GE HealthCare Technologies (GEHC) FY 2025 Conference September 04, 2025 08:45 AM ET Company ParticipantsJames Saccaro - VP & CFOCarolynne Borders - Chief Investor Relations OfficerConference Call ParticipantsLawrence Biegelsen - Senior Medical Device Equity Research AnalystLawrence BiegelsenGood morning. I'm Larry Eglinton, the Medical Body Panelist as well as Margaux. It's my pleasure to host this fireside chat management healthcare. With us, we have Jay Sagaro, the CFO and Carolyn Borders, Head of Investo ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company raised the midpoint of its guidance by 50 basis points, approximately $100 million, despite a slight adjustment in expectations for China [12][13] - Year-to-date order growth is reported at 7%, setting the company up well for midterm aspirations [15] - Gross margin decreased by about 180 basis points year-over-year due to tariff impacts and R&D costs being reclassified [22][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The capital equipment market in the U.S. is described as buoyant, with strong momentum in hospital capital investments, particularly in imaging and ultrasound [8][9] - The company has a record backlog of $21.3 billion, with a healthy book-to-bill ratio of 1.07 times [18] - The company is experiencing a positive shift in Europe, with increasing momentum in hospital capital [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Chinese market showed a slight decline in the second quarter, down by low single digits, but better than expected due to backlog conversion [11] - The company is taking a cautious approach to forecasting for China, adjusting guidance slightly for the second half of the year [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on creating a world where healthcare has no limits, emphasizing the importance of team and culture [6] - Significant investments in R&D have been made, with a series of product launches expected in 2026 that will transform the company [4] - The company aims for mid-single-digit sales growth over the mid-term, supported by new product launches and strategic deals [47][56] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the hospital capital equipment environment, noting no significant impact from recent Medicaid cuts [59][60] - The company is optimistic about its midterm growth prospects, driven by new product cycles and successful execution on the commercial side [48][56] - Management remains cautious about the Chinese market but is pleased with overall sales growth for the year [51][52] Other Important Information - The company is committed to holding tariff impacts flat year-over-year, which is seen as a significant achievement [26] - The company is focusing on transitioning from standalone hardware to connected platforms and AI-driven solutions in its product portfolio [76] Q&A Session Summary Question: How has the hospital capital equipment environment evolved through 2025? - Management believes the U.S. capital equipment market is buoyant, with strong momentum in hospital capital investments [8] Question: What are the expectations for order growth going forward? - Management advises against overanalyzing one quarter in isolation, emphasizing robust growth over a trailing multi-quarter basis [15] Question: How should investors think about gross margin moving forward? - Management is pleased with margin progress, despite a decrease in Q2 due to tariffs and R&D cost reclassifications [22][24] Question: What are the growth drivers for digital revenue? - The company is making significant investments in AI technologies, which are expected to drive growth in digital revenue [39][41] Question: What is the strategy for the PCS business? - The new leader is focused on accelerating revenue growth and margin improvement, with potential tuck-in acquisitions being evaluated [75]