IDEXX Laboratories Announces Second Quarter Results

IDEXX Laboratories Announces Second Quarter Results

WESTBROOK, Maine, Aug. 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in veterinary diagnostics, veterinary practice software and water microbiology testing, reports revenues of $620 million for the second quarter of 2019, an increase of 7% compared to the prior year period on a reported basis, and 9% on an organic basis.

Second quarter results were driven by CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth of 9% reported and 11% organic, net of an estimated 0.5% growth headwind related to Brexit order timing and equivalent day effects. Global results reflected 10% reported and 13% organic growth in IDEXX VetLab consumables, continued strong double-digit gains in U.S. reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services revenues, and 8% reported and 9% organic revenue growth in rapid assay products revenues. High IDEXX VetLab consumables revenue growth was supported by a 21% year-over-year increase in Catalyst chemistry analyzer installed base, benefiting from 761 placements at new and competitive accounts in international markets, a 39% year-over-year increase, and 486 Catalyst placements in North America, an 8% year-over-year increase. Overall organic revenue growth results in the second quarter were moderated by comparisons to very strong prior year period instrument placement levels, and flat organic growth in livestock, poultry and dairy ( LPD ) revenue, including declines in swine diagnostic testing related to the African swine fever epidemic in China.

Earnings per diluted share ( EPS ) was $1.43 for the second quarter, representing reported EPS growth of 16% and comparable constant currency EPS growth of 19%. These results reflected continued strong CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue gains, which supported a higher than projected 140 basis point improvement in operating margins on a reported basis and 120 basis points on a constant currency basis.

The Company is refining its full year 2019 revenue growth outlook to 7.5% - 9% on a reported basis and 9.5% - 10.5% on an organic basis. This reflects adjustments to our reported revenue growth outlook related to updated projections for foreign exchange rate impacts, and a 0.5% reduction to the high end of previous organic growth guidance, incorporating second quarter results. The Company is refining its full year reported revenue growth guidance for CAG Diagnostics recurring revenues to 9% - 10.5% and reinforcing its organic revenue growth guidance of 11% - 12%, consistent with strong year-to-date trends. The Company is raising its 2019 EPS guidance range by $0.05 per share at mid-point to $4.82 - $4.92, reflecting $0.04 per share in benefit from a lower projected effective tax rate from higher share-based compensation tax benefits and $0.02 per share in operational improvement from raised expectations for full year operating margin improvement of 100 - 125 basis points on a constant currency basis and lower interest expense projections. These benefits are partially offset by a $0.01 per share negative impact related to updated foreign exchange rate assumptions. Our updated EPS guidance is for 13% - 15% in reported EPS growth, or 17% - 20% on a comparable constant currency basis, aligned with our long-term performance goals.

IDEXX business momentum remained strong in the second quarter driven by high organic growth in CAG Diagnostics recurring revenues. The solid performance we continue to deliver is the result of a deep and talented global team, an unrelenting commitment to innovation, a unique multi-modal strategy and our durable recurring revenue business model. We're well positioned to build on this foundation through the expansion of key initiatives like IDEXX Preventive Care, which is building momentum as a driver of increased diagnostic testing, supporting faster growth for engaged IDEXX customers, said Jay Mazelsky, the Company's Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.

Second Quarter Performance Highlights

Companion Animal Group

The Companion Animal Group generated 8% reported and 10% organic revenue growth for the quarter, supported by CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth of 9% reported and 11% organic.

Veterinary software, services and diagnostic imaging systems revenue growth increased 9% on a reported basis and 7% on an organic basis, driven by growth in subscription-based service revenues, including continued expansion of our practice management platforms.

Water achieved revenue growth of 6% on a reported basis and 10% on an organic basis in the second quarter, supported by continued strong growth in international markets and mid single-digit gains in the U.S.

Livestock, Poultry and Dairy ( LPD )

LPD revenue declined 5% on a reported basis and was flat on an organic basis for the second quarter, supported by growth in herd health screening and solid increases in pregnancy and poultry testing. These gains were offset by significant declines in swine diagnostic testing related to African swine fever outbreaks in China, and moderate declines in European disease eradication programs.

Gross Profit and Operating Profit

Gross profits increased 8% year-over-year, and gross margin was 57.7%, an increase of 50 basis points compared to prior year period results on a reported basis and 30 basis points on a constant currency basis. Gross margin improvement was driven by mix benefits from strong growth in IDEXX VetLab consumable and rapid assay revenues and lower relative IDEXX VetLab instrument revenue growth, and continued moderate CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue net price gains. Gains in these areas were partially offset by increased investments in reference laboratory capacity and systems, and expanded field software support resources.

Operating margin was 26.5% in the quarter, 140 basis points higher than the prior year period results on a reported basis and 120 basis points on a constant currency basis, supported by gross margin gains and operating expense leverage on high revenue growth. Operating expenses increased 4% on a reported basis and 6% on a constant currency basis, driven by increases in our CAG segment's sales and marketing costs and research and development spending, with overall expense increases moderated by low constant currency growth in general and administrative costs.

2019 Financial Outlook

The following guidance for 2019 reflects the assumptions that for the remainder of 2019, the value of foreign currencies will remain at the following rates in U.S. dollars:

and relative to the U.S. dollar:

Outlook for 2019

We are refining our 2019 revenue outlook to $2,380 million - $2,410 million, reflecting expectations for reported revenue growth of 7.5% - 9% and organic revenue growth of 9.5% - 10.5%. At mid-point, the updated revenue outlook is $10 million below our previous guidance, including $5 million of impact related to updated foreign exchange estimates and $5 million in operational refinements related to our second quarter results, resulting in a 0.5% reduction to the high end of our earlier organic revenue growth guidance. Our outlook reflects expectations for CAG Diagnostics recurring reported revenue growth of 9% - 10.5% and consistent expectations for organic revenue growth of 11% - 12%. At the foreign exchange rate assumptions in 2019 noted above, we estimate that the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar will reduce full year 2019 reported revenue growth by approximately 1.5% to 2%.

We are updating our 2019 EPS outlook to $4.82 - $4.92 per share, reflecting an increase of $0.05 per share at mid-point, reflecting $0.04 per share of improvement related to updated estimates for share-based compensation tax benefits and $0.02 per share of benefit from improved expectations for full year operating performance supported by higher projected operating margin gains of 100 - 125 basis points on a constant currency basis and lower projected interest expense. For the full year, we now expect a foreign exchange headwind of $0.04 per share, a $0.01 higher impact compared to previously projected impact, net of projected hedge gains of approximately $11.5 million in 2019. The updated outlook represents EPS growth of 13% - 15% on a reported basis, and 17% - 20% on a comparable constant currency growth basis.

The Company continues to project free cash flow at approximately 60% - 65% of net income in 2019, including an estimated $70 million of capital spending related to the completion of our Westbrook, Maine headquarters expansion and the relocation and expansion of our core laboratory in Germany. For 2019, the Company projects capital spending of approximately $160 million - $175 million.

The Company provides the following updated guidance for 2019:

Amounts in millions except per share data and percentages

We now expect an effective tax rate of approximately 19.5% - 20%, incorporating expectations for a benefit from share-based compensation accounting of $12 million - $14 million or approximately 250 basis points. We are now projecting a reduction in weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 1%, and interest expense, net of interest income, of approximately $34 million reflecting current and projected borrowings.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. will be hosting a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss its second quarter 2019 results and management's outlook. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-800-230-1093 or 1-612-288-0337 and reference confirmation code 470018. Replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, August 8, 2019 by dialing 1-800-475-6701 or 1-320-365-3844 and referencing replay code 470018. Individuals can access a live webcast of the conference call through a link on the IDEXX website, www.idexx.com/investors. An archived edition of the webcast will be available after 1:00 p.m. (Eastern) on that day via the same link and will remain available for one year.

About IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is a leader in pet healthcare innovation, serving practicing veterinarians around the world with a broad range of diagnostic and information technology-based products and services. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency and build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing diagnostic tests and information for livestock and poultry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs more than 8,000 people and offers products to customers in over 175 countries. For more information about IDEXX, visit: www.idexx.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release contains statements about the Company's business prospects and estimates of the Company's financial results for future periods that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are included above under 2019 Financial Outlook , Outlook for 2019 , and elsewhere and can be identified by the use of words such as expects , may , anticipates , intends , would , will , plans , believes , estimates , projected , should , and similar words and expressions. Our forward-looking statements include statements relating to revenue growth and EPS outlooks; operating and free cash flow forecast; projected impact of foreign currency exchange rates; and projected operating margins and expenses, capital expenditures, gains from foreign currency hedging transactions, tax and EPS benefits from share-based compensation arrangements, effective tax rates, weighted average shares outstanding and interest expense. These statements are intended to provide management's expectation of future events as of the date of this earnings release; are based on management's estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this earnings release; and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the matters described under the headings Business, Risk Factors, Legal Proceedings, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in the corresponding sections of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as well as those described from time to time in the Company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following defines terms and conventions and provides reconciliations regarding certain measures used in this earnings release and/or the accompanying earnings conference call that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ( GAAP ), otherwise referred to as non-GAAP financial measures. To supplement the Company's consolidated results presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company has disclosed non-GAAP financial measures that exclude or adjust certain items. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information for its and investors' evaluation of the Company's business performance and liquidity and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of the performance of the Company's business and its liquidity and to the performance and liquidity of our peers. While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company's business, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Constant currency - Constant currency references are non-GAAP financial measures which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and are consistent with how management evaluates our performance and comparisons with prior and future periods. We estimated the net impacts of currency on our revenue, gross profit, operating profit, and EPS results by restating results to the average exchange rates or exchange rate assumptions for the comparative period, which includes adjusting for the estimated impacts of foreign currency hedging transactions and certain impacts on our effective tax rates. These estimated currency changes impacted second quarter 2019 results as follows: decreased revenue growth by 2%, decreased gross profit growth by approximately 2%, increased gross profit margin growth by 20 basis points, decreased operating expense growth by 2%, decreased operating profit growth by 1%, increased operating profit margin growth by 20 basis points, and decreased EPS growth by 2%. Estimated currency changes are also expected to decrease projected full year 2019 revenue growth by approximately 1.5% to 2.0%, decrease projected full year 2019 CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth by approximately 1.5% to 2.0%, increase projected operating profit margin growth by approximately 20 basis points, decrease projected 2019 EPS growth by approximately 1%, decrease projected third quarter revenue growth by approximately 1.5%, and increase projected third quarter operating margin growth by approximately 30 basis points. Constant currency revenue growth represents the percentage change in revenue during the applicable period, as compared to the prior year period, excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. See the supplementary analysis of results below for revenue percentage change from currency for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.

Growth and organic revenue growth - All references to growth and organic growth refer to growth compared to the equivalent prior year period unless specifically noted. Organic revenue growth is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and revenue from certain business acquisitions. See the supplementary analysis of results below for a reconciliation of reported revenue growth to organic revenue growth for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019. See the constant currency note above for the impacts of estimated currency changes to third quarter and full year 2019, as well projected full year 2019 organic revenue growth for the Company. The percentage change in revenue resulting from acquisitions represents incremental revenues attributable to business acquisitions that have occurred since the beginning of the prior year period. We exclude only acquisitions that are considered to be a business from organic revenue growth. For more detail on what acquisitions we consider to be a business in computing organic growth, please see Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations, Non-GAAP Financial Measures, contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. For the calculation of projected full year and third quarter 2019 organic revenue growth, and projected full year 2019 CAG Diagnostics recurring organic revenue growth, the impacts of revenue from acquisitions is immaterial.

Comparable constant currency EPS growth - Comparable constant currency EPS growth is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes the tax benefits of share-based compensation activity under ASU 2016-09. Management believes comparable constant currency EPS growth is a more useful way to measure the Company's business performance than EPS growth because it enables better period-over-period comparisons of the fundamental financial results by excluding items that vary independent of performance and provides greater transparency to investors regarding a key metric used by management. Share-based compensation activity is expected to increase projected EPS by $0.14 to $0.16 per share for the full year 2019 compared to $0.24 per share for the full year 2018, and increased second quarter 2019 EPS by $0.05 per share compared to $0.05 per share in the second quarter of 2018. These impacts and those described in the constant currency note above reconcile reported EPS growth to comparable constant currency EPS growth for the Company.

Free cash flow - Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and means, with respect to a measurement period, the cash generated from operations during that period, reduced by the Company's investments in property and equipment. Management believes free cash flow is a useful measure because it indicates the cash the operations of the business are generating after appropriate reinvestment for recurring investments in property and equipment that are required to operate the business. See the supplementary analysis of results below for our calculation of free cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. To estimate projected 2019 free cash flow, we have deducted projected purchases of property and equipment, also referred to as capital expenditures, of $160 million - $175 million.

Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (Leverage Ratios ) - Adjusted EBITDA, gross debt, and net debt are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and share-based compensation. Management believes that using Adjusted EBITDA, gross debt and net debt in the Adjusted EBITDA ratio is a useful and recognized measure for evaluating financial leverage. For further information on how Adjusted EBITDA and the Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio are calculated, see the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Contact: John Ravis, Investor Relations, 1-207-556-8155