Fullerton-based Beckman Coulter Inc.’s profit surged nearly fourfold in the fourth quarter, thanks to declining expenses, the company said Thursday.
Beckman, a maker of medical testing equipment and supplies, said its profit went up 250% to $62.3 million on an 8.6% rise in sales to $712 million.
Wall Street expected Beckman to earn $60.4 million in the quarter.
Beckman said its 2006 profit rose 24.1% to $186.9 million on a 3.5% sales jump to $2.5 billion.
The company also gave its outlook for 2007.
Beckman said it expects to earn $193 million to $202 million this year, excluding special items. It said it expects sales to grow 7% to 9% to $2.71 billion to $2.76 billion.
Analysts expect Beckman to post a profit of $200 million on revenue of $2.72 billion in 2007.
On a conference call, Chief Executive Scott Garrett said he expected the company to return to double-digit growth in China, and see other improvements in Beckman’s Asian business.
