Becton Dickinson and Company Reports Operating Results (10-K)

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Nov 21, 2012
Becton Dickinson and Company (BDX, Financial) filed Annual Report for the period ended 2012-09-30.

Becton Dickinson & Co has a market cap of $15.08 billion; its shares were traded at around $76.7 with a P/E ratio of 13.8 and P/S ratio of 2. The dividend yield of Becton Dickinson & Co stocks is 2.4%. Becton Dickinson & Co had an annual average earning growth of 11.9% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Becton Dickinson & Co the business predictability rank of 5-star.

Highlight of Business Operations:

Diagnostics operating income in 2012 was $653 million, or 25.7% of Diagnostics revenues, compared with $636 million, or 25.7% of revenues, in 2011. Gross profit margin in the Diagnostics segment was down as compared to the prior year and reflected unfavorable foreign currency translation, higher raw material costs, and the unfavorable impact of decreased sales of products which have higher gross margins. See further discussion on gross profit margin below. Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of Diagnostics revenues increased by 10 basis points in 2012 to 21.6%, primarily due to investments in emerging markets, partially offset by continued spending controls and favorable foreign currency translation. Research and development expense decreased $9 million, or 5% from 2011 reflecting a program termination in 2011. Current year R&D spending reflected our continued investment in the development of new products and platforms, including the BD MAX and new BD Viper platforms and menus.

Income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2012 were $1.1 billion and $5.30, respectively. The charge related to pension settlements decreased income from continuing operations in 2012 by $13 million, or $0.06 per share. Earnings in 2012 also reflected an estimated overall net unfavorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations of $0.21 per share. Income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2011 were $1.2 billion and $5.31, respectively. The charge related to the discontinuance of a research program decreased income from continuing operations in 2011 by $6 million, or $0.03 per share.

Our primary interest rate exposure results from changes in short-term U.S. dollar interest rates. Our debt and interest-bearing investments at September 30, 2012 are substantially all U.S. dollar-denominated. Therefore, transaction and translation exposure relating to such instruments is minimal. When managing interest rate exposures, we strive to achieve an appropriate balance between fixed and floating rate instruments. We may enter into interest rate swaps to help maintain this balance and manage debt and interest-bearing investments in tandem, since these items have an offsetting impact on interest rate exposure. For interest rate derivative instruments, fair values are provided by the financial institutions that are counterparties to these arrangements. Market risk for these instruments is determined by calculating the impact to fair value of an assumed change in interest rates across all maturities. A change in interest rates on short-term debt and interest-bearing investments impacts our earnings and cash flow, but not the fair value of these instruments because of their limited duration. A change in interest rates on long-term debt is assumed to impact the fair value of the debt, but not our earnings or cash flow because the interest on such obligations is fixed. Based on our overall interest rate exposure at September 30, 2012 and 2011, a change of 10% in interest rates would not have a material effect on our earnings or cash flows over a one-year period. An increase of 10% in interest rates would decrease the aggregate fair value of our long-term debt and related fair value hedges at September 30, 2012 and 2011 by approximately $109 million and $90 million, respectively. A 10% decrease in interest rates would increase the aggregate fair value of these same financial instruments at September 30, 2012 and 2011 by approximately $115 million and $96 million, respectively.

Diagnostics operating income in 2011 was $636 million, or 25.7% of Diagnostics revenues, compared with $607 million, or 26.2% of revenues, in 2010. Gross profit margin in the Diagnostics segment was relatively flat as compared to the prior year and reflected favorable foreign currency translation, offset by higher raw material costs, primarily resin. See further discussion on gross profit margin below. Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of Diagnostics revenues increased by 30 basis points in 2011 to 21.5%, primarily due to investments in emerging markets and unfavorable foreign currency translation, partially offset by continued spending controls. Research and development expense increased $13 million, or 9% over 2010, and reflected continued investment in the development of new products and platforms, including the BD MAX and new BD Viper platforms and menus.

Income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2011 were $1.2 billion and $5.31, respectively. The charge related to the discontinuance of a research program decreased income from continuing operations in 2011 by $6 million, or $0.03 per share. Earnings in 2011 also reflected an overall net favorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations of $0.28 per share. Income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in 2010 were $1.1 billion and $4.64, respectively. The charge related to healthcare reform decreased income from continuing operations in 2010 by $9 million, or $0.04 per share.

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