(RTTNews) - Medical technology company Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX: News ) is slated to release its fourth quarter results before the market opens Wednesday. The consensus estimate calls for higher earnings and revenues than the year-ago period.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $1.24 per share on revenues of $1.85 billion. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. In the year-ago period, the company posted earnings from continuing operations of $1.13 per share on revenues of $1.84 billion.

For the full year, the company now sees earnings from continuing operations of between $4.89 and $4.93 per share, or, $4.92 to $4.96 per share, excluding items. GAAP net earnings are estimated to be in the range of $4.93 - $4.97 per share. The earlier forecast provided in July was for earnings from continuing operations of between $4.89 and $4.93 per share. Analysts are looking for earnings of $4.96 per share on revenues of $7.13 billion for the full year.

For the previous quarter, Becton, Dickinson reported higher profit of $341.0 million or $$1.42 per share, compared to $297.1 million or $1.22 per share in the prior-year period. However, quarterly revenues dropped 1.6% to $1.82 billion from the previous year's revenue of $1.85 billion.

While releasing third-quarter results, the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based company announced sale of assets associated with its Home Healthcare product line to 3M, including product inventory, brand names and manufacturing associated with ACE, Tensor, Bauer & Black and Tru-Fit products, and thermometers. The company expects to record a gain on the sale of about 5 cents earnings per share from discontinued operations in the fourth quarter.
Among Becton, Dickinson's rivals, Abbott Laboratories (ABT: News ) posted third-quarter net income of $1.48 billion or $0.95 per share, up from $1.09 billion or $0.69 per share in the prior-year quarter, aided by strong sales of its arthritis drug Humira and nutritional products. Net sales increased 3.5% to $7.76 billion from $7.50 billion in the same quarter of last year.

Another peer, Baxter International Inc. (BAX: News ) reported higher profit for the third quarter that totaled $530 million or $0.87 per share, compared to $472 million or $0.74 per share a year ago, helped by margin expansion and lower expenses, despite near-flat revenues. Net sales dropped to $3.145 billion from $3.151 billion in the previous year. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, Baxter's worldwide sales increased 6%.

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