NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - 3M Co. posted improved second-quarter results Monday that edged past Wall Street's expectations for the period, and the company said it expects to top current second-half forecasts.

The maker of such diverse products as Scotch tape, Post-It notes, medical equipment and industrial coatings earned $539 million, or $1.36 a share, up from $451 million, or $1.12 a share excluding special items, a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by earnings tracker First Call had a consensus forecast of $1.34.

Shares of 3M (MMM: up $1.60 to $110.48, Research, Estimates), a component of the Dow Jones industrial average, gained almost 1 percent in early trading Monday.

The company's operating income improved across its six divisions, with transportation, safety and graphics posting the largest gain, up 23 percent to $244 million.

Including special items the company posted net income of $466 million, or $1.18 a share, up from $202 million, or 50 cents a share, a year earlier. Most the $148 million in pre-tax charges relates to severance and increased depreciation from a restructuring program announced last year.

3M said it does not expect any further charges from the restructuring program, and that total job cuts will total 6,700, of which 3,700 already were eliminated by the end of the second quarter. Another 1,200 jobs are expected to be eliminated in the third quarter.

Revenue rose to $4.16 billion from $4.08 billion, which beat First Call's estimate of $3.96 billion. U.S. sales slipped 1.8 percent to $1.89 billion, reflecting lower volume due to flat prices. Sales outside the United States gained 5.7 percent to $2.27 billion, as changes in the value of the dollar lifted that revenue figure by 1.5 percent.

The company said it expects third-quarter earnings per share of $1.35 to $1.40, topping the First Call forecast of $1.31. It also sees full-year EPS, excluding special items, of $5.15 to $5.30, also topping First Call's forecast of $5.13. Full-year net income per share should be in the range of $4.88 to $5.03. The company earned $1.13 a share in the third quarter last year, excluding special items, and $4.48 on that basis in 2001.