Philips Q1 Earnings Miss: Will Weak Outlook Drag the Stock Down?

Core Insights - Koninklijke Philips N.V. reported earnings of €0.08 per share in Q1 2025, a significant improvement from a loss of €1.07 per share in the same quarter last year [1] - The company's sales decreased by 1% year-over-year to €4.1 billion [1] Sales Performance - Comparable sales declined by 2% year-over-year, with a notable double-digit decline in China [2] - Personal Health segment saw a 1% growth, while Diagnosis & Treatment experienced a 4% decline due to a high comparison base [2] - Sales in growth geographies fell by 4% year-over-year, primarily due to the decline in China [3] - Diagnosis & Treatment revenues decreased by 3% year-over-year to €1.96 billion, with a 4% decline in comparable sales [4] - Personal Health revenues grew by 3% year-over-year to €811 million, with a 1% increase in comparable sales [5] Operating Details - Gross margin expanded by 130 basis points to 45.1% [6] - General & administrative expenses increased to 3.9% of sales, while selling expenses remained flat at 26.5% [6] - Adjusted EBITA declined by 8.8% year-over-year to €354 million, with an EBITA margin contraction of 80 basis points to 8.6% [7] Segment Performance - Diagnosis & Treatment's adjusted EBITA margin increased by 30 basis points to 9.5% [8] - Connected Care's adjusted EBITA margin contracted by 290 basis points to 3.5% [8] - Personal Health's adjusted EBITA margin remained stable at 15.2% [9] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were €1.19 billion, down from €2.4 billion at the end of 2024 [10] - Total debt decreased slightly to €7.568 billion [10] - Operating cash outflow was €933 million, compared to €171 million in the same quarter last year [10] - Free cash outflow increased to €1,091 million from €336 million year-over-year [10] Guidance and Outlook - Philips expects 1-3% comparable sales growth for 2025, with adjusted EBITA margin projected between 10.8% and 11.3% [11] - Free cash flow is anticipated to be slightly positive in 2025, following significant payouts related to recalls [11] - Previous guidance for 2025 included a similar sales growth expectation but a higher EBITA margin range of 11.8%-12.3% [12]