Beckman’s Third-Quarter Sales, Profit Show Gains

Beckman Instruments Inc. posted higher profit and sales for the third quarter.

The company, which designs and makes laboratory instruments, reported Monday that net income rose 4% to $19.4 million, or 68 cents a share, from $18.7 million, or 65 cents a share, a year ago. The company said the 1997 third-quarter results included expenses associated with the acquisition of a product line completed late in the second quarter. Sales were up 7% to $271.6 million from $252.8 million.

Year-to-date net income totaled $55.8 million, or $1.94 a share, 9% higher than the $51.4 million, or $1.77 a share, posted for the first three quarters of 1996. Sales rose 4% to $774.1 million from $742.8 million.

The stock rose $1.31 a share, closing at $44.06 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.