07:45 AM EDT, 04/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Novartis ( NVS ) reported Q1 core earnings Tuesday of $1.80 per share, up from $1.54 a year earlier.

Analysts polled by Capital IQ expected $1.68.

Net sales for the quarter ended March 31 were $11.83 billion, up from $10.80 billion a year earlier.

Analysts surveyed by Capital IQ expected $11.50 billion.

The company said it now expects a high-single to low double-digit net sales growth in 2024, compared with its prior outlook of mid-single-digit growth.

Shares of the company were up more than 5% in recent Tuesday premarket activity.