Swiss drugmaker, which has made a $42 billion hostile bid for U.S. biotech group Genentech Inc, said on Wednesday it expected mid-single-digit sales growth for both divisions and the group.

Roche said its core earnings per share target was to remain at the high level of 2008 despite of increased investments in research and development and expected lower net financial result.

Pharmaceutical companies like Roche have proven relatively resilient during the economic downturn as healthcare is usually one of the last areas where customers cut back spending.

Its stock is near flat this year, versus a 7 percent drop in the Swiss blue-chip index <.SSMI>.

Roche had been expected to post net profit of 11.4 billion francs, according to a Reuters poll.

(Reporting by Sam Cage)