Agilent’s Profit Doubles as Revenue Rises 17%

Agilent Technologies Inc., the world’s biggest maker of scientific-testing equipment, said its fiscal third-quarter profit more than doubled to $227 million as sales increased.

Net income rose to 54 cents a share from $104 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier, the Palo Alto-based company said. Excluding costs for stock-based compensation and other items, profit was 46 cents a share, exceeding the 42 cents expected by Needham & Co. analyst John Harmon. Sales rose 17% to $1.45 billion.