Shares of Baxter International climbed after the company raised its outlook, boosted by higher-than-expected sales in the recent quarter and a surprise tariff refund.

The stock was recently trading 12% higher, at $27.80, putting it up about 42% year to date.

The company, which makes medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, said before the bell that it now expects sales from continuing operations to grow 3% to 4% for the year, up from a prior forecast of flat to up 1%. On an organic basis, sales are now projected to grow 2% to 4%, whereas they were previously expected to be flat.

Baxter also lifted its adjusted earnings outlook to $1.95 to $2.15 a share, up from $1.85 to $2.05 a share. Analysts polled by FactSet expected adjusted earnings of $1.92 a share.

Chief Executive Andrew Hider said improved operating performance helped drive higher-than-expected results during the recent quarter. The company also benefited from a tariff refund that hadn't previously been contemplated in guidance.

"While we're encouraged by this steady progress and core operating momentum, we remain focused on the work ahead," he said.

Baxter reported a second-quarter profit of $126 million, or 24 cents a share, up from 91 million, or 18 cents a share, a year earlier. Stripping out one-time items, adjusted earnings of 56 cents a share topped analyst projections for 37 cents a share.

Net sales climbed 5.3% to $2.96 billion, ahead of Wall Street models for $2.8 billion.

Sales across the company's medical technology and therapies unit came in at roughly $2.1 billion, up 7% from last year. Meanwhile, sales across its healthcare systems and technologies business totaled about $801 million, a 4% increase.