Nov 6 (Reuters) - Medical device maker Becton Dickinson ( BDX )

on Thursday topped Wall Street estimates for

fourth-quarter adjusted profit and forecast 2026 earnings

slightly above expectations, supported by steady demand for its

drug delivery products.

U.S. health insurers have flagged rising medical cost

pressures that squeezed profit margins despite growing demand

for care. This contrasts with an increase in medical procedures,

which boosted the demand for medical devices and supplies.

While insurers struggled with higher claims, medical device

makers such as Becton benefited from the volume growth driven by

more procedures.

Lab equipment maker Waters Corp ( WAT ) in July agreed to

acquire Becton's bioscience and diagnostics unit in a $17.5

billion deal, which made Becton a pure-play medical technology

company focused solely on medical devices and supplies.

Becton, which makes medical supplies such as syringes,

needles, IV catheters and devices that help safely deliver

medicines, projected 2026 adjusted profit between $14.75 and

$15.05 per share.

Analysts on average were expecting $14.85, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Shagun Singh said shares are

trading lower due to an "underwhelming," 2026 outlook and

ongoing pressures in its core business.

Becton reported profit of $3.96 per share on an adjusted

basis for the quarter ended September 30, beating estimates of

$3.92 per share.

Quarterly sales came in at $5.89 billion, in line with

estimates of $5.9 billion.

Sales at its life sciences unit came in at $1.37 billion for

the fourth quarter, compared with estimates of $1.38 billion.

Sales at its medical unit, which makes devices to administer

drugs and is Becton's largest by revenue, rose 9.9% to $3.16

billion from a year ago, compared with expectations of $3.18

billion.