Envista (NVST) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.26 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.31 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.38 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -16.13%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of dental products would post earnings of $0.33 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.29, delivering a surprise of -12.12%.Over the last four quarters, t ...

[Q1 2024 Results Overview](index=1&type=section&id=Q1%202024%20Results%20Overview) This section provides an overview of Envista Holdings Corporation's Q1 2024 financial performance, strategic focus, and leadership transition [Financial Highlights](index=1&type=section&id=Financial%20Highlights) Envista Holdings Corporation reported challenging first-quarter 2024 results, with reported sales of $623.6 million and core sales growth of 0.4%, while net income and adjusted net income decreased compared to the prior year Financial Highlights (in millions, except Core Sales Growth and Diluted EPS) | Metric | Q1 2024 (March 29, 2024) | Q1 2023 (March 31, 2023) | | :----------------------- | :----------------------- | :----------------------- | | Reported Sales | $623.6 million | $627.2 million | | Core Sales Growth | 0.4% | - | | Net Income | $23.6 million | $43.8 million | | Diluted EPS | $0.14 | $0.25 | | Adjusted Net Income | $45.8 million | $67.8 million | | Adjusted Diluted EPS | $0.26 | $0.38 | | Adjusted EBITDA | $87.2 million | $114.0 million | [CEO Commentary and Strategic Focus](index=1&type=section&id=CEO%20Commentary%20and%20Strategic%20Focus) The outgoing CEO acknowledged challenging Q1 results but highlighted progress in long-term investments and outlined strategic priorities for 2024 - Q1 results were challenging, but the company made meaningful progress in prioritizing long-term investments for growth and profitability[4](index=4&type=chunk) - The Spark business achieved **double-digit growth** and **expanded margins**[4](index=4&type=chunk) - The value implant business returned to growth, and the consumables business stabilized[4](index=4&type=chunk) - Key strategic focuses for 2024 include improving Spark margins, accelerating the North American implant business, and optimizing the operating structure using the Envista Business System[4](index=4&type=chunk) [Leadership Transition](index=1&type=section&id=Leadership%20Transition) Paul Keel has been appointed as Envista's new CEO, effective May 1, 2024, with outgoing CEO Amir Aghdaei transitioning to a Senior Advisor role - **Paul Keel** appointed as Envista's new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2024[4](index=4&type=chunk) - Amir Aghdaei, the outgoing CEO, will remain a shareholder and Senior Advisor to Envista[4](index=4&type=chunk) [Investor Conference Call Details](index=1&type=section&id=Investor%20Conference%20Call%20Details) Envista hosted an investor conference call on May 1, 2024, to discuss quarterly results, with materials available on its website - An investor conference call was held on **May 1, 2024**, at 2:00 P.M. PT[4](index=4&type=chunk) - Webcast, slide presentation, and replay are available on the 'Investors' section of Envista's website under 'Events & Presentations' and 'Quarterly Earnings'[4](index=4&type=chunk)[5](index=5&type=chunk) [About Envista](index=2&type=section&id=About%20Envista) Envista is a global dental products company with over 30 brands, offering a comprehensive portfolio across implants, orthodontics, and digital imaging, driven by the Envista Business System - Envista is a global family of over **30 trusted dental brands**, including Nobel Biocare, Ormco, DEXIS, and Kerr[6](index=6&type=chunk) - The company provides industry-leading dental consumables, solutions, technology, and services, covering dental implants, orthodontics, and digital imaging technologies[6](index=6&type=chunk) - Envista's operations are underpinned by the **Envista Business System (EBS)** methodology, an experienced leadership team, and a culture emphasizing continuous improvement, innovation, and customer focus[6](index=6&type=chunk) [Financial Statements](index=4&type=section&id=Financial%20Statements) This section presents Envista's condensed consolidated financial statements, including statements of operations, balance sheets, and cash flows for the reported periods [Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations](index=4&type=section&id=Condensed%20Consolidated%20Statements%20of%20Operations) For Q1 2024, Envista reported decreases in sales, gross profit, operating profit, and net income, primarily due to lower operating profit and higher SG&A expenses Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions, except Diluted EPS) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Sales | $623.6 | $627.2 | | Cost of sales | $267.3 | $264.5 | | Gross profit | $356.3 | $362.7 | | Operating expenses: | | | | SG&A | $284.9 | $266.1 | | R&D | $23.3 | $24.5 | | Operating profit | $48.1 | $72.1 | | Income before taxes | $35.3 | $55.7 | | Income tax expense | $11.7 | $11.9 | | Net Income | $23.6 | $43.8 | | Diluted EPS | $0.14 | $0.25 | [Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets](index=5&type=section&id=Condensed%20Consolidated%20Balance%20Sheets) As of March 29, 2024, Envista's total assets slightly decreased, with an increase in cash and cash equivalents and a reduction in goodwill and intangible assets Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | As of March 29, 2024 | As of December 31, 2023 | | :----------------------------- | :------------------- | :---------------------- | | **ASSETS** | | | | Cash and cash equivalents | $948.5 | $940.0 | | Total current assets | $1,771.9 | $1,743.7 | | Goodwill | $3,259.8 | $3,292.2 | | Other intangible assets, net | $918.7 | $954.0 | | Total assets | $6,556.3 | $6,605.1 | | **LIABILITIES AND EQUITY** | | | | Total current liabilities | $781.3 | $780.8 | | Long-term debt | $1,390.5 | $1,398.1 | | Total stockholders' equity | $4,140.3 | $4,173.9 | | Total liabilities and equity | $6,556.3 | $6,605.1 | [Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows](index=6&type=section&id=Condensed%20Consolidated%20Statements%20of%20Cash%20Flows) Envista significantly increased cash from operating activities in Q1 2024, leading to an overall increase in cash and cash equivalents by quarter-end Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Net cash provided by operating activities | $40.3 | $3.1 | | Net cash used in investing activities | $(10.7) | $(22.0) | | Net cash used in financing activities | $(2.6) | $(1.5) | | Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $8.5 | $(21.7) | | Ending balance of cash and cash equivalents | $948.5 | $585.2 | [Summary of Financial Metrics](index=7&type=section&id=Summary%20of%20Financial%20Metrics) This section provides a summary of Envista's key GAAP and non-GAAP financial metrics for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023 [GAAP Financial Metrics](index=7&type=section&id=GAAP%20Financial%20Metrics) Envista's Q1 2024 GAAP metrics show declines in profitability but a significant improvement in operating cash flow compared to the prior year GAAP Financial Metrics (in millions, except EPS) | GAAP Metric (in millions, except EPS) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Gross Profit | $356.3 | $362.7 | | Operating Profit | $48.1 | $72.1 | | Net Income | $23.6 | $43.8 | | Diluted Earnings Per Share | $0.14 | $0.25 | | Operating Cash Flow | $40.3 | $3.1 | [Non-GAAP Financial Metrics](index=7&type=section&id=Non-GAAP%20Financial%20Metrics) Non-GAAP metrics for Q1 2024 indicate decreases in adjusted profitability measures, but free cash flow turned positive compared to Q1 2023 Non-GAAP Financial Metrics (in millions, except EPS) | Non-GAAP Metric (in millions, except EPS) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :---------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Adjusted Gross Profit | $358.0 | $364.2 | | Adjusted Operating Profit | $77.6 | $105.2 | | Adjusted Net Income | $45.8 | $67.8 | | Adjusted Diluted EPS | $0.26 | $0.38 | | Adjusted EBITDA | $87.2 | $114.0 | | Free Cash Flow | $29.3 | $(14.4) | [Segment Information](index=8&type=section&id=Segment%20Information) This section details Envista's sales, operating profit, and operating margins broken down by its Specialty Products & Technologies and Equipment & Consumables segments [Sales by Segment](index=8&type=section&id=Sales%20by%20Segment) Both Specialty Products & Technologies and Equipment & Consumables segments experienced slight sales declines in Q1 2024 compared to the prior year Sales by Segment (in millions) | Segment (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :------------------------------ | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Specialty Products & Technologies | $408.7 | $410.0 | | Equipment & Consumables | $214.9 | $217.2 | | Total Sales | $623.6 | $627.2 | [Operating Profit by Segment](index=8&type=section&id=Operating%20Profit%20by%20Segment) Specialty Products & Technologies saw a significant decrease in operating profit, while Equipment & Consumables reported an increase in Q1 2024 Operating Profit by Segment (in millions) | Segment (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :------------------------------ | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Specialty Products & Technologies | $44.2 | $71.1 | | Equipment & Consumables | $35.6 | $32.5 | | Other | $(31.7) | $(31.5) | | Total Operating Profit | $48.1 | $72.1 | [Operating Margins by Segment](index=8&type=section&id=Operating%20Margins%20by%20Segment) Specialty Products & Technologies' operating margin substantially decreased, while Equipment & Consumables improved its margin in Q1 2024 Operating Margins by Segment | Segment | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :------------------------------ | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Specialty Products & Technologies | 10.8 % | 17.3 % | | Equipment & Consumables | 16.6 % | 15.0 % | | Total | 7.7 % | 11.5 % | [Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations](index=2&type=section&id=Non-GAAP%20Measures%20and%20Reconciliations) This section explains Envista's non-GAAP financial measures and provides detailed reconciliations to their most directly comparable GAAP counterparts [Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures](index=2&type=section&id=Explanation%20of%20Non-GAAP%20Measures) Envista uses non-GAAP measures to provide additional insights into profitability trends, underlying growth, operational factors, and cash generation, supplementing GAAP results - All **'Adjusted' amounts**, including core sales growth and free cash flow, are non-GAAP items[7](index=7&type=chunk) - Non-GAAP measures provide useful information by offering additional ways to view results, helping investors understand long-term profitability, identify underlying growth trends, assess operational factors, and evaluate cash generation ability[30](index=30&type=chunk)[32](index=32&type=chunk) - The company does not reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP measures to GAAP due to inherent difficulties in predicting future impacts of currency translation, acquisitions, discontinued products, and other potential adjustments[7](index=7&type=chunk) [Adjusted Gross Profit and Margin Reconciliation](index=9&type=section&id=Adjusted%20Gross%20Profit%20and%20Margin%20Reconciliation) Adjusted Gross Profit for Q1 2024 was $358.0 million, slightly lower than Q1 2023, after adjusting for restructuring costs and asset impairments Adjusted Gross Profit and Margin Reconciliation (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Gross Profit | $356.3 | $362.7 | | Restructuring costs and asset impairments | $1.7 | $1.5 | | Adjusted Gross Profit | $358.0 | $364.2 | | Gross Margin | 57.1 % | 57.8 % | | Adjusted Gross Margin | 57.4 % | 58.1 % | [Adjusted Operating Profit Reconciliation](index=9&type=section&id=Adjusted%20Operating%20Profit%20Reconciliation) Consolidated Adjusted Operating Profit decreased in Q1 2024, with Specialty Products & Technologies seeing a notable decline, while Equipment & Consumables remained stable Adjusted Operating Profit Reconciliation (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | **Consolidated** | | | | Operating Profit | $48.1 | $72.1 | | Amortization of intangibles | $22.6 | $27.9 | | Restructuring costs & impairments | $6.9 | $4.3 | | Acquisition related expenses | — | $0.9 | | Adjusted Operating Profit | $77.6 | $105.2 | | Adjusted Operating Profit as % of Sales | 12.4 % | 16.8 % | | **Specialty Products & Technologies** | | | | Operating Profit | $44.2 | $71.1 | | Adjusted Operating Profit | $61.9 | $88.4 | | Adjusted Operating Profit as % of Sales | 15.1 % | 21.6 % | | **Equipment & Consumables** | | | | Operating Profit | $35.6 | $32.5 | | Adjusted Operating Profit | $46.6 | $47.3 | | Adjusted Operating Profit as % of Sales | 21.7 % | 21.8 % | [Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation](index=10&type=section&id=Adjusted%20Net%20Income%20Reconciliation) Adjusted Net Income for Q1 2024 decreased to $45.8 million from $67.8 million in Q1 2023, after accounting for various adjustments and tax effects Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Net Income | $23.6 | $43.8 | | Amortization of intangibles | $22.6 | $27.9 | | Restructuring costs & impairments | $6.9 | $4.3 | | Acquisition related expenses | — | $0.9 | | Tax effect of adjustments | $(7.6) | $(7.8) | | Discrete tax adjustments | $0.3 | $(1.3) | | Adjusted Net Income | $45.8 | $67.8 | [Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation](index=10&type=section&id=Adjusted%20Diluted%20Earnings%20Per%20Share%20Reconciliation) Adjusted Diluted EPS decreased to $0.26 in Q1 2024 from $0.38 in Q1 2023, reflecting the lower adjusted net income Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation | Metric | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Diluted Earnings | $0.14 | $0.25 | | Amortization of intangibles | $0.13 | $0.16 | | Restructuring costs & impairments | $0.04 | $0.02 | | Acquisition related expenses | — | $0.01 | | Tax effect of adjustments | $(0.05) | $(0.05) | | Discrete tax adjustments | — | $(0.01) | | Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share | $0.26 | $0.38 | [Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation](index=10&type=section&id=Adjusted%20EBITDA%20Reconciliation) Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2024 was $87.2 million, down from $114.0 million in Q1 2023, with a corresponding decline in its percentage of sales Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Net Income | $23.6 | $43.8 | | Interest expense, net | $12.9 | $16.7 | | Income tax expense | $11.7 | $11.9 | | Depreciation | $9.5 | $8.5 | | Amortization of intangibles | $22.6 | $27.9 | | Restructuring costs & impairments | $6.9 | $4.3 | | Acquisition related expenses | — | $0.9 | | Adjusted EBITDA | $87.2 | $114.0 | | Adjusted EBITDA as a % of Sales | 14.0 % | 18.2 % | [Core Sales Growth Reconciliation](index=11&type=section&id=Core%20Sales%20Growth%20Reconciliation) Consolidated core sales grew by 0.4% in Q1 2024, driven by positive currency exchange rates, with Specialty Products & Technologies showing growth Core Sales Growth Reconciliation | Segment | Total Sales Growth | Currency Exchange Rates Impact | Core Sales Growth | | :------------------------------ | :----------------- | :----------------------------- | :---------------- | | Consolidated | (0.6)% | 1.0 % | 0.4 % | | Specialty Products & Technologies | (0.3)% | 1.1 % | 0.8 % | | Equipment & Consumables | (1.1)% | 0.9 % | (0.2)% | - Core sales exclude sales from acquired businesses, discontinued products, and the impact of currency translation to identify underlying growth trends[25](index=25&type=chunk)[34](index=34&type=chunk) [Free Cash Flow Reconciliation](index=12&type=section&id=Free%20Cash%20Flow%20Reconciliation) Envista generated $29.3 million in Free Cash Flow in Q1 2024, a significant improvement from a negative free cash flow in the prior year Free Cash Flow Reconciliation (in millions) | Metric (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | | Net Operating Cash Provided by Operating Activities | $40.3 | $3.1 | | Less: payments for additions to PP&E | $(11.0) | $(17.5) | | Free Cash Flow | $29.3 | $(14.4) | - Free Cash Flow is used to understand the company's ability to generate cash without external financings, invest in its business, and pursue strategic opportunities[32](index=32&type=chunk) [Notes to Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures](index=13&type=section&id=Notes%20to%20Reconciliation%20of%20GAAP%20to%20Non-GAAP%20Financial%20Measures) This section clarifies the rationale for excluding specific items from non-GAAP measures, focusing on costs inconsistent in frequency or size to provide a clearer view of ongoing performance - Restructuring costs are excluded because they are discrete plans, fundamentally different from ongoing productivity improvements, and not indicative of ordinary course operating costs[31](index=31&type=chunk)[34](index=34&type=chunk) - Amortization of acquisition-related and other intangible assets is excluded due to the unpredictable timing, size, and nature of acquisitions, which can obscure consistent comparisons of operating results[34](index=34&type=chunk) - Acquisition-related expenses, discrete tax adjustments, and the tax effect of adjustments are excluded as they occur with inconsistent frequency or are unrelated to commercial performance, potentially obscuring underlying business trends[31](index=31&type=chunk)[34](index=34&type=chunk) - Core sales exclude the effect of acquisitions, divested product lines, discontinued products, and currency translation to provide a more consistent view of underlying business trends[34](index=34&type=chunk) [Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers](index=2&type=section&id=Forward-Looking%20Statements%20and%20Disclaimers) This section contains a standard disclaimer regarding forward-looking statements, cautioning that actual results may differ materially due to various important factors and that the company does not undertake to update these statements - The press release contains forward-looking statements, and actual results, developments, and business decisions could differ materially from those suggested[8](index=8&type=chunk) - Key risk factors include global economic conditions, inflation, interest rates, international political and legal factors, market cyclicality, manufacturing and supply chain risks, IT security breaches, competition, regulatory compliance, and risks associated with acquisitions and intellectual property[8](index=8&type=chunk) - The company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law[8](index=8&type=chunk) [Contact Information](index=3&type=section&id=Contact%20Information) For investor inquiries, Stephen Keller, Principal Financial Officer of Envista Holdings Corporation, can be contacted at the provided address and telephone number - Contact for investor inquiries: **Stephen Keller**, Principal Financial Officer, Envista Holdings Corporation[9](index=9&type=chunk)

BREA, Calif., April 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Envista Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NVST) announced today the appointment of Paul Keel as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors effective May 1, 2024. He succeeds Amir Aghdaei, who will continue to support the transition as a senior advisor. "Paul's strong track record as CEO of a public, diversified, global innovation company makes him the right leader for Envista at this stage in our growth journey," said Scott Huennekens, chairman of E ...

BREA, Calif., April 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Envista Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NVST) ("Envista") announced today that the Envista Smile Project (Smile Project) donated $1.2 million in 2023 as part of the non-profit's commitment to expanding and improving access to oral health for those in need.  Donations in 2023, which include contributions from Envista employees, more than doubled over 2022. Since its founding in 2021, the Envista Smile Project has provided more than $2.2 million in value of goods and s ...

BREA, Calif., April 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Envista Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NVST) ("Envista") will report financial results for its first quarter 2024 on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Envista will discuss these results on a conference call on the same day beginning at 2:00 PM PT and lasting approximately one hour.  The call and the accompanying slide presentation will be webcast on the "Investors" section of Envista's website, www.envistaco.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conc ...

Envista Corporation (NVST) continues to suffer due to unfavorable currency movement. Strong competitors also pose a tough challenge for the company. The stock has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) currently.Envista has been grappling with deteriorating international trade, with global inflationary pressure leading to a challenging situation related to raw material and labor costs as well as freight charges and rising interest rates. All these are creating significant pressure on the company’s profitability.Addi ...

BREA, Calif., Feb. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Envista Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NVST) announced today that the Board of Directors and CEO Amir Aghdaei are formally launching a process to determine a successor for CEO. The Board of Directors has formed a search committee and retained an executive search firm to find qualified external candidates to lead the next phase of Envista. This process is expected to be completed this year. Mr. Aghdaei will remain President and CEO until his successor is appointed. "A ...

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________________________________ FORM 10-K Delaware 83-2206728 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 200 S. Kraemer Blvd., Building E Brea, California (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) 92821-6208 (Mark One) ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 OR ☐ TRANSITION ...

Envista Holdings Corporation (NVST) reported fourth-quarter 2023 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 29 cents, down 44.2% year over year. The bottom line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.1%.The adjustments include charges and benefits related to the amortization of acquired intangible assets, goodwill and intangible asset impairment, among others.The company’s loss from continuing operations was $1.27 in the quarter compared with the year-ago quarter’s EPS of 45 cents.For the full year, adjusted e ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Q4 2023 sales declined 2.3% to $645.6 million, with core sales down 2% year-over-year [18] - Adjusted EBITDA margin for Q4 2023 was 15.6%, a 530 basis point decline from Q4 2022 [19] - Full-year 2023 adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.1%, with free cash flow generation exceeding $220 million [9] - Q4 2023 free cash flow was $99.9 million, with full-year free cash flow reaching $223.6 million, a $100 million improvement over 2022 [24][54] - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q4 2023 was $0.29, compared to $0.52 in Q4 2022 [49] Business Segment Performance - Specialty Products & Technologies segment grew 4.8% in Q4 2023, driven by strong growth in Western Europe and emerging markets, offset by declines in North America [49] - Orthodontic business grew nearly 15% in Q4, with Spark delivering over 50% year-over-year growth and expected to double by 2026 [11][20] - Implant business declined low-single-digits in 2023, with North America underperforming but showing signs of stabilization in Q4 [11][50] - Equipment & Consumables segment declined 12.4% in Q4, primarily due to cybersecurity issues disrupting North American distribution channels [51] - DEXIS IOS business grew over 30% in Q4, driven by strong unit demand and stabilizing prices [23] Market Performance - Developed markets declined 4.8% in Q4, with strong growth in Western Europe offset by double-digit declines in North America [18] - Emerging markets grew over 9% in Q4, with China sales increasing by almost 15% [48][114] - North America is expected to return to market-level growth by the end of 2024, with targeted investments in commercial execution and marketing [6][57] Strategic Direction and Industry Competition - The company is focused on accelerating orthodontic business growth, reaccelerating implant business growth, and optimizing cost structure through EBS (Envista Business System) [28][29][56] - Investments in Spark and North American implants are expected to support long-term margin expansion [44] - The company is leveraging premium and value implant franchises globally, with a focus on regenerative and prosthetic offerings [28] - The dental market is described as attractive, underpenetrated, and with solid growth trends, despite near-term macroeconomic uncertainties [26] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains cautious about near-term demand for high-end dental procedures, citing macroeconomic uncertainties, inflation, and geopolitical risks [10][32][38] - For 2024, the company expects core sales to grow low-single-digits and adjusted EBITDA margins to range between 16% to 17%, with margins accelerating throughout the year [27][62] - The company anticipates stabilizing inventory levels and normalized sales growth in 2024, with a focus on improving free cash flow management [22][54] Other Key Information - The company recorded a $258.3 million non-cash impairment charge in Q4, primarily due to higher discount rates and macroeconomic volatility [47] - Two recent acquisitions, DEXIS IOS and Osteogenics, saw accelerated growth in 2023 and are positioned for future growth [17] - The company postponed its Investor Day to provide a more comprehensive update with the full leadership team in place [58][64] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of macroeconomic environment on demand [32] - Management expects 2024 to remain challenging, with demand for high-end dental procedures below long-term growth expectations due to economic uncertainty, inflation, and cautious capital spending by DSOs and clinicians [32] Question: Margin guidance and long-term outlook [84][85] - Management acknowledged disappointing margin guidance for 2024, citing unfavorable mix, Spark growth, and investments in North American implants as key factors [84] - Long-term margin expansion remains a priority, with expectations of improvement as Spark margins normalize and North American implant business stabilizes [85] Question: Pricing strategy for premium implants [90][94] - Management clarified that pricing is not the primary issue for premium implants in North America, with the focus being on improving customer experience, training, and community engagement [94] Question: China market outlook [114][115] - China sales grew 15% in Q4 2023, but full-year performance was flat due to COVID and VBP impacts [114] - The company expects strong growth in Q1 2024 due to easier comps but anticipates challenges in Q2-Q4 as comparisons normalize [114] Question: Gross margin and operating expense breakdown [129] - Management attributed the decline in EBITDA margins to a combination of lower gross margins and ongoing investments in growth initiatives, with expectations of sequential improvement throughout 2024 [129]