DOW JONES NEWSWIRES C. R. Bard Inc.'s (BCR) fourth-quarter earnings climbed 29%, topping the company's own estimates, as sales and margins improved. The medical-products maker, which produces vascular, urology and oncology devices, has seen revenue rise of late and margins rise to record levels amid a rebound in health-care spending. It has seen solid revenue growth out of its vascular business, which is its biggest by sales--in the most recent quarter, the segment's sales rose 13%, or 16% in constant currency. C.R. Bard reported a profit of $136.2 million, or $1.47 a share a share, up from $105.9 million, or $1.08 a share, a year earlier. Excluding items such as restructuring charges, earnings rose to $1.54 from $1.39. The company had forecast earnings of $1.44 to $1.48. Revenue rose 5.9% to $717.1 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast $719 million in revenue. Gross margin rose to 63.2% from 62.3%. Shares were down 1.4% at $93.01 in light after-hours trading. As of the close, the stock had risen 14% the past year. -By Nathan Becker, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2855; nathan.becker@dowjones.com
