By Dave Sebastian

Danaher Corp.'s profit fell for the fourth quarter as expenses rose, though sales increased.

The conglomerate on Thursday posted net income before preferred dividends of $1.24 billion, or $1.66 a share, for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with $1.28 billion, or $1.73 a share, in the year-ago period.

Adjusted earnings were $2.08 a share.

Sales rose to $6.76 billion from $4.87 billion in the comparable quarter last year. Analysts polled by FactSet were looking for $6.58 billion, and the company guided for a 38.5% increase.

Core revenue, including Cytiva, rose 15.5%. The company previously had said it expected fourth-quarter core revenue, including Cytiva, to rise about 15%.

Write to Dave Sebastian at dave.sebastian@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-28-21 0632ET