segment rose 6.6% from a year

earlier to $1.23 billion during the quarter.

The company's quarterly revenue came in at $2.01 billion,

beating analysts' estimates of $1.97 billion, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

On an adjusted basis, it earned $1.48 per share, compared

with estimates of $1.35 per share.