Diversified health-care giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) today reported a rise insecond-quarter profits driven by sales of medical devices and prescription drugs.
J&J posted earnings of $1.48 billion, or 48 cents per share, compared with $1.36 billion, or 44 cents per share, a year ago.
Excluding special charges of $102 million after tax, earnings per share for the second quarter were 51 cents, a jump of about 16 per cent. The special charge includes once-off costs associated with its takeover of Californian drugs companyALZA during the quarter.
Analysts' earnings estimates ranged from 51 to 54 cents per share, with an average forecast of 53 cents, according to data compiled by research firm Thomson Financial/First Call.
Revenues rose to $8.34 billion from $7.67 billion in the year-ago quarter.