Nov 5 (Reuters) - Dialysis specialist Fresenius Medical

Care slightly raised the lower end of its 2024

operating profit forecast range on Tuesady after posting

quarterly earnings above expectations, helped by cost savings

and as its U.S. business recovers.

The world's largest dialysis specialist now expects

full-year operating income to grow by 16% to 18% compared to the

prior year. Previously, it had forecast mid- to high-teens

percentage growth.

"Clearly in our U.S. business, we're still in a turnaround

situation," CEO Helen Giza told Reuters, noting higher sales of

its dialysis machines and treatment in the country.

The German company makes about 70% of its sales in the

United States.

It said sales in its care delivery unit grew 1%, excluding

currency exchange effects, special items and divestitures

completed in 2023, largely supported by its value-based care

business, an overall increase in treatment volumes and higher

reimbursement rates.

The company's Frankfurt-listed shares were up 2.6% by 0855

GMT.

Last week, U.S. dialysis firm DaVita ( DVA ) reported

third-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates due to

increased labour costs and other expenses tied to patient care.

Fresenius Medical Care said its transformation programme

called FME25 delivered 64 million euros ($70 million) of

additional savings in the quarter, while related one-time costs

amounted to 39 million euros.

"I think the momentum we've got from FME 25 is terrific and

now I want that to trend," Giza said.

The German company said its adjusted operating income grew

42.7% to 463 million euros in the July-September quarter, versus

analysts' median estimate of 434 million euros in a

company-provided consensus.

The group's quarterly sales were 4.76 billion euros, below

the consensus figure of 4.84 billion euros.

($1 = 0.9182 euros)