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Dentsply (XRAY) Down 2.3% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?

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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Dentsply International (XRAY - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 2.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Dentsply due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Recent Earnings

DENTSPLY reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 60 cents in the second quarter of 2018, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. However, earnings deteriorated 7.7% from the prior-year quarter.

Notably, DENTSPLY incurred a goodwill and intangible impairment charge of $1.27 billion, which impacted results considerably.

Net sales increased 5% year over year to $1.04 billion. The figure marginally surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.03 billion. At cc, revenues grew 1.3%.

Business Details

Net sales Excluding Precious Metal Content

Net sales, excluding precious metal content, came in at $1.03 billion, up 5.1% year over year.

For investors’ notice, DENTSPLY’s precious-metal dental alloy products, which are used by third parties to construct crown and bridge materials, are subject to certain risks of price fluctuations.

Impairment Charges

Per management, the goodwill and intangible impairment charges at the Technologies and Equipment unit were $1.2 billion.

The Consumable segment had $69 million of impairment, reflecting lower-than-anticipated growth at DENTSPLY’s legacy orthodontic business.

Revenue by Geography

DENTSPLY’s U.S. revenues grossed $338.4 million in the second quarter, up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis.

In Europe, sales totaled $426.7 million, up 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Sales from the rest of the world came in at $277 million, up 7% year over year.

Margin Analysis

Gross profit in the reported quarter totaled $552.8 million, up 1.6% from the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 53%, down 180 basis points (bps).

Excluding precious metal content, gross margin came in at 53.5%, which also fell 190 bps.

In the reported quarter, DENTSPLY incurred an operating loss of $1.15 billion which widened from the year-ago quarter’s operating loss of $1.05 billion.

Financial Condition

Cash flow from operations was $117 million, compared with $126 million in the prior-year quarter.

Guidance Lowered

DENTSPLY expects adjusted EPS for 2018 in the range of $2 to $2.15, down from the earlier guided range of $2.55 to $2.65. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.57, above the projected range. It reflects increased margin pressure through the rest of 2018.

Revenues for 2018 are expected to decline 2% at cc in 2018, down from the previous expectation of 2% growth at cc.

Stock Repurchase Update

DENTSPLY repurchased 5.4 million shares for a total of $250 million in the second quarter.

 

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in fresh estimates. The consensus estimate has shifted -31.77% due to these changes.

VGM Scores

Currently, Dentsply has an average Growth Score of C, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a D. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Dentsply has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.


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