Sonic shares dive amid earnings fears February 19, 2013 - 10:29AM Sonic Healthcare's first half profits are up, but the pathology giant has warned its full-year result will be at the lower end of guidance range. The company cited unexpected pathology fee cuts in the US and lower than expected growth as a result of Superstorm Sandy for predicted low growth. On a constant currency basis, its profit was $155 million, up 9 per cent from $151 million in the corresponding period. Its interim dividend is up 4 per cent to 25 cents per share. Shares dived $1.12, or 8 per cent, to $12.93 in early trade. Sonic's chief executive, Colin Goldschmidt, said the business continued to grow revenue and profits despite weak global economic conditions and ongoing headwinds from the strong Australian dollar. "Our focus on synergy extraction and tight cost control has enabled us to increase operating margins by 10 basis points, and this would have been even stronger if not for the one off impact of Superstorm Sandy on our US operations," he said. Sonic said it had been impacted by ""almost unprecedented"" stagnant growth in the US market. ""We don't know when this is going to turn around but it's almost unprecedented time,"" Dr Goldschmidt said. ""Whether this is related to unemployment or other reasons, we're not sure, but nevertheless there's now been more than one year of flat to slightly positive market growth in the US.""