Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 2025 sales showed stronger performance than previously guided, with 13% organic growth and 12% reported growth, driven by grafts (up 17%) and carotid shunts (up 14%) [6][13] - Gross margin for Q1 2025 was 69.2%, a 60 basis point increase year-over-year, attributed to higher average selling prices (ASPs) and lower inventory scrap [14][15] - Operating income increased 6% year-over-year to $12.6 million, with an operating margin of 21% [16] - Fully diluted EPS rose to $0.48, reflecting a 10% increase [16] - Cash and securities at the end of Q1 2025 totaled $302.5 million, up $2.8 million from the previous quarter [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Record sales were achieved across all five product categories: grafts, carotid shunts, catheters, valvulotomes, and patches [6][14] - Organic sales growth of 13% was driven by a 9% increase in average selling prices and a 4% increase in units sold [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - By geography, EMEA sales increased by 18%, the Americas by 11%, and APAC by 3% [6] - The autograft product, which had $37 million in U.S. sales in 2024, is expected to have a market size of approximately $8 million in Europe and the rest of the world [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its sales force, with a target of 170 sales representatives by year-end, up from 164 [7][30] - New international sales offices are being established, including a direct office in Portugal and a new office in Zurich to enhance sales performance [8][9] - The company plans to open a pan-European RestoreFlow distribution facility in Dublin in H2 2025 [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in increasing guidance for 2025 sales to $245 million, up from $239 million, due to strong Q1 performance and successful price increases [13][21] - The company anticipates that exiting the Aleutia distribution agreement will improve organic growth and gross margin [17][95] - Management remains optimistic about long-term prospects in China despite current trade tensions, indicating a commitment to the market [20][38] Other Important Information - The company has received 17 out of 23 MDR CE marks, with ongoing efforts to secure additional approvals [126] - The company is implementing price increases in China to offset tariff impacts, expecting to recover about 50% of additional costs [91] Q&A Session Summary Question: What factors contributed to the increased guidance? - Management cited strong Q1 performance, better-than-expected price increases, and the positive impact of exiting the Aleutia business as key factors for increased guidance [26][30] Question: Any updates on M&A activity? - The M&A pipeline remains strong, focusing on open vascular surgery and adjacent cardiac surgery markets, with a preference for larger deals [34][77] Question: How does the company view the impact of tariffs? - Management believes the company is well-positioned due to its U.S.-only manufacturing footprint and limited reliance on imports, with plans to raise prices to offset potential tariff impacts [18][20] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins? - Management expects gross margins to be slightly lower than previous guidance but maintains a strong operating margin outlook due to sales growth and exiting lower-margin products [65][84] Question: How will the new sales representatives impact growth? - Management indicated that new sales representatives are expected to contribute to sales growth more quickly than in the past, with a ramp-up time that has improved [73][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, the company reported a sales growth of 14%, operating income growth of 26%, and earnings per share (EPS) growth of 30% [6] - Gross margin increased by 120 basis points year-over-year to 69.3% due to higher average selling prices (ASPs), direct labor efficiencies, and improved RestoreFlow Allograft yields [15][17] - Operating income for Q4 2024 was $12.9 million, reflecting a 26% year-over-year increase, with an operating margin of 23% [17] - The company ended Q4 2024 with $300 million in cash and securities, an increase of $176 million in the quarter [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales growth was driven by grafts, shunts, and catheters, which increased by 23%, 14%, and 12% respectively [6] - Artegraft, XenoSure, and RestoreFlow were highlighted as key products contributing to price improvements [14] - The shunts category experienced a strong year with a 14% increase, attributed to competitors exiting the market [108] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - By geography, sales in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region grew by 21%, EMEA by 18%, and the Americas by 12% in Q4 [6] - The company received its Chinese XenoSure cardiac approval in December, with sales in China up 48% in Q4 [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to expand its sales team from 152 representatives to 165 by the end of 2025, focusing on both U.S. and international markets [7][34] - New international sales offices have been established, including a new office in Shanghai, which began shipping products to Chinese customers [8][9] - The company is pursuing direct-to-hospital sales in Portugal and Czechia, with expectations to begin in H2 2025 [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the sales force being the company's number one asset and plans to continue investing in sales managers and offices [7] - The company anticipates organic sales growth of 10% for the full year 2025, with a gross margin of 69.7% and operating income of $59.8 million, reflecting a 15% increase [21] - Management acknowledged the challenges of providing guidance in the medical device sector but noted a history of overperforming guidance in recent years [50] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.20 per share per quarter, an increase of 25% [20] - The company has received 16 of the 23 MDR CE marks, with expectations to receive the remaining approvals in 2025 [10][11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about guidance and pricing? - Management indicated that historical pricing increases have been higher than expected, but they anticipate a more conservative approach moving forward, estimating around 6% pricing and 4% unit growth [25][26] Question: Can you provide details on salesforce expansion? - The company plans to add approximately 165 reps by the end of 2025, with two-thirds of the growth expected in the U.S. [34][36] Question: What are the expectations for Artegraft's market opportunity? - Artegraft is expected to contribute significantly to growth, with a market opportunity of $8 million in Europe, but management refrained from providing specific guidance until after approval [40][41] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on the company? - Management noted that most products are manufactured in the U.S., so tariffs would have a minimal impact, with China accounting for less than 1% of worldwide sales [81][82] Question: What is the strategy for the Ireland facility? - The company is committed to establishing a physical presence in Ireland to pursue approvals, with expectations for at least one approval in 2025 [96][98]