Boston Scientific(BSX) ZACKS·2025-03-13 14:40Core Insights - Boston Scientific's fourth-quarter 2024 performance was significantly influenced by its international expansion and strategic acquisitions, which present favorable growth opportunities [1][2][3] - The company's WATCHMAN devices show promising long-term growth potential, with a notable 20% year-over-year sales increase in the fourth quarter [7] Group 1: International Expansion - Boston Scientific is successfully expanding its operations in various international markets, particularly in emerging markets, which are showing strong growth potential [3] - In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions, the company is leveraging a diverse product portfolio and new launches to meet healthy market demand [4] - The Asia Pacific region, especially Japan and China, is contributing to growth through innovative products and effective commercial execution [4] Group 2: Strategic Acquisitions - Recent acquisitions, including Cortex, Silk Road, and Axonics, are expected to enhance Boston Scientific's product offerings and drive long-term revenue growth [5][6] - The acquisition of Intera Oncology is anticipated to expand the company's interventional oncology capabilities [6] Group 3: WATCHMAN Device Performance - The WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure device is gaining momentum, with sales increasing by 20% year over year in the fourth quarter, supported by new procedural guidelines and positive trial data [7] Group 4: Currency Exposure - Boston Scientific faces challenges from currency fluctuations, with 40% of its sales coming from international markets, leading to a projected 100-basis-point headwind on revenues for 2025 [10] Group 5: Financial Performance - The company's shares have increased by 40.6% over the past year, outperforming the industry and S&P 500 [2] - Boston Scientific has consistently beaten earnings expectations over the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.25% [2][11]