Cardinal Health CAH reported first-quarter fiscal 2016 adjusted earnings of $1.38 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.00 and increased 38% on a year-over-year basis.
Quarter Details
Revenues increased 16.6% to $28.01 billion, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $26.95 billion. The year-over-year growth was driven by higher Pharmaceutical revenues, which surged 18.5% to $25.14 billion. Revenues from the Medical segment increased 2.3% to $2.92 billion.
Distribution, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, as a percentage of revenues, fell 20 basis points (bps) year over year to 3% in the reported quarter.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 20 bps on a year-over-year basis to 2.6%.
Pharmaceutical Segment profits in the quarter increased 46% to $657 million owing to improved performance under the company's generics program, net growth from existing and new customers, and contribution from acquisitions.
Medical segment profits decreased 11% to $101 million, due to lackluster performance by the company's Canada business as well as an unfavorable foreign exchange rate.
Other Details
During the quarter, Cardinal Health rolled out the Hospital Quality at Home brand – a new range of over-the-counter hospital-quality products. These offerings are specially intended to help caregivers transition care from the hospital to home.
The new product line includes a wide array of hospital-quality products such as Advanced Wound Care, First Aid, Personal Care and Home Healthcare. Management at Cardinal Health is certain that these products will speed up the healing process by providing a comfortable environment.
On Oct 4, Cardinal Health completed the acquisition of Johnson & Johnson's JNJ Cordis business unit for $1.944 billion which was announced in March this year.
The addition of the Cordis unit will strengthen Cardinal Health’s position in the cardiovascular market. The newly-acquired business will be integrated into Cardinal Health’s Medical Segment.
Notably, Cardinal Health expects the deal to add 20 cents (including 7 to 8 cents of interest expense) to fiscal 2017 adjusted EPS and save $100 million in annual costs by the end of fiscal 2018.
Guidance
Cardinal Health raised its fiscal 2016 adjusted earnings guidance range to $5.15–$5.35 from the previous range of $4.85–$5.05. This new range reflects 18%–22% growth rate compared to fiscal 2015.
Our Take
Fiscal 2016 holds considerable promise for Cardinal Health owing to factors like the strengthening product portfolio. The addition of The Harvard Drug Group and Cordis from Johnson & Johnson are also key catalysts in this regard.
Cardinal Health is banking on strategic buyouts, joint ventures and supply agreements to drive growth. We believe that the Red Oak sourcing venture with CVS Health CVS and partnerships with Henry Schein HSIC and Bayer Healthcare present significant growth opportunities.
Furthermore, we believe that growth in new and existing customer count as well as consistent stock repurchases will boost earnings.
Currently, Cardinal Health carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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