Agilent reports better-than-expected Q3 2015 results

Agilent Technologies has announced better-than-expected financial results for the third quarter of its 2015 fiscal year, which ended on July 31st.

During the quarter, its revenue total rose to $1.01 billion, up one percent year over year, or nine percent on a core basis. Meanwhile, its third-quarter GAAP income from continuing operations was $105 million, or $0.31 per share – up from $63 million from Q3 2014.

Its earnings per share figure was above its guidance range for the period, with its life sciences and applied markets group driven by strong performance in the pharmaceutical, environmental and forensics sectors.

Meanwhile, strong acceptance of the company's CrossLab services and consumables offerings, as well as its diagnostics and genomics products, helped to drive growth further.

Mike McMullen, Agilent's president and chief executive officer, said: "Our operating model is driving above-market revenue growth and margin expansion. In Q3, we delivered an adjusted operating margin of 19.9 percent, up 110 basis points from last year."

Agilent expects fourth-quarter 2015 revenue in the range of $1.03 billion to $1.05 billion.