Monsanto posts gains in first quarter

St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. says higher sales of corn, soybean, vegetable and cotton seeds helped the company earn a profit in the first quarter of the fiscal year.

The earnings results released Thursday show the company making about two cents a share, for a net income of $6 million in the quarter that ended Nov. 30th. Last year, the company lost two cents a share, or $19 million.

Both the earnings and revenue numbers - which increased to $1.83 billion - beat analysts's expectations.