** Shares of medical equipment maker Avantor AVTR.N soar
10.4% to $25.20; set for best day since July 2020, if gains hold
** Co reports Q2 adj. EPS of 25 cents, beating analysts'
estimates of 23 cents
** Q2 revenue of $1.70 bln nearly in line with estimates
** Improved mix from increased bioprocessing revenue and
more impact of co's cost transformation initiative helped expand
adj. core profit margins sequentially - CEO Michael Stubblefield
** 15 brokerages rate co "buy" or higher, seven "hold", one
"sell", median PT at $27 - LSEG data
** Stock up 11.3% YTD
(Reporting by Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru)
((Purvi.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))