3rd-Quarter Profit Up 23% for Beckman Instruments

Beckman Instruments Inc., which develops and manufactures automated systems and supplies for laboratories, reported third-quarter net earnings of $13.9 million, or 48 cents a share, 23% higher than the $11.3 million, or 40 cents a share, for the like period last year. Sales gained 6% to $229.9 million from $217.8 million.

For the first nine months, net income totaled $38 million, or $1.32 a share. The company had a profit of $29 million, or $1.03 a share, for the first three quarters last year, which included a charge of $5.1 million for accounting changes. Sales were up 4% to $665.5 million from $638.6 million.