DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Omnicare Inc.'s (OCR) first-quarter earnings fell 42%, though adjusted results still topped analysts' estimates, as margins declined and the company saw a bigger loss from discontinued operations. The provider of drugs to nursing homes and assisted-living centers has struggled with falling earnings in recent quarters, hurt by litigation charges and other expenses. Omnicare reported a profit of $29.3 million, or 26 cents a share, down from $50.9 million, or 43 cents, a year earlier. Excluding litigation settlement and other items, earnings per share fell to 52 cents from 59 cents. Revenue rose 2.3% to $1.53 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast earnings of 50 cents on $1.52 billion in revenue. Gross margin fell to 22.1% from 23%. The company's loss from discontinued operations widened to $21.2 million from $7.3 million in the year-earlier period. Shares were inactive premarket after closing the prior day at $32.71. As of the close, the stock had risen 15% the past year. -By Nathan Becker, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2855; nathan.becker@dowjones.com;
