PerkinElmer Sets Full-year Guidance

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — Health-industry supplier PerkinElmer Inc. on Thursday gave a forecast for full-year adjusted earnings that topped Wall Street expectations.

The company said it expects that excluding special items, it will earn between $1.23 and $1.26 per share for 2009. Analysts, who usually drop items from their forecasts, were expecting $1.21 per share.

Including the items, the company expects net income from continuing operations of between 77 cents and 80 cents per share.

PerkinElmer gave that outlook as it reported that third-quarter profit fell to $13.6 million, or 12 cents per share, compared with $51.9 million, or 43 cents per share, a year earlier.

Revenue dropped to $437.1 million from $478.8 million a year ago.

Shares rose 52 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $18.97 in regular trading.