UPDATE 3-McKesson profit rises 32 pct but sticks to guidance

* Net profit rises to $1.17/shr from 83 cts/shr

* Revenue rises 9 pct to $26.6 bln

* Leaves full-year outlook unchanged at $4-$4.15/shr

* Shares unchanged in late trade from $39.90 NYSE close (Adds CEO comments; updates shares)

LOS ANGELES, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical wholesaler McKesson Corp (MCK.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a 32 percent increase in quarterly profit on Tuesday, helped by stronger revenue, as well as a tax gain and sale of its equity share in another company.

But McKesson acknowledged that some parts of its business may be susceptible to overall economic weakness, including its hospital solutions and physician office products units.

"It's difficult to determine if the delay in purchasing we experienced in late September was temporary or if it will continue," Chief Executive John Hammergren said during a conference call with analysts and investors.

As a result, the Hammergren said McKesson would take a "slightly more conservative view" of the second half of its fiscal year and would leave its outlook for full-year earnings unchanged at $4.00 to $4.15 per share.

"I think in this environment maintaining guidance is pretty good," said Charles Rhyee of Oppenheimer & Co.

He said McKesson's drug distribution business was much stronger than people were expecting for the quarter "and that's really what's driving the business right now."

The company's net profit was $327 million, or $1.17 per share, for the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with $247 million, or 83 cents per share, a year earlier.

McKesson said results for the latest quarter included 27 cents per share from a tax reserve release of $76 million and five cents per share from the sale of its 42 percent stake in Verispan LLC.

Excluding one-time items, McKesson earned $1.12 per share, outstripping the $1.05 per share forecast by analysts, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue for the quarter rose 9 percent to $26.6 billion.

Hammergren said McKesson will be focused on controlling its costs and and driving efficiency.

Shares of McKesson, which rose 8.2 percent to close at $39.90 on the New York Stock Exchange ahead of posting its earnings, were unchanged in extended trading. (Reporting by Deena Beasley and Bill Berkrot, editing by Richard Chang, Andre Grenon and Tim Dobbyn)