Bruker swings to loss in first quarter

Billerica X-ray technology and molecular analysis company Bruker Corp. said today that it swung to a loss in the first quarter, weighed down by acquisition-related expenses and foreign currency exchange losses.

The company reported a loss of $685,000, or break-even per share, compared with earnings of $14.4 million.

Results include foreign exchange losses, acquisition-related expenses and interest expense, totaling 10 cents per share.

Revenue rose 15 percent to $238.4 million from $207.5 million in the first quarter of 2007.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, estimated earnings of 6 cents per share on sales of $241.3 million.

(At left, an image from the company's website shows a product called BruNo, a crystal screening system.)

In February, Bruker BioSciences Corp. bought Bruker BioSpin Group and renamed itself Bruker Corp. (AP)