
Rockwell Collins [COL] on Thursday reported higher net income in its second quarter driven by a lower tax rate, lower research and development expense and higher profit in its information management business while sales dipped slightly.Net income in the quarter climbed 9 percent to $171 million, $1.29 earnings per share (EPS), from $157 million ($1.17 EPS) a year ago. Excluding results from discontinued operations, adjusted earnings were $1.30 EPS, topping consensus estimates by a penny.Sales fell 2 percent to $1.3…