Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BD) (NYSE:BDX) reported revenue of $4.23 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, ended Dec. 31, up 1.6% from the same period a year ago. Revenue grew 2.5% on a currency-neutral basis. However, an unexpected regulatory hurdle for its Alaris infusion pumps caused the Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based company to lower its 2020 revenue and earnings guidance. Despite the shadow cast by the Alaris news, BD beat Street expectations for the quarter – clocking in at $4.23 billion vs. $4.18 billion.
Modest revenue growth and a 2020 outlook that left analysts uninspired about its near-term prospects pushed Gilead Sciences Inc. shares (NASDAQ:GILD) down about 2% to close Feb. 5 at $65.87, despite growing sales of its HIV medicine, Biktarvy (bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide), and what CEO Daniel O'Day called "a sense of urgency" around further business development.
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., of Warsaw, Ind., reported good news for the fourth quarter, which saw net sales of $2.126 billion, an increase of 2.6% over the prior year period. In terms of geography, the Americas and Asia-Pacific stood out. In addition, the company witnessed strong results globally in its knee and hip businesses.
Novocure Ltd. of St. Helier, Jersey, released preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 results, showing strong momentum with its tumor treating fields (TTF) technology, a noninvasive, antimitotic therapy delivered via the Optune device. Q4 revenue is expected to hit $99.2 million, up 42% from $69.7 million in the same period last year, with anticipated full-year revenue of $351.3 million, also up 42%. In the U.S., net revenues grew 49% to $65.9 million in the last financial quarter.
Boston-based conglomerate GE worked to make the case for its health care business to investors at a Dec. 2 event, but Wall Street seemed underwhelmed. The company’s share price remains hovering around lows not seen since the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
Medtronic plc, of Dublin, reported good news in terms of its quarterly results Tuesday, with key revenue segments coming in line with or beating expectations. Wells Fargo's Larry Biegelsen noted that coronary and structural heart sales of $955 million exceeded the consensus of $949 million and his organization's $923 million estimate. The company pointed to its transcatheter aortic valves as helping in the boost, following the expansion into the low-risk patient population.
Senseonics Inc., of Germantown, Md., reported gloomy results for its 2019 third quarter, with revenue of $4.3 million, down 17% from the same period last year. The tally also fell far short of the consensus on Wall Street, which estimated third-quarter revenue of $6.07 million.
Warsaw, Ind.-based Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. is moving ahead of schedule in terms of its turnaround as it reported revenue of $1.892 billion for the third quarter. That figure represents an increase of 3% over the same period last year, impressing analysts.
San Diego-based Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter of 2019, with worldwide pump shipments soaring 112% to 17,839 pumps from 8,434 pumps in the same period a year ago. Revenue rose 105% to $94.7 million, up from $46.3 million in the third quarter of 2018.
Madison, Wis.-based Exact Sciences Corp., which provided an update on promising research in a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, saw a jump in revenue during its third quarter, with 12,000 providers ordering their initial Cologuard test during the period. The company posted impressive numbers, with revenue increasing 85% to $219 million on Cologuard volume growth. The revenue came in $3 million above consensus, and the operational update was as expected, noted Sean Lavin, BTIG analyst. Even though management was upbeat, "with investor sentiment fairly weak, an in-line result was simply not good enough, and we guessed that a $5 [million]-$10 [million] beat was probably needed to nudge shares," Lavin added.
