Franklin Lakes, NJ
(April 17, 1997) --
Becton Dickinson and Company (NYSE:
BDX) today reported earnings per share of $.63 for the
second quarter of its fiscal year, an increase of 15
percent compared with last year's $.55. Net income was
$83 million for the quarter, an increase of 11 percent
over last year's $75 million.
Revenues were $699 million for the fiscal second quarter,
which ended March 31, 1997, compared with last year's
second quarter of $706 million. The company noted that
foreign currency translation reduced revenues by an
estimated $20 million for the quarter. The company also
said that $16 million in revenues from divested
businesses were included in the prior year's second
fiscal quarter.
Segment and Geographic Revenues
By business segment, medical supplies and devices
revenues totaled $376 million. Diagnostic systems
revenues were $323 million.
On a geographic basis,
revenues in the United States were $362 million, while
revenues outside the United States were $338 million.
The company indicated
that, excluding the effect of foreign curency
translation, its core medical and diagnostic businesses
grew 5 percent for the quarter compared with last year,
with especially good performance in Japan and the Asia
Pacific region.
Six Months Results
For the six-month period ended March 31, 1997, revenues
were $1.355 billion. Earnings per share increased 23
percent to $1.07 a share and net income was $141 million,
an increase of 18 percent. International revenues for the
company's medical and diagnostic businesses grew 7
percent over the first six months of the prior fiscal
year, excluding the effects of foreign currency
translation and divested businesses.
Foreign currency translation for the first six months of
the fiscal year decreased reported revenues by an
estimated $31 million. Approximately $45 million in
revenues from divested businesses were included in the
first six months of the prior fiscal year.
Clateo Castellini, chairman, president and chief
executive officer, said "The second quarter
continued to show very good earnings growth as
productivity gains and an improved product mix favorably
affected our gross profit margin. The quarter's
performance also reflects an increase in research and
development, which we believe will lead to new products
that will help us accelerate revenue growth in coming
years. We are pleased by these results and are
increasingly confident of continued earnings growth for
the remainder of fiscal 1997."
