NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - DuPont said its first-quarter earnings would exceed the high end of Wall Street estimates, thanks to lower fixed costs and slightly stronger agricultural-products sales.

The manufacturing conglomerate said it anticipates underlying earnings for the first quarter to exceed 51 cents a share. A survey of nine analysts by earnings tracker First Call predicted a profit of 40 cents to 51 cents a share, with an average forecast of 47 cents.

However, DuPont (DD: Research, Estimates) said some uncertainty remains about a broad-based recovery in customer demand at its chemical and materials businesses from the fourth quarter.

Shares of DuPont, a Dow component, jumped to $47.86 in pre-market trading Wednesday from its Tuesday closing price of $47.35.