(Reuters) - German healthcare group Fresenius beat second-quarter operating profit expectations on Wednesday, citing strong performance at its Kabi and Helios units, and progress in group-wide cost savings.

It reported earnings before interests and taxes (EBIT) of 660 million euros ($714 million), up 16% from a year ago.

Analysts were expecting EBIT of 636 million euros, according to a consensus of forecasts from Vara Research.

($1 = 0.9239 euros)

(Reporting by Bartosz Dabrowski in Gdansk; Editing by Varun H K)