Becton Dickinson & Co.'s (BDX) fiscal third-quarter income rose 15% on a tax benefit and strength in its diagnostics segment, helping results topping expectations.

The medical-products maker also raised its fiscal-year earnings target slightly to $4.92 to $4.96 a share from $4.86 to $4.95.

The company so far has been largely immune from the recession and concerns about hospital-spending cutbacks. Many of Becton's products are basic essentials such as surgical blades and catheters. Chief Executive Edward Ludwig had said in May the worst was over for the company's biosciences unit, which makes tools used in medical research and has been hurt by biotech companies that have cut back spending and universities that have seen endowments dry up.

Ludwig said Thursday that Becton was pleased with the results shown by its diagnostics segment and its medical segments' pharmaceutical systems and diabetes care units.

For the period ended June 30, the company posted income of $341.1 million, or $1.39 a share, up from $297.1 million, or $1.18 a share, a year earlier. The latest results included a net 9-cent gain.

Revenue decreased 1.6% to $1.82 billion, but would have risen about 5% excluding currency changes.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $1.24 and revenue of $1.81 billion.

Gross margin rose to 52.8% from 51%.

U.S. revenue rose 3%, and international sales, which represent more than half of the company's revenue, fell 5%, hurt 11 percentage points by foreign-currency translation.

Becton shares closed Wednesday at $73.60 and haven't traded premarket.

-By Kerry Grace Benn, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2353; kerry.benn@dowjones.com