Edwards Lifesciences Reports First Quarter Results

IRVINE, Calif., April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

First Quarter Highlights:

• Sales grew 18.1% to $697.3 million, and underlying¹ sales were up 19.7%
• THVT sales grew 37.0%, and underlying sales were up 38.3%
• GAAP EPS was $0.66, an increase of 17.9%, and adjusted² EPS grew 24.6% to $0.71
• 2016 sales guidance raised to $2.7 - $3.0 billion from $2.6 - $2.85 billion
• 2016 THVT sales guidance raised to $1.4 - $1.6 billion; underlying growth >25%
• 2016 adjusted EPS guidance increased to $2.67 - $2.77

"We are very pleased to report a strong start to 2016," said Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO.  "Significant transcatheter heart valve sales once again drove the majority of this quarter's growth, with solid performance in our core businesses, in particular Critical Care.  We are also pleased to report strong bottom line results while aggressively investing in new therapies that can have a meaningful future impact. And, most importantly, even more patients are benefiting from our life saving technologies than ever before."

First Quarter 2016 Results           

Sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 were $697.3 million.  U.S. and international segment sales for the first quarter were $375.6 million and $321.7 million, respectively.  On an underlying basis, sales grew 19.7 percent over the first quarter last year.  Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 was $143.0 million, or $0.66 per diluted share.   

For the first quarter, the company reported Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapy (THVT) sales of $367.8 million, a 37.0 percent growth rate over the first quarter last year, or $366.1 million and 38.3 percent growth on an underlying basis. Growth was led by continued strong therapy adoption in the U.S.

In the U.S., THVT sales for the quarter were $216.4 million. On an underlying basis, sales were $214.7 million and grew 64.1 percent compared to the prior year period.

"Our THVT performance was driven primarily by strong procedure growth, which continued to exceed our expectations, and was aided by the recent U.S. launch of our SAPIEN 3 valve," said Mussallem.

Surgical Heart Valve Therapy product group sales for the quarter were $195.9 million. Reported sales decreased 0.5 percent compared to the first quarter last year, and were up slightly over the prior year on an underlying basis. Globally, sales were lifted by an increase in surgical heart valve units, which the company believes was primarily driven by greater aortic disease awareness that prompted a larger number of surgical procedures, but were offset by the ongoing exit of non-strategic cannula products.

Critical Care product group sales were $133.6 million for the quarter, representing an increase of 7.0 percent versus last year, or 9.1 percent on an underlying basis. Overall growth for the quarter was strong in the company's core products and its Enhanced Surgical Recovery program.

For the quarter, the company's gross profit margin was 74.1 percent, compared to 77.0 percent in the same period last year. This expected decrease was driven primarily by the foreign exchange impact from inventories sold internationally and higher spending in global manufacturing operations, partially offset by a more favorable product mix.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $212.7 million for the quarter, or 30.5 percent of sales. This increase was driven primarily by sales and marketing expenses related to transcatheter valves. This was partially offset by the suspension of the Medical Device Excise Tax (MDET), as well as the favorable foreign exchange impact on expenses outside the U.S.

Research and development investments for the quarter increased to $102.4 million compared to $86.4 million in the prior year period.  This increase was primarily the result of continued investments in the company's transcatheter mitral and aortic valve programs. The suspension of the MDET provided additional flexibility to accelerate investments in structural heart initiatives.

Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter was $107.1 million.  After capital spending of $27.7 million, free cash flow was $79.4 million.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $951.8 million at March 31, 2016.  Total debt was $602.2 million.

Outlook

For the full year 2016, the company now expects sales to be between $2.7 and $3.0 billion due to the strong first quarter momentum, a planned earlier U.S. indication expansion for the SAPIEN 3 valve, and an anticipated positive impact from foreign exchange. With this increase in sales guidance, the company now expects adjusted earnings per share to be between $2.67 and $2.77.

For the second quarter of 2016, at current foreign exchange rates, the company projects sales to be between $700 and $740 million, and adjusted earnings per share to be between $0.67 and $0.73.

"Our strong start to 2016 positions us well for another successful year," said Mussallem. "We are enthusiastic about the continued expansion of transcatheter-based therapies for the many structural heart patients still in need. We are confident in our outlook for strong sales growth, and we remain passionate about developing impactful therapies to help more patients around the world."

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences, based in Irvine, Calif., is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease, as well as critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company collaborates with the world's leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs, working to improve patient outcomes and enhance lives. For more information, visit www.Edwards.com and follow us on Twitter at @EdwardsLifesci.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Edwards Lifesciences will be hosting a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. PT to discuss its first quarter results.  To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 407-8037 or (201) 689-8037.  For 72 hours following the call, an audio replay can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415 and using conference number 13633520.  The call will also be available via live or archived webcast on the "Investor Relations" section of the Edwards web site at ir.edwards.com or www.edwards.com. A live stream and archived replay can also be accessed via mobile devices by downloading Edwards' IR App for iPhone and iPad or Android.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "project," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "guidance," "outlook," "optimistic," "aspire," "confident"  or other forms of these words or similar expressions and include, but are not limited to, statements made by Mr. Mussallem and information in the Outlook section, including the company's financial guidance, and expectations for trends in therapy adoption.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.  If the company does update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that the company will make additional updates or corrections.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include uncertainties associated with new product launches, competitive dynamics and therapy expansion, particularly for THV; the timing and extent of regulatory approvals and reimbursement levels for our products; the company's success in developing new products and avoiding manufacturing and quality issues; the impact of currency exchange rates and related currency hedge contracts; the timing or results of pending or future clinical trials; actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies; unexpected litigation results or expenses; and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. These filings, along with important safety information about our products, may be found at edwards.com.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, Edwards SAPIEN, Edwards SAPIEN 3, Enhanced Surgical Recovery Program, SAPIEN and SAPIEN 3 are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

[1] "Underlying" amounts are non-GAAP items and in this press release exclude foreign exchange fluctuations and the THVT sales return reserve. See the Non-GAAP Financial Information page and reconciliation tables below.

[2] Adjusted earnings per share is a non-GAAP item and excludes the impact of the THVT product exchange, amortization expense, and gains and losses from special items, such as significant investments, impairments, litigation and business development transactions.