Beckman Coulter Profit Falls on Higher Costs

Beckman Coulter Inc., which makes medical laboratory equipment, said earnings in the fourth quarter fell 15% as increased operating costs and low-margin products more than offset the weak dollar.

The Fullerton-based company earned $59.8 million, or 91 cents a share, down from $70.4 million, or $1.07, a year earlier. Revenue rose 8.5% to $693 million from $638.6 million.

Excluding items, earnings were $59 million, or 90 cents a share.

Analysts were expecting earnings of 98 cents a share, according to Thomson First Call.

Beckman Coulter shares fell $4.78 to $66.40 on the NYSE.

From Associated Press

* Halliburton Co. said its fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $201 million, or 45 cents a share, from $947 million, or $2.17, a year earlier. Sales fell 5% to $5.2 billion as the company’s KBR engineering and construction business, the biggest U.S. contractor in Iraq, garnered less revenue from the government.