
Higher operating profits combined with lower taxes and pension expenses lifted Lockheed Martin [LMT] to a strong third quarter and the company once again increased its outlook for earnings this year.The defense contractor on Tuesday posted a 53 percent boost in net income to nearly $1.5 billion, $5.14 earnings per share (EPS), from $963 million ($3.32 EPS) a year ago, smashing consensus estimates by 87 cents per share. Sales increased 16 percent to $14.3 billion from $12.3 billion.All four of…