Hospira on Wednesday posted a net profit for the third quarter compared with a year-earlier loss as sales rose slightly, and backed its outlook for the full year.

Net earnings were $1.2 million, or 1 cent per share, versus a net loss of $88.9 million, or 54 cents per share, in the 2011 quarter.

Excluding items, earnings were 47 Cents per share. On that basis, analysts on average were expecting earnings of 45 cents.

Sales rose 1.8% to $994.0 million from $976.7 million a year before.

Hospira, a maker of specialty injectable pharmaceuticals and drug pumps, said it continues to expect 2012 net sales to show a fall of 1% to a rise of 2%, excluding the impact of foreign currency.

It forecast full-year earnings per share, excluding items, of $2.00.