Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Quote
Segmental Details
In the second quarter, sales in the TAVR product group amounted to $678 million, up 16% from the prior-year quarter’s figure. TAVR underlying sales grew 18% in the quarter. Per management, the solid performance can be attributed to the recent clinical evidence supporting SAPIEN 3 therapy.
In Europe, TAVR sales improved in the mid-teens from the year-ago quarter. In fact, Edwards Lifesciences is continuing with the commercial introduction of the SAPIEN 3 Ultra system in Europe, which is estimated to account for major portion of TAVR sales in Europe by 2019-end. Additionally, the company's landmark PARTNER 3 low-risk trial demonstrated superiority for the SAPIEN 3 valve over surgery in the low-risk patient population.
Surgical Structural Heart sales in the quarter totaled $218 million, increasing 15% from the prior-year quarter’s figure and 2% on an underlying basis. Growth in the reported quarter was driven by sales of premium products, particularly through adoption of the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve that drove an increasing share of surgical aortic valve procedures.
Critical Care sales totaled $184 million in the second quarter, up 9% from the year-ago quarter, both on a reported and an underlying basis. Per management, all the product categories contributed to this upside, bolstered by substantial growth in HemoSphere advanced monitoring platform sales in the United States.
TMTT sales totaled $7 million primarily attributable to strong commercial sales of the PASCAL transcatheter mitral system in Europe. Notably, Edwards Lifesciences continues to invest in its transcatheter mitral and tricuspid portfolio, and plans to achieve significant clinical and regulatory milestones in 2019. Additionally, the company estimates global TMTT opportunity to reach $3 billion by 2024.
Margins
In the second quarter, gross margin expanded 200 bps to 76.4%, due to favorable impacts from foreign exchange rates and product mix. However, investments in the global supply chain expansion partially offset the improvement.
SG&A expenses rose 12% year over year to $308 million, driven primarily by field personnel-related expenses, partially negated by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.
R&D expenditures increased 25% year over year to $192 million due to substantial investments in the company's innovative transcatheter structural heart programs, including an increase in the clinical research for the PASCAL system.
However, operating margin in the quarter contracted 210 bps to 24.6%. Operating income in the quarter totaled $267.5 million, up 6.1% year over year.
Cash Position
Edwards Lifesciences exited the second quarter of 2019 with cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $934.3 million compared with $956.5 million at the end of 2018. Long-term debt at the end of the second quarter was $594.1 million compared with $593.8 million at 2018-end.
Cash flow from operating activities was $341 million in the second quarter. Capital expenditures came in at $64 million for the same period. During the quarter, average diluted shares outstanding totaled 212.1 million.
Guidance Impressive
For 2019, Edwards Lifesciences raised adjusted EPS guidance to $5.20-$5.40 from the earlier view of $5.10-$5.35. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $5.29, within the guided range.
The company now projects revenues to be in the range of $4-$4.3 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $4.16 billion within the projected range.
For third-quarter 2019, the company projects total sales between $1.02 billion and $1.06 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $1.02 billion which lies within the projected band.
For the third quarter, adjusted EPS is anticipated between $1.13 and $1.23. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1.25, exceeds management’s guided range.
Our Take
Edwards Lifesciences exited the second quarter on a solid note. Globally, TAVR procedures delivered growth. Further, the company is optimistic about the plan of a commercial launch of SAPIEN 3 Ultra system in Europe. Moreover, improving gross margins increase investor’s optimism in the stock.
However, operating margin contracted in the second quarter. Moreover, tough competition in the cardiac devices market and reimbursement issues raise concerns.
Zacks Rank
Edwards Lifesciences currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Picks
A few better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Hologic Inc. (NASDAQ:) , DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. (NASDAQ:) and Teleflex Inc. (NYSE:) .
Hologic is scheduled to release second-quarter 2019 results on Jul 31. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s adjusted EPS is pegged at 61 cents and the same for revenues stands at $834.6 million. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
DENTSPLY SIRONA is scheduled to release second-quarter 2019 results on Aug 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter adjusted EPS and revenues is 62 cents and $1.03 billion, respectively. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Teleflex is expected to release second-quarter 2019 results on Aug 1. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for adjusted EPS for the to-be-reported quarter is $2.59 and the same for revenues is pegged at $636.7 million. The stock has a Zacks Rank of 2.
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