BECTON DICKINSON REPORTS 31 PERCENT NET INCOME INCREASE FOR FISCAL FIRST QUARTER.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 19, 1995--Becton Dickinson and Company today reported net income of $34 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year, an increase of 31 percent compared with income of $26 million a year ago.

Earnings per share were $.46 for the quarter, an increase of 39 percent versus last year's results of $.33.

Revenues were $593 million for the fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 1994, compared with last year's first quarter of $554 million. The company noted that foreign currency translation added an estimated $18 million to revenues, and an estimated $.03 per share to earnings.

Clateo Castellini, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "The first quarter showed good earnings growth, as we continued our efforts to improve gross profit margin through cost-reduction programs, and benefitted from an improved product mix. The resulting operating income improvement more than offset the effect of the expected higher tax rate. We are pleased by these results and look forward to continued earnings growth for the remainder of fiscal 1995."

Segment and Geographic Revenues

By business segment, medical supplies and devices revenues totaled $320 million, an increase of 8 percent. Diagnostic systems revenues were $274 million, a 6 percent increase from last year.

On a geographic basis, revenues in the United States were $316 million, while revenues outside the United States were $277 million, increases of 1 percent and 14 percent, respectively. -0-

                     BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY
                  COMSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
            Thousands of dollars, except per share amounts

                                    Three Months Ended Dec. 31,
                                    1994      1993    % Change

REVENUES                           $ 593,476     $ 554,080   7.1

Cost of products sold                327,065       312,882   4.5
Selling and administrative           171,606       157,376   9.0
Research and development              35,223        34,803   1.2
TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES   533,894       505,061   5.7

OPERATING INCOME                      59,582        49,019  21.5

Interest expense, net                (10,554)      (10,843) (2.7)
Other expense, net                    (1,382)       (4,366)(68.3)

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES            47,646        33,810  40.9

Income tax provision                  14,102         8,114  73.8

NET INCOME                         $  33,544      $ 25,696  30.5

EARNINGS PER SHARE                 $     .46      $    .33  39.4

Average common and common
 equivalent shares outstanding        70,411        74,805

                     BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY
                              REVENUES
                         Thousands of dollars

                                  Three Months Ended Dec. 31,
                                   1994        1993    %Change

BUSINESS SEGMENT

Medical Supplies and Devices    $  319,945    $ 296,269    8.0
Diagnostic Systems                 273,531      257,811    6.1

Total                           $  593,476    $ 554,080    7.1

GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Domestic                        $  315,990    $ 311,487    1.4

International                      277,486      242,593   14.4

Total                           $  593,476    $ 554,080    7.1

CONTACT: Becton Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes

R. Jasper, 201/847-7160