CONMED Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2019.

Third Quarter 2019 Highlights

Sales of $233.6 million increased 15.5% year over year as reported and 15.6% in constant currency. Acquisitions contributed approximately 680 basis points of growth.
Domestic revenue increased 19.2% year over year.
International revenue increased 11.2% as reported and 11.6% in constant currency.
Operating margin increased 330 basis points on a GAAP basis and increased 260 basis points on an adjusted basis(1), compared to the third quarter of 2018.
Diluted net earnings per share (GAAP) were $0.23, compared to diluted net earnings per share of $0.20 in the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 15%.
Adjusted diluted net earnings per share(2) were $0.62 versus $0.46 in the third quarter of 2018, an increase of 34.8%.

“Our solid third quarter results were balanced across our product lines and geographies,” commented Curt R. Hartman, CONMED’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are delivering on our commitment to drive increased profitability, while also continuing to invest for sustainable above-market growth on the top and bottom lines. We believe the strong year-to-date performance in 2019 positions us well to continue to deliver at least mid-single-digit revenue growth and double-digit adjusted earnings growth in 2020 and beyond.”

2019 Outlook

The Company is maintaining its full-year organic constant currency sales growth guidance of between 6.0% and 6.5% and is increasing its estimated revenue contribution from the Buffalo Filter product line to between $47 million and $48 million (previously $44 million to $47 million). Based on recent exchange rates, the negative impact to 2019 sales from foreign exchange is now expected to be approximately 80 basis points, an increase from the previous estimate of 50 basis points. As a result, the Company now expects full-year 2019 reported sales in the range of approximately $951 million to $957 million.

The Company is also increasing its guidance for adjusted diluted net earnings per share to the range of $2.62 to $2.65 from the previous range of $2.52 to $2.57. This represents growth over 2018 of approximately 20.2% to 21.6%. The adjusted diluted net earnings per share estimates for 2019 exclude amortization of intangible assets, amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount, which are estimated in the range of $32 to $34 million, net of tax. Also excluded are the costs of special items, including acquisition costs, manufacturing consolidation costs and debt refinancing costs, which are estimated in the range of $15 to $17 million, net of tax.

Supplemental Financial Disclosures

(1) A reconciliation of reported operating margin to adjusted operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, appears below.

(2) A reconciliation of reported diluted net earnings per share to adjusted diluted net earnings per share, a non-GAAP financial measure, appears below.

Conference Call

The Company’s management will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2019 results.

To participate in the conference call, dial 1-844-889-7792 (domestic) or +1-661-378-9936 (international) and refer to the passcode 8990458.

This conference call will also be webcast and can be accessed from the “Investors” section of CONMED's website at www.conmed.com. The webcast replay of the call will be available at the same site approximately one hour after the end of the call.

A recording of the call will also be available from 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, until 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 14, 2019. To hear this recording, dial 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or +1-404-537-3406 (international) and enter the passcode 8990458.

About CONMED Corporation

CONMED is a medical technology company that provides surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures. The Company’s products are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties, including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, and gastroenterology. For more information, visit www.conmed.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and today’s conference call may contain forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and contingencies that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results, performance, or trends to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures. For example, in addition to general industry and economic conditions, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and listed under the heading Forward-Looking Statements in the Company’s most recently filed Form 10-Q. Any and all forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to the Company’s performance on a going-forward basis. The Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct.

Supplemental Information - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company supplements the reporting of its financial information determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, including percentage sales growth in constant currency; adjusted gross profit; cost of sales excluding specified items; adjusted selling and administrative expenses; adjusted research and development expense; adjusted operating income; adjusted interest expense; adjusted other expense; adjusted income tax expense; adjusted effective income tax rate; adjusted net income, adjusted diluted shares and adjusted diluted net earnings per share (EPS). The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to assist investors and shareholders in understanding its financial results and assessing its prospects for future performance. Management believes percentage sales growth in constant currency and the other adjusted measures described above are important indicators of its operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, its core operating results and provide a baseline for analyzing trends in the Company’s underlying business. Further, the presentation of EBITDA is a non-GAAP measurement that management considers useful for measuring aspects of the Company’s cash flow. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for reviewing the operating results and analyzing potential future business trends in connection with its budget process and bases certain management incentive compensation on these non-GAAP financial measures.

Net sales on a constant currency basis is a non-GAAP measure. The Company analyzes net sales on a constant currency basis to better measure the comparability of results between periods. To measure percentage sales growth in constant currency, the Company removes the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates that affect the comparability and trend of net sales. To measure earnings performance on a consistent and comparable basis, the Company excludes certain items that affect the comparability of operating results and the trend of earnings. These adjustments are irregular in timing, may not be indicative of past and future performance and are therefore excluded to allow investors to better understand underlying operating trends.

Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported sales growth, gross profit, cost of sales, selling and administrative expenses, research and development expense, operating income, interest expense, other expense, income tax expense (benefit), effective income tax rate, net income, diluted shares and diluted net earnings per share, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company’s operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures above, provide a more complete understanding of the business. The Company strongly encourages investors and shareholders to review its financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

Net sales

233,590

202,307

690,232

617,191

Cost of sales

103,479

91,680

307,492

280,736

Gross profit

130,111

110,627

382,740

336,455

% of sales

55.7

54.7

55.5

54.5

Selling and administrative expense

98,187

84,983

298,140

259,156

Research & development expense

10,985

14,122

33,366

31,817

Income from operations

20,939

11,522

51,234

45,482

% of sales

9.0

5.7

7.4

Interest expense

11,174

5,214

32,382

15,123

Other expense

321

4,867

Income before income taxes

9,444

6,308

13,985

30,359

Provision for income taxes

2,474

483

299

5,158

Net income

6,970

5,825

13,686

25,201

Basic EPS

0.25

0.21

0.48

0.90

Diluted EPS

0.23

0.20

0.47

0.87

Basic shares

28,353

28,124

28,280

28,096

Diluted shares

29,792

29,088

29,354

28,872

Sales Summary

(in millions, unaudited)

Three Months Ended September 30,

% Change

Domestic

International

2019

2018

As Reported

Impact of Foreign Currency

Constant Currency

As Reported

Impact of Foreign Currency

Constant Currency

Orthopedic Surgery

110.3

102.9

7.2

0.4

7.6

7.5

7.0

0.6

7.6

General Surgery

123.3

99.4

24.0

0.0

24.0

26.0

19.7

0.0

19.7

233.6

202.3

15.5

0.1

15.6

19.2

11.2

0.4

11.6

Single-use Products

184.4

159.4

15.6

0.2

15.8

19.7

10.7

0.4

11.1

Capital Products

49.2

42.9

14.8

0.4

15.2

17.0

12.8

0.7

13.5

233.6

202.3

15.5

0.1

15.6

19.2

11.2

0.4

11.6

Domestic

128.2

107.5

19.2

0.0

19.2

International

105.4

94.8

11.2

0.4

11.6

233.6

202.3

15.5

0.1

15.6

Sales Summary

(in millions, unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

% Change

Domestic

International

2019

2018

As Reported

Impact of Foreign Currency

Constant Currency

As Reported

Impact of Foreign Currency

Constant Currency

Orthopedic Surgery

339.5

321.9

5.5

1.0

6.5

5.9

5.2

1.7

6.9

General Surgery

350.7

295.3

18.8

0.4

19.2

21.7

12.6

1.4

14.0

690.2

617.2

11.8

0.8

12.6

15.7

7.6

1.6

9.2

Single-use Products

547.0

493.0

11.0

0.7

11.7

16.2

5.0

1.5

6.5

Capital Products

143.2

124.2

15.3

0.9

16.2

13.4

17.0

1.9

18.9

690.2

617.2

11.8

0.8

12.6

15.7

7.6

1.6

9.2

Domestic

374.1

323.4

15.7

0.0

15.7

International

316.1

293.8

7.6

1.6

9.2

690.2

617.2

11.8

0.8

12.6

Reconciliation of Reported Net Income to Adjusted Net Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

Gross Profit

Selling & Administrative Expense

Research & Development Expense

Operating Income

Interest Expense

Other Expense

Tax Expense

Effective Tax Rate

Net Income

Diluted EPS

As reported

130,111

98,187

10,985

20,939

11,174

321

2,474

26.2

6,970

0.23

% of sales

55.7

42.0

4.7

9.0

Business acquisition costs(1)

171

(1,490

)

1,661

290

1,371

0.05

Manufacturing consolidation costs(2)

1,430

249

1,181

0.04

131,712

96,697

10,985

24,030

11,174

321

3,013

9,522

0.32

Adjusted gross profit %

56.4

Amortization(3)

1,500

(6,841

)

8,341

(3,183

)

2,808

8,716

0.30

Adjusted net income

89,856

10,985

32,371

7,991

321

5,821

24.2

18,238

0.62

% of sales

38.5

4.7

13.9

Diluted shares, as reported

29,792

In-the-money portion of convertible notes(4)

(204

)

Diluted shares, as adjusted

29,588

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Gross Profit

Selling & Administrative Expense

Research & Development Expense

Operating Income

Interest Expense

Other Expense

Tax Expense

Effective Tax Rate

Net Income

Diluted EPS

As reported

110,627

84,983

14,122

11,522

5,214

483

7.7

5,825

0.20

% of sales

54.7

42.0

7.0

5.7

Business acquisition costs (5)

(1,073

)

1,073

259

814

0.03

Impairment charges (6)

(4,212

)

4,212

2,117

2,095

0.07

Tax reform (7)

(37

)

(0.00

)

110,627

83,910

9,910

16,807

5,214

2,896

8,697

0.30

Adjusted gross profit %

54.7

Amortization(3)

1,500

(4,460

)

5,960

1,400

4,560

0.16

Adjusted net income

79,450

9,910

22,767

5,214

4,296

24.5

13,257

0.46

% of sales

39.3

4.9

11.3

(1) In 2019, the Company incurred consulting fees, legal fees, severance and integration related costs associated with the acquisition of Buffalo Filter, LLC.

(2) In 2019, the Company mainly incurred severance costs in connection with consolidation of certain manufacturing operations.

(3) Includes amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees and debt discount.

(4) In Q3 2019, our average share price exceeded the conversion price of our 2.625% convertible notes due in 2024 (the "Notes"). Non-GAAP adjusted dilutive weighted average shares outstanding exclude dilution that is expected to be offset by our convertible note hedge transactions.

(5) In 2018, the Company recorded a charge related to a vacant leased facility associated with a prior acquisition.

(6) In 2018, the Company recorded impairment charges mainly related to an in-process research and development asset, net of release of accrued contingent consideration, associated with a prior acquisition.

(7) In 2018, the Company recorded tax benefit resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The 2018 amounts are adjustments to the initial December 2017 deferred tax balances.

Reconciliation of Reported Net Income to Adjusted Net Income

(in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Gross Profit

Selling & Administrative Expense

Research & Development Expense

Operating Income

Interest Expense

Other Expense

Tax Expense/ (Benefit)

Effective Tax Rate

Net Income

Diluted EPS

As reported

382,740

298,140

33,366

51,234

32,382

4,867

299

2.1

13,686

0.47

% of sales

55.5

43.2

4.8

7.4

Business acquisition costs (1)

1,335

(11,196

)

12,531

3,473

9,058

0.31

Manufacturing consolidation costs(2)

1,430

249

1,181

0.04

Debt refinancing costs (3)

(3,904

)

1,149

2,755

0.09

385,505

286,944

33,366

65,195

32,382

963

5,170

26,680

0.91

Adjusted gross profit %

55.9

Amortization(4)

4,500

(19,436

)

23,936

(8,573

)

8,056

24,453

0.83

Adjusted net income

267,508

33,366

89,131

23,809

963

13,226

20.6

51,133

1.74

% of sales

38.8

4.8

12.9

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Gross Profit

Selling & Administrative Expense

Research & Development Expense

Operating Income

Interest Expense

Other Expense

Tax Expense/ (Benefit)

Effective Tax Rate

Net Income

Diluted EPS

As reported

336,455

259,156

31,817

45,482

15,123

5,158

17.0

25,201

0.87

% of sales

54.5

42.0

5.2

7.4

Business acquisition costs(5)

(1,073

)

1,073

259

814

0.03

Impairment charges(6)

(4,212

)

4,212

2,117

2,095

0.07

Tax reform (7)

(549

)

549

0.02

336,455

258,083

27,605

50,767

15,123

6,985

28,659

0.99

Adjusted gross profit %

54.5

Amortization(4)

4,500

(12,678

)

17,178

4,158

13,020

0.45

Adjusted net income

245,405

27,605

67,945

15,123

11,143

21.1

41,679

1.44

% of sales

39.8

4.5

11.0

(1) In 2019, the Company incurred investment banking fees, consulting fees, legal fees, severance and integration related costs associated with the acquisition of Buffalo Filter, LLC.

(2) In 2019, the Company mainly incurred severance costs in connection with consolidation of certain manufacturing operations.

(3) In 2019, in conjunction with the acquisition of Buffalo Filter, LLC, the Company refinanced its existing credit facility and incurred one-time fees associated with an agreement between the Company and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as well as costs associated with the early extinguishment of debt.

(4) Includes amortization of intangible assets, deferred financing fees and debt discount.

(5) In 2018, the Company recorded a charge related to a vacant leased facility associated with a prior acquisition.

(7) In 2018, the Company recorded tax expense resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The 2018 amounts are adjustments to the initial December 2017 deferred tax balances.

Reconciliation of Reported Net Income to EBITDA & Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

Net income

6,970

5,825