Aug 19 (Reuters) - Medtronic Inc reported the strongest quarterly U.S. sales growth for its medical devices in five years and said it was committed to completing the acquisition of Irish-domiciled Covidien Plc by the end of the year or early 2015. Minneapolis-based Medtronic also confirmed its full-year profit and revenue outlook on Tuesday. Net earnings fell to $871 million, or 87 cents a share, in the first quarter ended July 25 from $953 million, or 93 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, Medtronic earned 93 cents a share. Analysts on average expected 92 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue rose 4 percent to $4.27 billion, while analysts had forecast $4.25 billion. U.S. revenue increased 6 percent to $2.33 billion. Medtronic reiterated its outlook for fiscal 2015 profit of $4.00 to $4.10 a share, excluding special items, and revenue growth in the range of 3 percent to 5 percent adjusted for currency fluctuations. The company said in June that it would buy medical device maker Covidien in a $42.9 billion cash-and-stock deal. (Reporting by Susan Kelly in Chicago; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Lisa Von Ahn)

Source