On October 16, 2019 Abbott (NYSE: ABT) reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2019 (Press release, Abbott, OCT 16, 2019, View Source [SID1234542323]).
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Third-quarter worldwide sales of $8.1 billion increased 5.5 percent on a reported basis and 7.6 percent on an organic* basis.
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations under GAAP was $0.53 in the third quarter. Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, which excludes specified items, was $0.84, an increase of 12.0 percent versus prior year1.
Abbott narrowed its full-year 2019 outlook for diluted EPS from continuing operations on a GAAP basis to $2.06 to $2.08, and full-year adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations to $3.23 to $3.25, reflecting 12.5 percent growth versus the prior year at the midpoint of the range2.
FreeStyle Libre achieved worldwide sales of $496 million in the quarter, an increase of 63.1 percent on a reported basis and 67.6 percent on an organic basis versus the prior year.
During the third quarter, FreeStyle Libre obtained public reimbursement coverage in Ontario and Quebec, becoming the first and only sensor-based glucose monitoring system to be listed by any provincial health plan in Canada.
Worldwide sales of MitraClip were $176 million in the quarter, an increase of 30.4 percent on a reported basis and 31.9 percent on an organic basis, including U.S. growth of 45.7 percent versus the prior year. During the third quarter, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of its next-generation MitraClip device, which offers enhancements and more sizes to offer doctors further options.
In September, Abbott announced data from its COAPT Trial that shows that MitraClip is projected to increase life-expectancy and quality of life compared to guideline-directed medical therapy alone in heart failure patients with secondary mitral regurgitation, or a leaky mitral heart valve.
During the third quarter, Abbott received U.S. FDA approval for its Alinity-S diagnostics system, the latest technology for screening and protecting the U.S. blood and plasma supply.
"We’re performing exceptionally well across several areas," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "We’re right on track to achieve ongoing EPS and organic sales growth at the upper-end of our initial guidance ranges for the year."
* See note on organic growth below.
THIRD-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Note: Management believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business.
Organic sales growth:
Excludes the prior year first, second and third-quarter results for a non-core business within U.S. Adult Nutrition, which was discontinued during the third quarter 2018; and
Excludes the impact of foreign exchange.
Third-quarter 2019 worldwide sales of $8.1 billion increased 5.5 percent on a reported basis. On an organic basis, worldwide sales increased 7.6 percent. Refer to tables titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Historical Revenue" for a reconciliation of adjusted historical revenue.
Worldwide Nutrition sales increased 2.0 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter. On an organic basis, sales increased 3.8 percent. Refer to tables titled "Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Adjusted Historical Revenue" for a reconciliation of adjusted historical revenue.
Worldwide Pediatric Nutrition sales increased 0.5 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 0.9 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 1.4 percent on an organic basis. In the U.S., sales growth was led by Abbott’s market-leading toddler brands, PediaSure and Pedialyte. International sales declined 2.4 percent on a reported basis and 0.7 percent on an organic basis, driven by challenging market dynamics in Greater China, partially offset by growth across several countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Worldwide Adult Nutrition sales increased 3.9 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter and increased 6.9 percent on an organic basis. International Adult Nutrition sales increased 7.5 percent on a reported basis and 10.4 percent on an organic basis in the third quarter. Sales performance in the quarter was led by strong growth of Ensure, Abbott’s market-leading complete and balanced nutrition brand, and Glucerna, Abbott’s market-leading diabetes-specific nutrition brand.
Worldwide Diagnostics sales increased 4.7 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 1.9 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 6.6 percent on an organic basis.
Core Laboratory Diagnostics sales increased 8.3 percent on a reported basis and 10.6 percent on an organic basis in the third quarter. Sales performance was led by above-market growth in the U.S. and internationally, where Abbott is achieving continued strong adoption of its Alinity family of innovative and highly differentiated diagnostic instruments. During the third quarter, Abbott received U.S. FDA approval for its Alinity-S blood and plasma screening diagnostics instrument and several testing assays.
Molecular Diagnostics sales decreased 7.8 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 1.4 percent effect of foreign exchange, and decreased 6.4 percent on an organic basis. Internationally, sales growth in the quarter was negatively impacted by lower non-governmental organization purchases in Africa.
Point of Care Diagnostics sales increased 6.3 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 0.4 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 6.7 percent on an organic basis. Sales growth was led by Abbott’s market-leading i-STAT handheld system in the U.S. and internationally.
Rapid Diagnostics sales decreased 0.7 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 1.5 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 0.8 percent on an organic basis. Organic sales growth was led by infectious disease testing in developed markets and cardio-metabolic testing globally, partially offset by lower than expected infectious disease testing sales in Africa.
Established Pharmaceuticals sales increased 4.4 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 3.5 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 7.9 percent on an organic basis.
Key Emerging Markets include India, Brazil, Russia and China along with several additional emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott’s branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies increased 2.8 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter and increased 6.8 percent on an organic basis, which excludes an unfavorable 4.0 percent effect of foreign exchange. Organic sales growth was led by strong growth across several geographies, including India, China and Brazil.
Other sales increased 9.2 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter, including an unfavorable 1.7 percent effect of foreign exchange, and increased 10.9 percent on an organic basis.
Worldwide Medical Devices sales increased 8.9 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter and increased 10.6 percent on an organic basis, led by double-digit growth in Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, Structural Heart and Diabetes Care.
In Electrophysiology, growth was led by strong performance in cardiac diagnostic and ablation catheters, which are used to help physicians accurately and effectively treat atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular heartbeat.
In Heart Failure, strong double-digit growth was driven by market adoption of Abbott’s HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device, which has been shown to improve survival and clinical outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure.
Growth in Structural Heart was led by MitraClip, Abbott’s market-leading device for the minimally invasive treatment of mitral regurgitation, or a leaky mitral heart valve. In the third quarter, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of its next-generation MitraClip device, MitraClip G4, which offers an expanded range of clip sizes, an alternative leaflet grasping feature and facilitation of procedure assessment in real time to offer doctors further options when treating mitral valve disease.
In Diabetes Care, sales increased 29.6 percent on a reported basis and 33.1 percent on an organic basis in the third quarter. Sales growth in the quarter was led by FreeStyle Libre, Abbott’s revolutionary continuous glucose monitoring system, with worldwide sales of $496 million, an increase of 63.1 percent on a reported basis and 67.6 percent on an organic basis versus the prior year. During the third quarter, FreeStyle Libre obtained public reimbursement coverage in Ontario and Quebec, becoming the first and only sensor-based glucose monitoring system to be listed by any provincial health plan in Canada.
ABBOTT’S GUIDANCE FOR 2019
Abbott is narrowing its guidance for 2019 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to $2.06 to $2.08. Abbott forecasts net specified items for the full year 2019 of $1.17 per share. Specified items include intangible amortization expense, acquisition-related expenses, charges associated with cost reduction initiatives and other expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be $3.23 to $3.25 for the full year 2019.
Abbott is issuing fourth-quarter 2019 guidance for diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under GAAP of $0.59 to $0.61. Abbott forecasts specified items for the fourth quarter 2019 of $0.35 per share primarily related to intangible amortization, acquisition-related expenses, cost reduction initiatives and other expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be $0.94 to $0.96 for the fourth quarter.
ABBOTT DECLARES 383RD CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
On Sept. 12, 2019, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company’s quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. Abbott’s cash dividend is payable Nov. 15, 2019, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15, 2019.
Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 47 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.