Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS) reported Q4 EPS of $0.01, $0.04 worse than the analyst estimate of $0.05. Revenue for the quarter came in at $56.12 million versus the consensus estimate of $54.96 million.

• Total revenue increased 9.6% to 49,014 kEUR for the fourth quarter of 2018.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.24% to 6,052 kEUR for the fourth quarter of 2018.
• Net profit for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 525 kEUR, or 0.01 EUR per diluted share, compared to 1,067 kEUR, over the same period last year.

Executive Chairman Peter Leys commented, “2018 has been a good year for Materialise. Our annual revenues grew by 30% to 184,721 kEUR, our Adjusted EBITDA grew by 61% to 23,526 kEUR, and our deferred revenue from license and maintenance fees increased 3,883 kEUR to 22,606 kEUR, all at the higher end of the range we forecasted at the beginning of the year. In addition, cash flow from operating activities in 2018 was 28,321 kEUR compared to 9,951 kEUR in 2017, and, as a result of the capital we raised in 2018, our cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2018 totaled 115,506 kEUR compared to 43,175 kEUR at the end of last year. This financial strength positions us well to capture new growth opportunities going forward, even if the macro-economic conditions become less favorable.”

2019 Guidance

Mr. Leys concluded, “The additive manufacturing market continues to evolve, as new applications gradually find their way to the market, and we intend to continue positioning Materialise to benefit from this promising growth market in the coming years. In 2019, Materialise will dedicate significant attention to the partnerships that we have entered into and to the strategic initiatives that we have launched over the previous years. In our Materialise Software segment, we intend to maintain our leadership position through innovation and strategic partnerships; in our Materialise Medical segment we will drive the next stage of innovation, including by launching initiatives in new growth areas; and in our Materialise Manufacturing segment we will increasingly focus on manufacturing of complex and unique parts.

“For fiscal 2019, we expect to report consolidated revenue between 196,000 kEUR – 204,000 kEUR and Adjusted EBITDA between 29,000 kEUR – 33,000 kEUR. We expect the amount of deferred revenue that Materialise generates from annual licenses and maintenance in 2019 to increase by an amount between 2,000 kEUR – 4,000 kEUR.”

Adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2019 includes the positive impact, estimated at approximately 3,000 kEUR, of the application of the new IFRS16 Leases accounting standard, which requires leases to be recognized as an asset, and depreciated, over the lease term. As a result of the increased depreciation by approximately the same amount as the rental payments, our operating profit will not be impacted by this new standard.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Materialise NV (MTLS) click here.