Nordson Corporation (NDSN) has reported an 8.61 percent fall in profit for the quarter ended Apr. 30, 2017. The company has earned $64.52 million, or $1.11 a share in the quarter, compared with $70.60 million, or $1.23 a share for the same period last year. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share were at $1.35 for the quarter compared with $1.19 in the same period last year.

Revenue during the quarter grew 13.38 percent to $496.14 million from $437.59 million in the previous year period. Gross margin for the quarter contracted 123 basis points over the previous year period to 55.53 percent. Total expenses were 79.13 percent of quarterly revenues, up from 76.71 percent for the same period last year. That has resulted in a contraction of 242 basis points in operating margin to 20.87 percent.

Operating income for the quarter was $103.53 million, compared with $101.90 million in the previous year period.

However, the adjusted EBITDA for the quarter stood at $138.60 million compared with $121.93 million in the prior year period. At the same time, adjusted EBITDA margin improved 7 basis points in the quarter to 27.94 percent from 27.86 percent in the last year period.

"These results demonstrate the underlying strength of our base business, the strategic fit of our recent acquisitions, and strong execution across the enterprise by our global team," said Nordson president and chief executive officer Michael F. Hilton. "Excluding the Vention Medical AT acquisition which was not included in our quarterly guidance, our performance exceeded the high end of our revenue expectations, and operating margin expanded by one percentage point above the prior year second quarter. Second quarter organic sales growth of 9 percent is against a very challenging prior year comparison and is the result of organic growth in all segments and geographies. We're also pleased with the four acquisitions we have added fiscal year to date, including Vention which closed during the quarter, all of which are performing as expected and where integration efforts are proceeding as planned."

For the third-quarter 2017, Nordson Corporation projects revenue to grow in the range of 15 percent to 19 percent. The company projects operating income to grow at 24 percent. It forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.51 to $1.65. On an adjusted basis, the company forecasts diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.57 to $1.71.