Medtronic gains surprise analysts

The world’s biggest maker of heart-rhythm devices, said fourth-quarter sales of pacemakers and defibrillators rose, surprising analysts.

Defibrillator sales at Medtronic gained 1.5% to $755m (€586.4m) in the three months ended Apr 26, the first increase since the same quarter in 2010.

Revenue from pacemakers climbed 2.6% to $505m, the first gain since the company introduced an MRI-safe device at the end of 2011. The company employs close to 2,000 people in Ireland with most of the company’s employees working at the facility in Galway, including over 100 dedicated to research.