Here's Why You Should Hold Avanos Medical (AVNS) Stock Now

Avanos Medical, Inc. (NYSE:AVNS) is likely to gain from a solid fourth-quarter show, while sluggishness in the Acute Pain business is a concern.

Shares of this company have declined 34.6% against the industry’s 0.9% rise in a year’s time. The current level also compares unfavorably with the S&P 500 index’s 9.6% rise over the same time frame.

This $1.56-billion medical technology company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Avanos’ earnings are expected to grow 13.3% in the first quarter of 2020. Also, the company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 0.1%, on average.

Let’s take a closer look at the factors that are working in favor of the company right now.

Q4 Earnings & Positive Developments

Avanos reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 34 cents in fourth-quarter 2019, which rose by a penny year over year.

Revenues totaled $189.8 million, up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Notably, the core Chronic Care segment recorded revenues of $113.4 million, up 15.5% year over year. Per management, the upside can be attributed to positive organic sales growth.

Additionally, the Pain Management arm reported net revenues of $76.4 million. The metric improved 6.6% on a year-over-year basis.

That’s not all. Management is optimistic about the FDA clearance of its new 80-Watt COOLIEF Radiofrequency System for neurological lesion procedures. Moreover, the upcoming launch of the company’s next-generation enteral feeding tube Mic-Key is likely to boost the Chronic Care unit.

Management at Avanos confirmed that the company expects lower foreign currency impact in 2020 in comparison to 2019.

Deterrents

Avanos continues to see pressure in its Acute Pain business, which saw a soft fourth quarter. Per management, ON-Q sales declined low-single-digits globally in the quarter. Also, in North America, sales declined low single digits.

Estimates Picture

For 2020, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $739.1 million, indicating an improvement of 6% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. For adjusted EPS, the same stands at $1.13, suggesting growth of 5.6% from the year-ago reported figure.

Key Picks

Some better-ranked companies in the broader medical sector include Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK) , Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ:ARAY) and IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDXX) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Stryker’s long-term earnings growth is expected at 11.9%. The stock has a Zacks Rank #2.

Accuray’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings is expected to skyrocket 200%.

IDEXX Laboratories’ first-quarter earnings growth is projected at 5.1%.

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