Generic-drug maker and hospital-supply company Hospira Inc. (HSP) boosted its financial guidance for 2009 on Thursday, ahead of an all-day investor conference.

The Lake Forest, Ill., company said in an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it now sees global sales rising by 5% to 7% this year, excluding the impact of foreign currency. The company on July 29 had reiterated prior guidance for a 4% to 6% climb in sales this year.

Adjusted per-share earnings, which excludes charges linked to a big company restructuring plan, among other items, are now seen at $2.80 to $2.85 this year. Both ends of the new forecast are up 10 cents from prior guidance, which was increased by three cents on July 29.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had, on average, expected earnings for the year of $2.77 a share.

Hospira also boosted the upper end of its gross margin forecast, which is now 39.5% to 40.5%, guided to an operating margin of 18% to 19%, and boosted its forecast for 2009 cash flow from operations to a range of $610 million to $660 million.

Chief Financial Officer Thomas E. Werner is slated to discuss the financial outlook later Thursday during the conference, which takes place in Chicago.

-By Jon Kamp, Dow Jones Newswires; 617-654-6728; jon.kamp@dowjones.com