Agilent Technologies delivers strong results for fourth quarter of 2015

Agilent Technologies has announced strong financial results for the fourth quarter of 2015, which ended on October 31st.

The company's revenue total for the quarter came to $1.04 billion (683.57 million pounds), which was nominally down by one percent, but up by six percent on a core basis. Agilent was also able to exceed its earnings per share guidance range.

Within its life sciences and applied markets group, the firm's strong performance in pharmaceuticals was offset by softness in the industrial, academia and government markets, while its CrossLab group saw strong growth across all geographies.

Meanwhile, the diagnostics and genomics division also saw broad-based growth. Agilent expects first-quarter revenue for 2016 to be in the range of $1.0 billion to $1.02 billion, while for the year the total has been estimated at $4.15 billion to $4.17 billion.

Mike McMullen, Agilent's president and chief executive officer, said: "Our adjusted operating margin was 21.9 percent, up 150 basis points over a year ago. This marks the third consecutive quarter of significant year-over-year margin improvements."