FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. (AP) _ Becton Dickinson and Co. (BDX) on Thursday reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $183 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.

The Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based company said it had net income of 53 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $2.55 per share.

The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.28 per share.

The medical device manufacturer posted revenue of $4.25 billion in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $4.11 billion.

Becton Dickinson shares have decreased nearly 5% since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has decreased 12%. The stock has increased roughly 9% in the last 12 months.

This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BDX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BDX

Automated Insights, source Associated Press News