Qiagen (NYSE: QGEN) reported Q4 EPS of $0.48, $0.04 better than the analyst estimate of $0.44. Revenue for the quarter came in at $413.5 million versus the consensus estimate of $408.58 million.

• Delivers on Q4 2019 net sales outlook, exceeds on adjusted EPS
  • Net sales of $413.5 million (+3% actual, +4% CER, vs. ~+3% CER outlook)
  • Diluted EPS $0.19; adjusted EPS $0.48 ($0.48 CER, +20% CER vs. ~$0.45-0.46 CER outlook)
  • Adjusted operating income margin rises to 33.5% of sales vs. 29.6% in Q4 2018
• Achieves FY 2019 net sales outlook, exceeds on adjusted EPS
  • Net sales of $1.53 billion (+2% actual, +4% CER, vs. ~+4% CER outlook)
  • Net loss per share $0.18; adjusted EPS $1.43 ($1.46 CER, +9% CER vs. ~$1.43-1.44 CER outlook)
  • Adjusted operating income margin rises to 27.6% of sales vs. 26.9% in 2018
• Provides full-year 2020 outlook for further growth
  • Net sales growth of ~+3-4% CER, includes reduced sales expectations for China due to business issues from 2019 and lower NGS companion diagnostics project revenues
  • Adjusted diluted EPS of ~$1.52-1.54 CER, up ~+7% CER at faster pace than sales growth

“QIAGEN’s performance for the fourth quarter and full-year 2019 delivered on the updated outlook we had set for sales growth, and exceeded the targets set for adjusted earnings,” said Thierry Bernard, Interim CEO and Senior Vice President, Head of Molecular Diagnostics Business Area of QIAGEN.

“We continue to focus on attractive growth opportunities from the Life Sciences to Molecular Diagnostics and are determined to make QIAGEN a stronger and more differentiated leader. We have set balanced targets for 2020 that capitalize on growth opportunities in our Sample to Insight portfolio while acknowledging challenges, in particular the weakness in our China business that began in mid-2019 and expectations for a continued reduction in revenues from companion diagnostic co-development projects due to the 2019 changes in our next-generation sequencing strategy. While we are currently seeing an increase in global demand for instruments and consumables that can be used for infectious disease testing for the coronavirus, we remain cautious and have not included it in our outlook for 2020 given the uncertainties and disruptions to macro business trends in China at this time,” Bernard said.

“We have reallocated resources to support business expansion, while also enabling us to set an outlook for adjusted earnings per share to grow at a significantly faster rate than sales growth. This is supported in particular by the decision to discontinue development of our own NGS instruments but also by the efficiency measures and resulting gains that were announced in 2019,” said Roland Sackers, Chief Financial Officer of QIAGEN. “We are reaffirming our commitment to improving operating efficiencies and to maintaining disciplined capital allocation to support growth and increase returns.”

GUIDANCE:

Qiagen sees FY2020 EPS of $1.52-$1.54, versus the consensus of $1.49.

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