Beckman Instruments Reports 14% Rise in 1st-Quarter Income

Beckman Instruments Inc. posted a 14% earnings increase for the first quarter on a 3% sales gain.

The company, which designs and makes laboratory instrument systems and related products for research, said net income totaled $15.6 million, or 54 cents a share, up from $13.7 million, or 47 cents a share, a year ago. Sales grew to $231.9 million from $224.8 million.