Feb 5 (Reuters) - Becton Dickinson ( BDX ) beat

expectations for first-quarter results and said its board has

authorized a plan to separate its biosciences and diagnostic

solutions unit on Wednesday, as the medical device maker aims to

focus on its core business.

"We believe the separation will position New BD as a

differentiated MedTech leader and enable optimized investment,"

said CEO Tom Polen.

The company expects to announce more details on the

separation plans by the end of fiscal 2025.

Becton's biosciences and diagnostic solutions unit makes

diagnostic products such as those used to detect infectious

diseases and cancers.

Earlier this week, the Financial Times reported activist

investor Starboard Value had taken a stake in Becton and was

pushing the company to sell its life sciences unit.

The company also raised the lower end of its fiscal 2025

profit forecast to a range of $14.30 to $14.60 per share,

compared to the previous range of $14.25 to $14.60 each.

Becton's total sales for the reported quarter came in at

$5.17 billion, above analysts' estimates of $5.1 billion,

according to data compiled by LSEG.

On an adjusted basis, the company reported a per-share

profit of $3.43, beating analysts' average expectation of $2.98.