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Bruker (BRKR) Beats Q3 Earnings Estimates, Ups EPS Guidance

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Bruker Corporation (BRKR - Free Report) delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 43 cents in the third quarter of 2019, up 16.2% from the year-ago figure. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.2%.

On a reported basis, earnings were 39 cents a share, marking a 39.3% improvement from the year-earlier figure of 28 cents.

Revenues in Detail

Bruker registered revenues of $521.1 million in the third quarter, up 11.7% year over year. Further, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.1%.

Bruker Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Excluding a positive effect of 6.4% from acquisitions and a 2.3% negative impact from changes in foreign currency rates, the company recorded organic revenue growth of 7.6% year over year.

Its organic revenue growth was driven by strength in Bruker Scientific Instruments (“BSI”) and BEST segments.

Geographically, the United States witnessed 1% growth in the reported quarter. Meanwhile, Europe revenues rose 12.03% year over year. Also, revenues in the Asia Pacific grew 17.9%. In the Other category, revenues rose 25.4%.

In the third quarter, Bruker’s BioSpin Group revenues grew 3% from the year-ago quarter. Revenues in the NANO group rose 18.8%, fueled by uptrends in the life science mass spectrometry solutions and microbiology. CALID revenues were up 17.5% year over year.

Margin Trend

Gross margin in the quarter under review expanded 102 basis points (bps) to 48.7%. Meanwhile, selling, general & administrative expenses grew 17.7% to $125.3 million. Research and development expenses went up 10.3% year over year to $46.1 million. Overall, adjusted operating margin contracted 9 bps to 15.8%.

Financial Position

Bruker exited the third quarter of 2019 with cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $ 302.4 million, down from $288.8million at the end of the second quarter. It has witnessed year-to-date net cash provided by operating activities of $77.2 million compared with $107.4 million a year ago.

2019 Guidance

Bruker reaffirmed its 2019 outlook. For the year, the company reiterates revenue growth projection at 7-8%, including nearly 4.5-5.5% organic revenue rise. However, the estimated headwind from adverse foreign currency translation has been raised to 3% from the previously mentioned 2.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the metric was unchanged at $2.04 billion.

The company continues to envision year-over-year expansion of 90-120 bps in adjusted operating margin over its fiscal 2018 adjusted operating margin of 16.8%.

For 2019, Bruker raised its adjusted EPS view to $1.59-1.62 (from $1.57-$1.61 mentioned previously). The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61 is closer to the upper end of the company’s guided range.

Our Take

Bruker ended the third quarter with better-than-expected results. A year-over-year uptrend in constant currency revenues growth across all geographies has also been impressive. The company’s acquisition activities also raise optimism. Further, we are upbeat about its current focus on product development through higher R&D investment. Additionally, the improvement in gross margin buoys optimism on the stock.

However, a competitive landscape and macroeconomic woes pose persistent challenges to the company. Also, the contraction in the operating margin is concerning.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Currently, Bruker carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked medical device companies, which posted solid results this earnings season, are ResMed Inc (RMD - Free Report) , NuVasive, Inc and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO - Free Report) .

ResMed, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported first-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS of 93 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.9%. Its revenues of $681.1 million outpaced the consensus mark by 3.7%.

NuVasive’s third-quarter 2019 adjusted EPS of 59 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.3%. Its revenues totaled $290.8 million, which surpassed the consensus estimate by 2.4%. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Thermo Fisher, with a Zacks Rank #2, delivered third-quarter 2019 adjusted EPS of $2.94, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.1%. Its revenues of $6.27 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%.

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