NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Becton Dickinson today reported a nearly 40 percent jump in its fiscal fourth quarter revenues, reflecting the company's acquisition of medical technology firm CareFusion earlier this year.
"We are very pleased with our strong finish to the year as a combined entity," BD CFO Christopher Reidy said during a conference call after the release of the company's earnings. "We significantly expanded our margins and captured approximately $50 million in synergy cost savings."
For the three months ended Sept. 30, BD posted revenues of $3.06 billion, up from $2.2 billion in the same period last year and just beating analysts' consensus revenue expectation of $3.05 billion. On a comparable, currency-neutral basis, fourth quarter adjusted revenues grew around 5 percent.
BD Life Sciences revenues for the quarter slipped 3 percent to $976 million from $1 billion a year earlier. On a currency-neutral basis, revenues in this segment rose 5 percent, which the company said reflects growth in the preanalytical and diagnostic systems units, as well as moderate growth in the biosciences unit.
Specifically, preanalytical systems revenues were up 5 percent, driven by safety-engineered products, as well as growth in emerging markets and Western Europe, Reidy said. Sales of diagnostic systems were up 5 percent, reflecting "solid core microbiology growth, driven by increased installations of our Kiestra Lab Automation system and continued core blood culture strength." Additionally, sales of the BD Max automated PCR system saw double-digit increases.
Revenues for the BD Medical segment increased more than 75 percent to $2.08 billion from $1.19 billion and includes sales from CareFusion, which was acquired in March for $12.2 billion. On a comparable, currency-neutral basis, adjusted Medical revenues increased 5 percent due to strong sales across the Medication Management Solutions, Medication and Procedural Solutions, Pharmaceutical Systems, and Diabetes Care units. These gains, however, were partially offset by a 12.4 percent decline in sales in the company's Respiratory Solutions unit.
BD recorded a fourth quarter profit of $181 million, or $.84 per share, down from $301 million, or $1.53 a share, in the year-ago quarter. On an adjusted basis, EPS was $1.94, topping the Wall Street estimate of $1.90.
The company's R&D expenses in the quarter rose to $196 million from $140 million last year, while SG&A costs climbed to $756 million from $561 million. BD also recorded $182 million in acquisition-related costs in the quarter compared to no such expenses in Q4 2014.
BD's full fiscal year revenues increased 22 percent to $10.28 billion from $8.45 billion in fiscal 2014. On a comparable, currency-neutral basis, full fiscal year adjusted revenues were up 5 percent.
Its profit for the year fell to $695 million, or $3.35 a share, from $1.19 billion, or $5.99 a share, the year before. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 10 percent, or 21 percent on a currency-neutral basis, to $7.16, exceeding the consensus estimate of $7.11 a share.
Fiscal year 2015 R&D costs climbed to $632 million from $550 million, while SG&A spending increased to $2.56 billion from $2.15 billon the year before.
BD said it expects that currency-neutral adjusted revenues for fiscal year 2016, including the accretion from the CareFusion acquisition, will increase 24.5 to 25 percent. Including the impact of foreign currency, adjusted revenues are expected to grow 23 to 23.5 percent. On a comparable, currency-neural basis, organic adjusted revenues are expected to increase between 4.5 and 5 percent.
The company also anticipates adjusted diluted EPS to be between $8.37 and $8.44 for fiscal 2016, an increase of 17 to 18 percent. On a currency-neutral basis, full fiscal year 2016 adjusted EPS are expected to be between $8.83 and $8.80, a 22 to 23 percent rise over fiscal 2015.
In Wednesday morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange, shares of BD were up 3 percent at $150.75.