Sigma-Aldrich reports record results for second quarter of 2014

Sigma-Aldrich has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2014, during which it achieved a record-breaking sales total of $701 million (412.76 million pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of two percent, while diluted earnings per share rose by 13 percent to $1.11, leading the company to raise the lower end of its full-year guidance.

During the second quarter, the strong performance in the firm's applied business unit and an improving US research environment helped to drive growth, while the positive momentum of research markets gave the company cause for further encouragement.

In the second half of 2014, Sigma-Aldrich expects its research and SAFC Commercial business units to drive even better results than those seen in the first six months.

Rakesh Sachdev, president and chief executive officer of the company, said: "We are making good progress on our long-term initiatives. In all three of our business units, we continue to launch new products and services, expand existing customer relationships and create new ones."

This year, the firm has also been named one of the greenest corporations in the US in a list compiled by Newsweek and ranked among the world's 100 best corporate citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.