Becton Dickinson reports results for fiscal second quarter.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 1995--Becton Dickinson and Company today reported earnings per share of $.92 for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 1995 versus $.76 last year, an increase of 21 percent.

Revenues of $693 million increased 9 percent over last year's second quarter revenues of $635 million. Net income for the quarter was $65 million, an increase of 14 percent from last year's $57 million.

The company said that, as expected, the weaker dollar increased reported revenues for the quarter by an estimated $22 million, or 3 percent.

Segment and Geographic Results

By business segment, revenues from medical supplies and devices totaled $385 million, 10 percent higher than last year, while diagnostic systems products revenues grew by 9 percent, to $308 million.

On a geographic basis, revenues in the United States grew 6 percent to $373 million, while revenues outside the United States were $320 million, an increase of 13 percent.

Six Months Results

For the six-month period ended March 31, 1995, revenues grew 8 percent to $1.286 billion. Earnings per share increased 27 percent to $1.38 a share and net income was $98 million, an increase of 19 percent.

Foreign currency translation for the first six months of the fiscal year increased reported revenues by an estimated $41 million.

Clateo Castellini, chairman, president and chief executive officer said, "We are pleased with our results for the quarter and year to date. We continue to benefit from cost reduction programs and an improved product mix, and we look forward to continued growth for the remainder of 1995 as we continue to make progress toward our goal to improve return on equity." -0-

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

                                  Three Months Ended March 31,
                             -----------------------------------
                                1995         1994        % Change
                             ----------   -----------   -----------
REVENUES                    $   692,839   $   634,814       9.1

Cost of products sold           370,237       343,082       7.9
Selling and administrative      180,898       162,617      11.2
Research and development         35,504        35,684       (.5)
                              ----------   -----------
TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND
 EXPENSES                       586,639       541,383       8.4
                              ----------   -----------

OPERATING INCOME                106,200        93,431      13.7

Interest expense, net           (11,571)      (13,655)    (15.3)
Other expense, net               (2,404)       (4,653)    (48.3)
                              ----------   -----------

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES       92,225        75,123      22.8

Income tax provision             27,296        18,030      51.4
                              ----------   -----------

NET INCOME                  $    64,929   $    57,093      13.7
                              ==========   ===========

EARNINGS PER SHARE          $       .92   $       .76      21.1
                              ==========   ===========

Average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding    69,243        73,540
                              ==========   ===========
-0-

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

                                    Six Months Ended March 31,
                             -----------------------------------
                                 1995         1994       % Change
                              ----------   -----------  -----------
REVENUES                    $ 1,286,315   $ 1,188,894      8.2

Cost of products sold           697,302       655,964      6.3
Selling and administrative      352,504       319,993     10.2
Research and development         70,727        70,487       .3
                              ----------   -----------
TOTAL OPERATING COSTS
AND EXPENSES                  1,120,533     1,046,444      7.1
                              ----------   -----------

OPERATING INCOME                165,782       142,450     16.4

Interest expense, net           (22,125)      (24,498)    (9.7)
Other expense, net               (3,786)       (9,019)   (58.0)
                              ----------   -----------

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES      139,871       108,933     28.4

Income tax provision             41,398        26,144     58.3
                              ----------    -----------

NET INCOME                  $    98,473   $    82,789     18.9
                               ==========   ===========

EARNINGS PER SHARE          $      1.38   $      1.09     26.6
                               ==========   ===========

Average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding    69,797        74,148
                               ==========   ===========

                       BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY
                                REVENUES
                          Thousands of dollars

                                   Three Months Ended March 31,
                               -----------------------------------
                                  1995        1994        % Change
                               ----------  -----------   -----------
BUSINESS SEGMENT

Medical Supplies and Devices $   385,117  $   351,557        9.5
Diagnostic Systems               307,722      283,257        8.6
                               ----------  -----------
Total                        $   692,839  $   634,814        9.1
                               ==========  ===========
GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Domestic                     $   372,641  $   352,440        5.7
International                    320,198      282,374       13.4
                               ----------  -----------
Total                        $   692,839  $   634,814        9.1
                               ==========  ===========

                                     Six Months Ended March 31,
                                -----------------------------------
                                   1995        1994         % Change
                                ----------  -----------   -----------
BUSINESS SEGMENT

Medical Supplies and Devices  $   705,062  $   647,831         8.8
Diagnostic Systems                581,253      541,063         7.4
                                ----------  -----------
Total                         $ 1,286,315  $ 1,188,894         8.2
                                ==========  ===========
GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Domestic                      $   688,631  $   663,966         3.7
International                     597,684      524,928        13.9
                                ----------  -----------
Total                         $ 1,286,315  $ 1,188,894         8.2
                                ==========  ===========

CONTACT: Becton Dickinson and Company

R. Jasper, 201/847-7160