Earnings Preview: Becton, Dickinson & Company's EPS, Revenue Expected to Rise

Becton, Dickinson & Company (NYSE: BDX) unveils its next round of earnings this Wednesday, November 2, 2011. Get the latest predictions in Benzinga's essential guide to the company's fourth quarter earnings report.

Earnings and Revenue:

Ahead of the company's earnings announcement, analysts are expecting a positive EPS reading of $1.39/share and revenues of $2.02 billion. Becton, Dickinson & Company's latest numbers will no doubt be compared with the company's year-ago quarter, when it reported a profit of $1.24/share on revenues of $1.87 billion. We'll have to wait for Wednesday to see if the company falls in line with analyst expectations and reports an estimated increase in both EPS and revenue from the year-ago quarter.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Stock Performance:

As of October 27, 2011, Becton, Dickinson & Company's current share price was $78.67. Shares are down 5.5% year to date. For a full 12 months, the return has declined by 5%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are probably a little upset going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already wary of 12-month losses prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts is a Hold. Over the past three months this rating's strength has declined slightly.

Competitors:

Looking for a sympathy stock to trade or interested in the performance of other companies in the same sector? Take a look at some of Becton, Dickinson & Company's peers.

• C.R. Bard (NYSE: BCR): Hold with a $1.62 recent quarter EPS
• Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE: BIO): Moderate Buy with a $1.41 recent quarter EPS
• Covidien (NYSE: COV): Moderate Buy with a $1.01 recent quarter EPS
• Gen-Probe (NASDAQ: GPRO): Hold with a $0.51 recent quarter EPS

Becton, Dickinson and is in the medical/dental supplies industry, which has experienced price/earnings growth of 0.8%.

Finally, a description of the company's main areas of operation: Becton, Dickinson & Company provides healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, and individual consumers with laboratory equipment, medical supplies, devices, and diagnostic products.

Take Action:

Now that you've gotten an advanced peak at Becton, Dickinson & Company upcoming earnings numbers, keep an eye out for any surprises in the report and be ready to take action. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and a guide to your next steps.

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