Hill-Rom sees better earnings, revenue in quarter

Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. posted better-than-expected earnings and revenue in its fiscal fourth quarter, the Batesville-based hospital-bed supplier announced Wednesday.

For the quarter ended Sept. 30, Hill-Rom had earnings of $63.5 million, or $1.01 a share, up 25 percent from the $50.7 million, or 79 cents a share, it earned a year earlier. Revenue increased nearly 9 percent, to $430.6 million.

Excluding special charges for tax benefits and legal settlement costs, the company’s per-share earnings rose to 72 cents in the quarter from 67 cents a year ago.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of 70 cents a share on revenue of $420 million.

Revenue from Hill-Rom's North America acute care segment rose 15 percent, to $273 million. International sales fell 2 percent, to $105 million.

Hill-Rom shares closed Wednesday at $33.39 each before the results were posted. The stock is down 15 percent since the beginning of the year.