SASKATOON (dpa-AFX) - Potash Corp Of Saskatchewan Inc. (POT, POT.TO) said its fourth-quarter net income grew to $683 million or $0.78 per share from $508 million or $0.56 per share a year ago. On average, 27 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share of $0.88 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items. Sales for the recent quarter totaled $1.86 billion versus prior year's $1.81 billion, while 13 analysts estimated revenues of $2.08 billion for the quarter. Further, PotashCorp expects first-quarter net income per share to be in the range of $0.55 - $0.75 and earnings between $3.40 and $4.00 per share for the full year. Analysts project earnings per share of $0.84 for the first quarter and $3.96 for 2012. Capital expenditures for the year, excluding capitalized interest, are estimated to be about $2.1 billion, of which nearly $400 million would relate to sustaining capital, the company added. President and Chief Executive Bill Doyle noted, 'The return on fertilizer investment continues to be attractive to farmers world-wide and is expected to result in greater demand in the quarters ahead.'
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