Johnson & Johnson (JNJ reported that its fourth-quarter net earnings were $2.21 billion or $0.79 per share, compared to $2.71 billion or $0.97 per share in the same quarter last year.
Adjusted net earnings for the quarter were $2.85 billion, compared to $2.63 billion in the year ago quarter. On a per share basis, net income was $1.02, compared to $0.94 per share last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.97 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.
Sales for the quarter were $16.55 billion, up from $15.18 billion in the prior year quarter. Fourteen analysts had consensus revenue estimate of $15.70 billion for the quarter.
For full-year 2010, the company expects earnings to be in the range of $4.85 to $4.95 per share, which excludes the impact of special items. Analysts expect the company to report earnings of $4.94 per share for fiscal 2010.
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