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Here's Why You Should Hold Varian Medical (VAR) Stock Now
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Varian Medical Systems, Inc. is currently gaining from a solid fiscal third-quarter show, a slew of positive developments and a raised revenue guidance. However, tariff woes from the U.S.-China trade dispute raises concern.
Shares Price Performance
Over the past year, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have slipped 3.2% compared with the industry’s 3.1% decline. The stock has also underperformed the S&P 500 index’s 0.2% fall.
What’s Favoring the Stock?
Solid Fiscal Q3
Varian reported third-quarter fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.14. Adjusted EPS surged 26.9% year over year.
The company reported revenues of $825.8 million, which also surpassed the consensus mark of $760.2 million. On a year-over-year basis, revenues rose 16.5% and 19% at constant currency.
Notably, the company continues to gain from its core Oncology Systems segment, which saw solid overseas growth, especially in EMEA and China.
Strong View
Buoyed by a solid fiscal-third quarter show, Varian raised its revenue guidance for fiscal 2019.
The company currently expects revenues within $3.18 billion to $3.21 billion, up from the previously stated $3.09 billion to $3.18 billion. This indicates a year-over-year increase of 9-10% compared with the previously projected band of 6-9%.
Adjusted operating margin is expected at 16.5% while cash flow from operations is expected within $430 million to $470 million.
Positive Developments
In recent times, Varian saw a slew of positive developments.
Last month, the company installed the cyclotron for its flagship ProBeam Compact single-room proton therapy system at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. This will boost Varian’s much coveted Proton Therapy platform.
Additionally, Varian recently announced a partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency in a bid to enhance cancer treatment. Notably, the tie-up helped the company make the TrueBeam system available to the IAEA’s Dosimetry Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria. This collaboration is likely to drive Varian’s core Oncology business.
In recent times, Varian also announced an asset purchase agreement to acquire Boston Scientific’s (BSX - Free Report) portfolio of drug-loadable microsphere and bland embolic bead products for $90 million. This will strengthen Varian’s interventional oncology segment. (Read More: Varian to Acquire Boston Scientific's Embolic Bead Products)
Deterrents
The U.S.-China trade dispute has impacted overseas sales of several MedTech manufacturers. This affected Varian Medical’s last-quarter revenues by $10 million. Operating income at the Proton Solutions unit was also affected by tariffs.
Further, the company has narrowed its adjusted EPS view for fiscal 2019. Notably, adjusted EPS is projected within $4.58 to $4.63, compared with the earlier stated range of $4.55 to $4.70.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.21, indicating an increase of 4.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The same for revenues is pinned at $852.8 million, suggesting a 6.4% rise from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
For fiscal 2019, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $3.20 billion, calling for a rise of 9.6% from the year ago. The same for earnings stands at $4.62, implying growth of 4.5% from the figure reported in the previous year.
DENTSPLY’s long-term earnings growth rate is expected to be 11.5%.
Baxter’s long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 12.8%.
Legalizing THIS Could Be Even Bigger than Marijuana
Americans spend an estimated $150 billion in this industry every year… more than twice as much as they spend on marijuana.
Now that 8 states have fully-legalized it (with several more states following close behind), Zacks has identified 5 stocks that could soar in response to the powerful demand. One industry insider described the future as “mind-blowing” – and early investors can still get in ahead of the surge.
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Here's Why You Should Hold Varian Medical (VAR) Stock Now
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. is currently gaining from a solid fiscal third-quarter show, a slew of positive developments and a raised revenue guidance. However, tariff woes from the U.S.-China trade dispute raises concern.
Shares Price Performance
Over the past year, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have slipped 3.2% compared with the industry’s 3.1% decline. The stock has also underperformed the S&P 500 index’s 0.2% fall.
What’s Favoring the Stock?
Solid Fiscal Q3
Varian reported third-quarter fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.14. Adjusted EPS surged 26.9% year over year.
The company reported revenues of $825.8 million, which also surpassed the consensus mark of $760.2 million. On a year-over-year basis, revenues rose 16.5% and 19% at constant currency.
Notably, the company continues to gain from its core Oncology Systems segment, which saw solid overseas growth, especially in EMEA and China.
Strong View
Buoyed by a solid fiscal-third quarter show, Varian raised its revenue guidance for fiscal 2019.
The company currently expects revenues within $3.18 billion to $3.21 billion, up from the previously stated $3.09 billion to $3.18 billion. This indicates a year-over-year increase of 9-10% compared with the previously projected band of 6-9%.
Adjusted operating margin is expected at 16.5% while cash flow from operations is expected within $430 million to $470 million.
Positive Developments
In recent times, Varian saw a slew of positive developments.
Last month, the company installed the cyclotron for its flagship ProBeam Compact single-room proton therapy system at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. This will boost Varian’s much coveted Proton Therapy platform.
Additionally, Varian recently announced a partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency in a bid to enhance cancer treatment. Notably, the tie-up helped the company make the TrueBeam system available to the IAEA’s Dosimetry Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria. This collaboration is likely to drive Varian’s core Oncology business.
In recent times, Varian also announced an asset purchase agreement to acquire Boston Scientific’s (BSX - Free Report) portfolio of drug-loadable microsphere and bland embolic bead products for $90 million. This will strengthen Varian’s interventional oncology segment. (Read More: Varian to Acquire Boston Scientific's Embolic Bead Products)
Deterrents
The U.S.-China trade dispute has impacted overseas sales of several MedTech manufacturers. This affected Varian Medical’s last-quarter revenues by $10 million. Operating income at the Proton Solutions unit was also affected by tariffs.
Further, the company has narrowed its adjusted EPS view for fiscal 2019. Notably, adjusted EPS is projected within $4.58 to $4.63, compared with the earlier stated range of $4.55 to $4.70.
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Price and Consensus
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Quote
Which Way Are Estimates Headed?
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.21, indicating an increase of 4.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The same for revenues is pinned at $852.8 million, suggesting a 6.4% rise from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
For fiscal 2019, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $3.20 billion, calling for a rise of 9.6% from the year ago. The same for earnings stands at $4.62, implying growth of 4.5% from the figure reported in the previous year.
Key Picks
A few better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are DENTSPLY SIRONA (XRAY - Free Report) and Baxter International (BAX - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
DENTSPLY’s long-term earnings growth rate is expected to be 11.5%.
Baxter’s long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 12.8%.
Legalizing THIS Could Be Even Bigger than Marijuana
Americans spend an estimated $150 billion in this industry every year… more than twice as much as they spend on marijuana.
Now that 8 states have fully-legalized it (with several more states following close behind), Zacks has identified 5 stocks that could soar in response to the powerful demand. One industry insider described the future as “mind-blowing” – and early investors can still get in ahead of the surge.
See these 5 “sin stocks” now >>