Hitachi Ltd. on Friday predicted a 16 percent jump in fiscal 2011 operating profit on overseas demand for thermal power stations and a rebound in production after the March 2011 catastrophe.

Operating profit may rise to ¥480 billion in the year ending March 31, up from ¥412.3 billion a year earlier, although sales may fall 5.9 percent to ¥9.1 trillion, Japan's second-largest manufacturer said.

The projections are mostly in line with analysts' estimates. Based on an average of 20 analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg, the company was expected to forecast operating profit of ¥484.9 billion.