J&J's 4th-qtr 2007 sales jump 16.6%, EPS up 11%

US health care major Johnson & Johnson's sales reached $16.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, an increase of 16.6% on the comparable period last year, as operational growth totaled 11.9% and currency contributed 4.7%. Domestic turnover jumped 9.1%, while international revenues rose 25.8%. Worldwide sales for the year 2007 were $61.1 billion, a 14.6% rise over 2006.

Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter rose 9.5% to $2.4 billion and 10.8% to $0.82, respectively, despite an after-tax, non-cash charge of $441.0 million for the write-down of the intangible asset related to Natrecor (nesiritide) for congestive heart failure, and a tax gain of $267.0 million associated with the restructuring of certain international subsidiaries.