McKesson Corp., the drug-beverage-chemical conglomerate, reported a...

McKesson Corp., the drug-beverage-chemical conglomerate, reported a quarterly increase in revenue of 32.5% and 8% per-share earnings over the same period last year. The San Francisco-based corporation, whose fiscal year starts at the end of March, said revenue and earnings hit new highs in the second quarter ended Sept. 30. Revenue rose to $1.6 billion from $1.2 billion in the prior period. McKesson Chairman and Chief Executive Neil E. Harlan said that the overall improvement came despite a depressed performance from the company’s chemical group. Quarterly revenue for the group fell 7% to $158.2 million and operating profit declined 69% to $806,000.