BD Announces Results For First Fisc...( - First-quarter earnings per share ...),Health

- First-quarter earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding

specified item, increased 11% to $1.07

- Raises guidance for full fiscal year 2008 earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding specified items, to a range of 11% to 13%

from 10% to 12%

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) today reported record quarterly revenues of $1.706 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, representing an increase of 14 percent over the prior year period. This quarter's growth rate reflects the favorable impact on all segments from foreign currency translation, which overall is estimated to account for 6 percentage points of the growth.

"We are pleased with our strong start to fiscal 2008. Our BD Diagnostics and BD Biosciences segments led our revenue growth," said Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Disciplined expense management enables us to offset the challenges of raw material price increases and manufacturing start-up costs related to increasing capacity to meet growing demand."

Analysis of First Quarter Fiscal Year 2008 and 2007 Earnings

The following analysis (Table 1) of diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the first quarters of fiscal 2008 and 2007 identifies the specified item that affects comparability of results between periods. As illustrated, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.07 for the first fiscal quarter of 2008 increased by 11 percent over diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding specified item, of 96 cents for the first fiscal quarter of 2007
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