St Jude Medical has reported net sales of $1.24bn for the third quarter ended 2 October 2010, an increase of 7%, compared to $1.24bn for the third quarter ended 3 October 2009.

St Jude Medical posted a net earnings of $208.29m for the third quarter 2010, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared to $166.93m, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2009.

For the nine months ended 2 October 2010, St Jude Medical posted net sales of $3.81bn, compared to $3.47bn for the year ago period.

St Jude Medical has generated net earnings of $700.99m, or $2.13 per diluted share, compared to $587.57m, or $1.69 per diluted share, for the year ago period.

St Jude Medical chairman, president and CEO Daniel Starks said that their third quarter results reinforce their conviction that the growth program is on track.

“We now have raised our 2010 EPS guidance range for the third time in three quarters. We have good momentum as we prepare to finish up the year and look to 2011,” Starks said.