Science and technology company Danaher (NYSE:DHR) posted increases across the board in its latest financial report detailing operations during the 4th quarter and full year of 2012.
The Washington, D.C.-based company reported profits of $630.4 million, or 89¢ per diluted share, on sales of $4.98 billion during the 3 months ended Dec. 31, 2012. That represents a 5.5% bump in sales and 11.9% bump in earnings compared to the same period in 2011, when the company posted $563.5 million in earnings, or 79¢ EPS, on sales of $4.72 billion.
The technology maker posted gains on all of its product sales, including a 6.3% increase in its life sciences & diagnostics sales and a 3.7% increase in its dental products sales.
"We were pleased by the strong finish to 2012, which was broad-based across most of our businesses," president & CEO Lawrence Cult, Jr., said in prepared remarks. "While cognizant of the current macroeconomic challenges, we will continue our focus on gaining market share and remaining active on the acquisition front in 2013."
Danaher’s adjusted EPS of 87¢ topped analysts’ expectations by a penny, and DHR shares got a 0.5% boost, trading at $61 as of about 4 p.m. today.
Danaher lowered its 2013 adjusted per-share earnings guidance in anticipation of the divestiture of Apex Tool Group in the next 2 weeks. The company is now projecting non-GAAP adjusted EPS in the range of $3.32-$3.47, altered from a previous GAAP diluted EPS range of $3.40-$3.55 for the year. Danaher further projected Q1 2013 earnings in the range of 72¢-77¢ per share.
