Is BD Back on Track?

BD's top management faced tough questioning at the company's year-end meeting with analysts, following a surprisingly tough year. The company missed its third quarter numbers and ended the year short of expectations. The setbacks, say BD executives, are temporary, and the firm is holding to its goals of 10% top line and 15% eps growth, although not for fiscal year 2000. Growth drivers are new product introductions, the conversion of sharps devices to safety devices, as required by law, and sustained growth in areas such as advanced drug delivery devices and flow cytometry.