Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART - Snapshot Report) reported earnings per share (‘EPS’) of 46 cents in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, significantly up from 16 cents in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EPS increased 8.3% year over year to 78 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny.

Fiscal 2012 adjusted EPS was $3.06, significantly down from the year-ago $2.79. However, it missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.08.

Total revenue during the reported quarter increased 5.4% year over year (up 5.7% at constant exchange rates or CER) to $214.4 million, keeping at par with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The fiscal revenue came in at $830.9 million, up 6.5% (up 7.4% at CER) year over year. The fiscal numbers, with regard to both revenue and adjusted EPS, remained in line with the company’s projection of $828–$838 million and $3.04–$3.09, respectively.

The quarterly revenue growth was primarily on the back of improved sales across most of the segments of Integra. Segment-wise, all the segments of Integra recorded growth: International revenues (up 3.2% year over year to $48.4 million), U.S. Neurosurgery (up 4.8% to $45.5 million), U.S. Instruments (up 6.9% year over year to $41.6 million), U.S. Spine & Other (up 4.7% to $47.7 million), and U.S. Extremities (up 8.6% to $31.3 million) at CER.

On a product-category basis, worldwide Orthopedics sales increased 4.2% year over year to $93.3 million (up 6.4% in the U.S., offset by a 6.3% dip outside the U.S.) in the quarter. The company also registered a 6.7% year-over-year increase in worldwide Neurosurgery sales to $74.0 million as there was a 4.7% rise in the US Neurosurgery revenues combined with a 9.8% increase in the non-U.S. revenues during the quarter.

Worldwide Instruments revenues were $47.1 million, up 5.6% year over year with a 6.1% upsurge in the U.S. sales and 2.9% rise in the non-U.S. sales.

Integra witnessed a 9.7% year-over-year increase in gross profit to $132.5 million. Gross margin during the quarter was up 245 basis points (bps) to 61.2%. During the quarter, research and development expenses dropped 4.0% to $12.9 million but selling, general and administrative expenses increased 1.8% year over year to $96.5 million. Operating margin expanded a huge 459.9 bps to 10.8%.

Integra exited the fiscal with $96.9 million in cash and cash equivalents compared with $100.8 million at the end of 2011. The company used $3.8 million in cash flow from operations and invested $24.7 million in capital expenditures in the quarter.

Outlook

Integra provided its fiscal 2013 guidance. The company expects to generate revenues of $865−$880 million with adjusted EPS in the range of $3.08−$3.27. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues and EPS of $870 million and $3.20, respectively, are in line with the company’s guided range.

Recommendation

We are encouraged by the company’s balanced performance in the reported quarter amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. The company’s focus on strategic initiatives to drive growth and profitability in the orthopedic and Neurosurgery market is quite encouraging.

Several initiatives on the company’s part like planned product launches and acquisitions are expected to accelerate sales growth for the next several quarters.

However, tighter capital spending continues to challenge the surgical instruments market. Moreover, the company believes that the medical device excise tax and new depreciation on its ERP system will temper its 2013 margin growth.

Integra faces direct competition in the medical instruments & supplies industry from major players like Medtronic (MDT - Analyst Report), among others. Currently, the company retains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Other Stocks to Consider

While we prefer to remain on the sidelines on Life Technologies, other medical device stocks worth a look are Medical Action Industries Inc. (MDCI - Snapshot Report) and Given Imaging Ltd. (GIVN). All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).