In recent years, growing healthcare cognizance has led to continuous technological innovation in the dental equipment space. With time, it has emerged as the most favored sector for medical device investors looking for consistent and attractive returns. Let's delve deeper.
Over the last 10 years, the dental supplies market has been faring better than the S&P 500 index. The market has gained 119.8% eclipsing the broader market's 101.4%.
Per a Allied Market Research report, the global dental implants and prosthetics market is expected to catapult to a value of $12,743 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2017 to 2023.
And if we go by the estimates of the American Dental Association (published in Grand View Research), every year 5 million implants are carried out in the United States indicating huge market potential. In today’s fast paced times, implants are preferred over conventional removable dentures owing to comfort and convenience.
Factors Driving Demand for Dental Treatment
High Demand Among Children and Teenagers: Per a Markets and Markets report, children and teenagers are expected to dominate the global orthodontic market in the coming years. A high number of patients with malocclusions and jaw disorders are likely to drive the demand. Also, rising need for fixed braces among children and teenagers will act as a major demand propeller. Notably, orthodontic treatments are more effective and successful in childhood or teenage.
One of the noteworthy developments in this niche space is the launch of Align Technology’s clear Aligner solution for teen Class II correction — the Invisalign Technology Teen with mandibular advancement — in certain markets of Canada, EMEA and APAC in 2017.
Cosmetic Needs: Growing awareness esthetic needs has also been a major growth catalyst for the dental prosthetic market. Per Markets and Markets, global cosmetic dentistry is expected to make $22,362.4 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2015-2020. Moreover, an increase in disposable income gives rise to higher demand for cosmetic dental surgeries.
Rise in Geriatric Population: An aging population has also been a significant contributor. Higher incidence of calcium deficiency in older people leads to teeth loss. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial research, more than 24% of adults aged above 74 years have lost all teeth. People on medication for chronic and metabolic disorders also reach an edentulous state.
Other Factors: Poor lifestyle choices and unhygienic dental care lead to higher demand for dental procedures. Increased dental diseases are another factor. Also, dental injuries caused by road accidents lead to higher demand for dental implants and prosthetics.
Technological Advancement Shapes Dental Implant Market
The global dental implant and prosthetic market is gradually shifting from conventional to a technologically-advanced one. Laser dentistry is much in demand among dental patients because of its painless procedurefor extraction of teeth, orthodontics and periodontal decay. Per Markets and Markets, the dental lasers market is expected to scale to a value of $224.7 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 5.2% during 2015 to 2020.
Dental 3D printing is a process of creating three dimensional solid dental models such as implants, surgical guides, braces, dentures, crowns and bridges, etc. Notably, 3D printing is gaining popularity as it allows dentists to carry out procedures with more precision and efficiency, saving patients from excess trauma. Going by a report by Transparency Market Research, the global dental 3D printing market is expected to see a 16.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2025, reaching a worth of $3,427.1 million.
3 Stocks in Focus
We have selected three companies, which we believe are well poised to provide impressive long-term returns given the encouraging growth prospects of the global dental implants and prosthetics market.
Align Technology, Inc. ALGN has a long-term earnings growth rate of 29.2%. The current-quarter estimate revision trend for the stock has been encouraging with seven estimates moving upward, compared with one downward movement in the past two months. Resultantly, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share rose around 2% to $4.52. The company’s five-year historical growth rate is favorable at 25.5% compared with the industry’s 6.2% and the S&P 500’s 2.8%. The company's share price movement over the past year has been encouraging. The company yielded almost 129.6%, better than the industry's 5.1%.
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Align Technology recently signed an agreement with Glidewell Dental to distribute the iTero Element intraoral scanning system with the latest glidewell.io In-Office Solution in North America.
Henry Schein, Inc. HSIC has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.9%. The company’s historical five-year earnings growth rate of 10% compares favorably with the S&P 500’s 2.8% and industry’s 6.2%. Over the past month, shares of Henry Schein have outperformed the industry it belongs to. The stock has lost 0.9% compared with the industry’s fall of 5.1%.
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Estimate revisions for the current year have been solid with nine estimates north, compared to three moving south over the past two months. Resultantly, the consensus estimate for earnings climbed around 3.3% to $4.08.
Riding on the strength in the full range of the DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. XRAY line, the company has been gaining from solid uptake of products by key dental equipment manufacturers like A-dec, Midmark and 3Shape. Furthermore, management believes that the company is well-positioned to gain from the wave of digitalization.
Danaher Corporation DHR has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.9%. Estimate revisions for the current year have been solid with nine estimates moving up, compared to no movement in the opposite direction over the past two months. Resultantly, the consensus estimate for earnings rose around 1.2% to $4.38. The company’s five-year historical growth rate of 5.1% is higher than 2.8% of both the industry and the S&P 500.
Shares of the company have rallied 14.3% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s decline of 13.9%.
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