Back to top

Image: Bigstock

PerkinElmer (PKI) Q1 Earnings & Revenues Top, '18 View Up

Read MoreHide Full Article

Maintaining its streak of positive earnings surprises, PerkinElmer Inc. reported first-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of 63 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.3%.

Based in Waltham, MA, the leading MedTech company reported adjusted revenues of approximately $644 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $616 million. Revenues also surpassed the year-ago quarter’s figure by 25.3%.

The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). PerkinElmer has outperformed its industry a year’s time. The stock has returned 23%, higher than the industry's returns of almost 11.6%.

Segment Details

Discovery & Analytical Solutions (DAS)

With robust growth in the end markets, revenues from DAS totaled $396.5 million in the first quarter, up 10% year over year. Organic revenue increased 5% year over year.

PerkinElmer has been focusing on finalizing the organizational changes associated with the life sciences business in the DAS unit. Coming to the profits at the DAS segment, the company reported first-quarter 2017 adjusted operating income of $57.8 million, up from $50.7 million in the year-ago quarter.

PerkinElmer registered high single-digit organic revenue growth in Asia and mid single-digit organic revenue growth in the Americas and Europe. In the BRIC regions, PerkinElmer reported solid organic revenue growth driven by continued strength in Brazil and India.

By the end of the first quarter, management at PerkinElmer confirmed that the company is now offering three product lines in China in the DAS segment.

PerkinElmer, Inc. Price and Consensus

 

 

Further, the company is also expected to close on an acquisition in China to expand its elemental analysis products. For the DAS business, solid growth across life sciences and applied market boosted the company’s business in China.

Diagnostics segment

Revenues were $247.5 million compared with $156.8 million a year ago, reflecting a 62% year-over-year increase. This reflects an improvement of 7% organically.

Within the Diagnostics business, PerkinElmer’s infectious disease business, which exclusively serves the emerging markets, continues to show strong growth as it increased in mid-teen digits on a year-over-year basis.

The reproductive health business within Diagnostics also grew in mid single digits year over year.

However, the applied genomics business was down on a year-over-year basis due to lesser-than-expected micro fluidic sales.

Adjusted operating income in the segment came in at $52.7 million, as compared with $44.7 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Margin Analysis

Adjusted gross profit in the quarter came in at $313.3 million, up 25.8% year over year. Adjusted gross margin, as a percentage of revenues, was 48.6% in the quarter, up 20 basis points (bps) year over year. The company expects significant gross margin expansion over the next three years.

Adjusted operating income for PerkinElmer came in at $95.9 million, up 16.5% year over year. Adjusted operating margin, as a percentage of revenues was 14.9% in the quarter, down110 basis points (bps) year over year.

Guidance Raised

For full-year 2018, PerkinElmer expects adjusted earnings of $3.60 per share, which is significantly higher than the previously issued guidance of $3.50. Notably, the Zacks Consensus estimate is currently pegged at $3.52 per share, significantly below the company’s estimate.   

The company expects revenues of $2.8 billion in 2018, up from the previously issued range of $2.72-$2.74 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $2.74 billion, lower than the company’s estimate.    

Despite an unfavorable foreign-exchange environment, which put solid pressure in the quarter under review, the company expects strong adjusted operating margin improvement over the remaining three quarters. Management expects a 70- 90 bps margin expansion in 2018.

In Conclusion

PerkinElmer exited the first quarter of 2018 on a solid note with strong performance in the DAS segment. Growth in DAS was bolstered by strength in the lifesciences end markets, informatics profile and OneSource offering. The company experienced healthy growth across all major geographies in Asia, Americas, Europe and the BRIC nations. Solid prospects in the elemental-analysis product line hold promise. Furthermore, a positive guidance and a solid long-term outlook for 2020 boosts investors’ confidence in the stock.

On the flipside, despite having a diversified portfolio, unfavorable foreign exchange is a primary concern. Softness in the industrial end markets due to unfavorable timing of instrument orders has been a major dampener for PerkinElmer. Further, the company continues to acquire a large number of companies which increases integration risks. Also, high debt levels may hinder the company’s expansion plans.

Q1 Earnings of MedTech Majors at a Glance

A few other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space, which reported solid earnings this season are, Baxter International Inc. (BAX - Free Report) , Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG - Free Report) .

While Intuitive Surgical and Varian sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Baxter carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Intuitive Surgical reported adjusted earnings of $2.44 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.6%. Revenues totaled $848 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.6%.

Varian reported second-quarter  fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings of $1.15 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06. Adjusted earnings improved 27.8% on a year-over-year basis.

Baxter reported first-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings per share of 70 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.9% and improved from the year-ago quarter’s figure of 58 cents.

Wall Street’s Next Amazon

Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius.

Click for details >>


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


Baxter International Inc. (BAX) - free report >>

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) - free report >>

Published in