Leading heart devices maker Thoratec Corp’s (THOR) second-quarter fiscal 2011 adjusted (excluding one-time items other than stock-based compensation expenses) earnings per share of 41 cents topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents and surpassed the year-ago adjusted earnings of 29 cents.
Profit (as reported) from continuing operations soared 24% year over year to $21.8 million (or 36 cents per share) owing to double-digit expansion in the top line, buoyed by healthy sales of the company’s HeartMate II left ventricular assist device (“LVAD”).
Results in the prior-year quarter exclude the contributions of Thoratec’s former International Technidyne Corporation (“ITC”) unit, which it divested in November 2010.
Revenue Analysis
Revenues zoomed 17% year over year to $111.2 million, easily beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $104 million. Sales were boosted by healthy growth across the company’s U.S. and overseas operations.
Foreign exchange translation contributed $1.1 million to revenues. Geographically, U.S. sales climbed 16% year over year to $93 million, while international sales soared 20% to $18.2 million.
By product line, HeartMate sales surged 18% to $97.6 million, supported by sustained penetration of HeartMate II pumps. HeartMate II unit sales spurted 21% and 20% in the U.S. and international markets, respectively, in the second quarter, fostered by capacity expansion at the HeartMate II centers, the device’s proven clinical track record and support programs.
Thoratec had 272 HeartMate II centers (including 135 in the U.S.) at the end of the quarter, an increase from 254 centers at the end of fiscal 2010. Ventricular assist device (“VAD”) unit climbed 19% globally in the quarter.
Revenues from the Thoratec product line, including the paracorporeal ventricular assist device (“PVAD”) and implantable ventricular assist device (“IVAD”), rose 4% to $7.6 million while CentriMag blood pump sales jumped 15% to $5.3 million. Pump sales spiked 21% to $77.8 million while non-pump revenues rose 9% to $32.7 million.
Margins and Expenses
Gross margin rose to 70.9% from 67.8% a year ago. On an adjusted basis, gross margin improved to 71.2% from 68.2% in the prior year quarter backed by favorable mix. Operating expenses jumped 26% year over year to $44.6 million as the company beefed up spending on product/market development. Operating margin edged up to 30.8% from 30.7% in the prior-year quarter.
Balance Sheet
The company ended the quarter with cash and investments of $298.5 million, down 31.8% sequentially, reflecting cash used in the retirement of convertible debt during the quarter. The company retired all outstanding senior subordinated convertible notes through cash payment of $164.4 million and issuance of 2.4 million shares.
Levitronix Deal
Along with its second quarter results, Thoratec announced the purchase of the medical unit of Levitronix LLC for $110 million. The deal also involves potential milestone payments of up to $40 million. Massachusetts-based Levitronix is a leader in magnetically levitated bearingless motor technology and supplies blood pumps and ultra-pure fluid handling devices.
The deal follows a successful strategic alliance between these entities. Thoratec has been providing distribution and clinical support for Levitronix Medical's lead product, CentriMag blood pump, in the U.S. since 2006. Thoratec has also collaborated with Levitronix to employ the latter’s magnetically levitated motor technology in its HeartMate III pump.
The acquisition provides Thoratec with full worldwide commercial rights to CentriMag and expands its portfolio to include Levitronix Medical's PediMag/PediVAS pediatric surgery support system. However, the deal excludes Levitronix's fluid handling business.
The acquisition enables Thoratec to offer a comprehensive suite of mechanical circulatory support products for patients with acute and chronic heart failure. The Levitronix deal is expected to be neutral to Thoratec’s adjusted earnings for fiscal 2011 and accretive to fiscal 2012 earnings.
Guidance Raised
Thoratec has hiked its financial forecasts for fiscal 2011. The company now expects revenues between $422 million and $430 million, up from its earlier view of $410 million and $425 million, factoring in $4 million of additional sales stemming from the Levitronix acquisition.
The company has also raised its adjusted earnings per share target to $1.40-$1.50 from $1.35-$1.45. Earnings per share (on a reported basis) are now expected in the band of $1.05-$1.15 versus the prior forecast of $1.02 to $1.12, taking into account the transaction costs associated with the acquisition. The current Zacks Consensus Estimates for revenues and earnings per share for 2011 are $418 million and $1.30, respectively.
Gross margin (reported basis) target for fiscal 2011 has been revised to a new range of 68.5% to 69.5% from 67.5% to 68.5%. Operating expenses are forecast to rise 17%-19% and 15%-17% year over year on reported and adjusted basis, respectively, reflecting the company’s sustained investment in product development and market expansion as well as inclusion of the expenses from the Levitronix acquisition for the second half.
Thoratec enjoys a first-mover advantage and the growing number of HeartMate II centers indicates increasing acceptance. The company has shown expertise in product development. VAD represents a substantial market opportunity for Thoratec with a significant number of eligible heart failure patients globally.
With HeartMate II, Thoratec enjoys a monopoly in the U.S. market having the only device of its kind for the destination therapy indication (for heart failure patients who are not eligible for heart transplant). Favorable adoption trend of the device is expected to support revenue growth moving forward.
However, Australian heart pump maker HeartWare International (HTWR) is expected to close the technology gap with the launch of its next generation VAD product. Currently, we have an Outperform rating on Thoratec.
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