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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 28, 2004

C. R. BARD, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

New Jersey	001-6926	22-1454160
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
730 Central Avenue Murray Hill, New Jersey		07974
(Address of Principal Executive Office)		(Zip Code)

(908) 277-8000
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

ITEM 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The following information is being furnished pursuant to Item 12.

On January 28, 2004, C. R. Bard, Inc. issued a press release reporting earnings and other financial results for its fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2003. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. The information in this press release is furnished not filed.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

C. R. BARD, INC.

By: Todd C. Schermerhorn /s/

Name: Todd C. Schermerhorn

Title: Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

January 28, 2004

Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:

Investor Relations: Eric J. Shick

Vice President, Investor Relations

(908) 277-8413

Media Relations: Holly P. Glass

Vice President, Government and Public Affairs

(703) 754-2848

BARD REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

SALES UP 11 PERCENT ON CONSTANT CURRENCY BASIS

MURRAY HILL, NJ -- (January 28, 2004) -- C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE-BCR) today reported 2003 fourth quarter and full year financial results. Fourth quarter 2003 net sales were $381.2 million, an increase of 15 percent over the prior-year period. On a constant currency basis, fourth quarter 2003 net sales increased 11 percent. Fourth quarter 2003 net sales in the U.S. were $268.4 million, up 12 percent over the prior-year period. Net sales outside the U.S. were $112.8 million, up 22 percent over the prior-year period. On a constant currency basis, fourth quarter 2003 net sales outside the U.S. increased by 10 percent over the prior-year period.

For the fourth quarter 2003, net income was $20.6 million and diluted earnings per share were 39 cents, both down 56 percent over the same period in the prior year. Included in these results were certain unusual items that reduced net income by $35.2 million (after tax), or 67 cents per diluted share, thereby affecting comparability with the prior-year quarter. This includes a charge of $35.5 million (after tax) related to a previously announced legal verdict. Excluding these unusual items, net income was $55.8 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.06 in the fourth quarter of 2003, an increase of 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively, over the same period in the prior year.

Net sales for the full year 2003 were $1,433.1 million, an increase of 13 percent over the prior-year period. On a constant currency basis, full year 2003 net sales increased 9 percent. Full year 2003 net sales in the U.S. were $1,020.4 million, up 10 percent over the prior-year period. Net sales outside the U.S. were $412.7 million, up 20 percent over the prior-year period. On a constant currency basis, full year 2003 net sales outside the U.S. increased by 8 percent over the prior-year period.

For the full year 2003, net income was $168.5 million and diluted earnings per share were $3.20. Excluding the impact of the unusual items identified above, net income for the full year 2003 was $203.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $3.87.

For the full year 2002, Bard reported net income of $155.0 million and diluted earnings per share of $2.94. Included in these results were unusual items reducing net income by $21.7 million (after tax), or 41 cents per diluted share, related to the termination of the proposed merger with Tyco International Ltd., the realignment and consolidation of certain divisional and manufacturing operations and corporate severance costs, offset in part by the reversal of certain legal accruals and a tax credit. Excluding the impact of these unusual items in 2002 and the unusual items identified above for 2003, net income and diluted earnings per share in 2003 grew 15 percent and 16 percent, respectively, as compared to the prior year.

"Today Bard reported record sales results for both the quarter and the year, reflecting solid contributions across the majority of our businesses and geographies as well as from our key new products," commented Timothy M. Ring, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are pleased with the progress of our strategic initiatives as we work to achieve a higher level of sustainable revenue growth. The significant improvements in our gross margin continue to provide us with the means to fund these initiatives. Our objective to make strategic investments in our future, while providing investors with 12 percent annual growth in earnings per share, remains unchanged."

C. R. Bard, Inc. (www.crbard.com) headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, life-enhancing medical technologies in the fields of vascular, urology, oncology, and surgical specialty products.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. Please refer to our September 30, 2003 Form 10-Q for a statement with regard to forward-looking statements, including disclosure of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(thousands of dollars except per share amounts, UNAUDITED)

				Quarter Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
				2003		2002		2003		2002
Net sales				$381,200		$331,700		$1,433,100		$1,273,800
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold				155,900		147,000		609,400		582,700
Marketing, selling & administrative expense				121,800		100,900		448,100		377,200
Research & development expense				24,500		17,600		87,400		61,700
Interest expense				3,000		3,100		12,500		12,600
Other (income) expense, net (1) (2)				56,800		(1,400)		52,500		28,600
Total costs and expenses				362,000		267,200		1,209,900		1,062,800
Income before tax provision				19,200		64,500		223,200		211,000
Income tax provision (3)				(1,400)		17,900		54,700		56,000
Net income				$20,600		$46,600		$168,500		$155,000
Basic earnings per share				$0.40		$0.90		$3.26		$2.98
Diluted earnings per share				$0.39		$0.89		$3.20		$2.94
Wt. avg. common shares outstanding - basic				51,800		51,700		51,700		52,000
Wt. avg. common shares outstanding - diluted				52,800		52,400		52,600		52,800
(1) In addition to interest income and foreign exchange gains and losses, other (income) expense, net in 2002 included the following unusual items: divisional and manufacturing restructuring costs of $33.7 million before tax ($0.39 diluted earnings per share), merger termination costs of $6.2 million before tax ($0.08 diluted earnings per share) and the reversal of certain legal accruals in the amount of $5.0 million before tax ($0.06 diluted earnings per share). These items were recorded in the first and third quarter of 2002.
(2) In addition to interest income and foreign exchange gains and losses, other (income) expense, net in 2003 included the following unusual items: a charge for a legal verdict in the amount of $58.0 million before tax ($0.67 diluted earnings per share), a gain from a legal settlement of $3.5 million before tax ($0.04 diluted earnings per share) and the final adjustment of 2002 restructuring charges and reserves for unusual items of $2.9 million before tax ($0.03 diluted earnings per share) offset by a charge for product line asset write-downs of $6.1 million before tax ($0.07 diluted earnings per share). (3) In the third quarter of 2002, the company recorded a $3.5 million tax credit related to a change in a statutory tax rate.
Product Group Summary of Net Sales
	Quarter Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
				Constant						Constant
	2003	2002	Change	Currency	2003		2002		Change	Currency
Vascular	$86,500	$70,500	23%	15%	$307,300		$259,700		18%	11%
Urology	114,400	107,300	7%	4%	451,500		419,700		8%	5%
Oncology	92,300	77,100	20%	17%	336,300		299,000		12%	10%
Surgery	72,000	60,400	19%	17%	272,300		229,500		19%	17%
Other	16,000	16,400	(2)%	(4)%	65,700		65,900		---	(1)%
Total net sales	$381,200	$331,700	15%	11%	$1,433,100		$1,273,800		13%	9%

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(thousands of dollars, UNAUDITED)
	December 31,
ASSETS	2003			2002
Cash and short-term investments	$422,000			$383,200
Accounts receivable, net	224,100			183,400
Inventories	156,500			147,100
Other current assets	72,500			44,300
Total current assets	875,100			758,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	222,700			168,000
Intangible assets	137,800			65,200
Goodwill	354,000			316,100
Other assets	102,400			109,400
TOTAL ASSETS	$1,692,000			$1,416,700
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Short-term debt			$16,600			$900
Accounts payable			56,100			46,900
Accrued liabilities			349,200			269,100
Total current liabilities		421,900			316,900
Long-term debt		151,500			152,200
Other long-term liabilities		72,900			67,200
Total shareholders' investment		1,045,700			880,400
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT		$1,692,000			$1,416,700