PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR) today is reporting net earnings of $0.92 per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, including an $11 million or $0.07 per diluted share restructuring charge. Varian’s company-wide revenues totaled $738 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, up 4 percent from the year-ago quarter. The company ended the first quarter with a $3.1 billion backlog, up 13 percent from the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.
“The company came in significantly ahead of its earnings target for the quarter with the help of favorable geographic and product mix, as well as successful cost containment initiatives that led to improved gross margins in all our businesses,” said Dow R. Wilson, CEO of Varian Medical Systems.
The company finished the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 with $904 million in cash and cash equivalents and $525 million of debt. Cash flow from operations for the first quarter was $79 million. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, the company spent $126 million to repurchase approximately 1.5 million shares of common stock.
Oncology Systems
Oncology Systems’ first quarter revenues totaled $563 million, up 4 percent from the same quarter of fiscal year 2014. First-quarter Oncology gross orders were $562 million, up 5 percent versus the year-ago quarter. Consistent with the recent geographic reorganization of the Oncology Systems business, the company has consolidated the “Rest of World” region into three geographic regions the Americas, APAC and EMEA. It is now reporting results for each of these regions. Oncology gross orders rose 17 percent in APAC, gained 12 percent in EMEA and declined by 2 percent in the Americas. Gross orders in North America fell by 3 percent versus strong growth of 13 percent in the prior-year quarter. (A quarterly recast of gross orders and revenues for fiscal years 2013 and 2014 in each of the reclassified geographic regions is attached.)
“Oncology revenues and gross margins were strong with the help of good performance in North America as well as robust gains in our software and service product lines,” said Wilson. “International gross order growth in this business was driven by strong performance in emerging markets, particularly in China.”
Imaging Components
First quarter revenues for Imaging Components were $166 million, up 3 percent from the year-ago quarter while first quarter gross orders increased by 34 percent to $163 million versus a weak year-ago quarter when orders declined.
“Demand for our flat panels and tubes drove the strong order growth in Imaging Components and kept the business on track to achieve long-term high single-digit order growth,” said Wilson.
Other
The company’s Other category, including the Varian Particle Therapy business and the Ginzton Technology Center, recorded revenues of $9 million and gross orders of $1 million in the quarter.
Outlook
“The company got off to a good start in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 with revenues and earnings coming in ahead of expectations,” said Wilson. “Our outlook for the full fiscal year is heavily impacted by the recent dramatic swing in currency exchange rates which we believe will significantly reduce revenues and earnings in the balance of the year. We now believe that total company revenues for fiscal year 2015 could increase by about 5 percent. With the earnings momentum of the first quarter, we believe that we can maintain our prior guidance of $4.16 to $4.26 per diluted share for the fiscal year.
“Given current exchange rates and the expected timing of shipments in the year, we believe total company revenues for the second quarter should increase by about 2 percent versus the year-ago period. Net earnings per diluted share for the second quarter could be in the range of $0.98 to $1.02.”
The guidance excludes contracted proton projects that are not yet financed or booked into backlog. If these projects are booked during the fiscal year, the potential upside in revenues and profits could be significant.
Investor Conference Call
Varian Medical Systems is scheduled to conduct its first quarter fiscal year 2015 conference call at 2 p.m. PT today.
To read full press release, please click here.
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