Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.'s (TMO) second-quarter profit rose 15% as sales increased and margins rose.

The analysis-equipment company also lowered its 2010 revenue forecast to a range of $10.6 billion to $10.75 billion from April's boosted range of $10.65 billion to $10.8 billion. However, it affirmed its earnings outlook.
Thermo Fisher sells its products -- which range from analytical instruments to lab equipment and services--to labs and research operations. The company has seen strong revenue growth recently, helped by strength in North American and Asian markets.
It reported a second-quarter profit of $237.3 million, or 57 cents a share, up from $206.9 million, or 49 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding restructuring and acquisition charges, earnings rose to 84 cents from 74 cents as revenue increased 6.6% to $2.65 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently forecast earnings of 84 cents on $2.66 billion in revenue.
In the laboratory products and services segment, Thermo Fisher's biggest, sales rose 5.1% and profit 9.9%. Stronger performing was the analytical technologies segment, which had revenue and profit growth of 9.8% and 13%, respectively.
(Source: The WSJ)