new york (Bloomberg) — Bermuda-based Tyco International Ltd., the world's biggest maker of security and fire systems, reported first-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' estimates on surging sales at its ADT and valve divisions.

Profit from continuing operations more than doubled to $369 million, or 74 cents a share, from $163 million, or 32 cents, a year earlier, the company said in a statement yesterday. Excluding some items, profit was 73 cents, topping analysts' estimates by 12 cents. Revenue in the quarter ended December 28 rose 12 percent to $4.87 billion.

Chief executive officer Edward Breen on January 23 raised forecasts for revenue and margins for the first quarter and 2008, citing better sales at ADT and the flow-control unit, which makes valves used by municipalities and the oil and gas industries. Tyco gets more than half its annual revenue from overseas, which may help results in a slowing US economy.

"Results were solid versus original expectations and generally in-line with pre-announced numbers," Nicole Parent, an analyst with Credit Suisse in New York, wrote in a note to clients yesterday. She rates Tyco "neutral".

So called "organic" revenue growth, or sales increases from businesses Tyco has owned more than a year and excluding translation of currency into US dollars, was six percent.

Tyco climbed 94 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $40.60 yesterday in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Tyco, which is run from West Windsor, New Jersey, was expected to earn 61 cents a share, the average estimate from 12 analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

Profit at the ADT division, which makes burglar alarms for commercial and residential use, rose 24 percent to $249 million. Revenue increased 7.3 percent to $2 billion, led by Asia and Latin American sales.

Flow control, which includes valves, posted a 58 percent profit increase to $171 million. Sales climbed 29 percent to $1.07 billion, led by demand in energy and water markets, Tyco said.

At the fire-protection division, profit rose 22 percent to $27 million on a 5.2 percent revenue increase to $832 million. Electrical and metal products profit was unchanged at $41 million, even as sales rose 10 percent, clipped by restructuring costs, Tyco said.

Profit at the safety products unit, which includes electronic security and fire suppression, rose 21 percent to $86 million. Sales gained 10 percent to $447 million, Tyco said.

Tyco repeated its 2008 profit forecast of $2.60 to $2.70 a share for the year ending in September, excluding some items. The average analyst estimate is $2.62.

Breen broke Tyco into three publicly traded companies in June and stayed to run the remaining security, fire and industrial valve units.

In the quarter, a loss from discontinued operations of $6 million, or one cent a share, made net income $363 million, or 73 cents, Tyco said.