Feb 27 (Reuters) - 3M spin-off Solventum ( SOLV )

forecast annual profit above analyst estimates on Thursday,

betting on strong sales of its wound care and surgical

sterilization products.

Minnesota-based Solventum ( SOLV ) is one of the largest providers of

sterilization devices, wound dressings, medical tape and other

hospital consumables used by healthcare facilities.

More than half of its revenue comes from its MedSurg

business, which provides wound dressings and surgical equipment.

Sales in the segment were $1.17 billion during the quarter.

The company's performance has come under scrutiny from

activist investor Nelson Peltz.

Peltz's Trian Fund Management said in a letter to

shareholders in January the company should simplify its segments

to improve execution at its core medical surgery business.

Trian, which owns around 5% of Solventum's ( SOLV ) shares and is the

largest active shareholder, also said divestitures could

accelerate the company's ability to reduce debt.

Contract drug manufacturer Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO )

said earlier this week it will buy Solventum's ( SOLV ) purification and

filtration business for about $4.1 billion.

Peltz's hedge fund plans to push Solventum ( SOLV ) towards further

business separations, the Wall Street Journal reported on

Wednesday.

The company forecast 2025 adjusted profit to be in the range

of $5.45 to $5.65 per share, the midpoint of which is above

analysts' average estimate of $5.49 as per data compiled by

LSEG.

The forecast includes its purification and filtration

segment, the company said.

Solventum ( SOLV ) reported total sales for the quarter ended

December 31 of $2.07 billion, a 1.9% rise from a year earlier.

Solventum's ( SOLV ) organic sales growth was primarily driven by the

MedSurg and dental solutions segments, it said.

The company's net income fell to $30 million, or 17 cents

per share, in the quarter, from $272 million, or $1.57 per

share, a year earlier.