Haemonetics(HAE) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenue of $1.4 billion, reflecting a 4% growth on a reported basis and 1% organic growth, with organic growth excluding $148 million from CSL and the whole blood divestiture at 8% [7][8] - Adjusted gross margin for the fourth quarter was 60.2%, an increase of 620 basis points compared to the prior year, driven by volume growth and improved product mix [24][25] - Adjusted net income for fiscal year 2025 was $231.5 million, up $28 million or 14%, with adjusted earnings per diluted share at $4.57, a 15% increase compared to the prior year [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hospital revenue grew 12% in the quarter and 24% in fiscal year 2025 on a reported basis, with organic growth of 9% respectively [11] - Blood Management Technologies revenue grew 6% in the quarter and 10% in fiscal year 2025, driven by strong utilization and share gains [11] - The Interventional Technologies franchise delivered 21% reported growth in the quarter and 46% in fiscal year 2025, with 16% organic growth respectively [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Plasma revenue declined 9% in the quarter and 6% in fiscal year 2025, but excluding CSL, plasma revenue grew 11% in the fourth quarter and 5% for fiscal year 2025 [18][20] - Blood center revenue declined 22% in the quarter and 8% in fiscal year 2025 on a reported basis due to the whole blood divestiture [21] - The company anticipates plasma revenue to decline 7% to 10% on a reported basis in fiscal year 2026, with organic growth excluding CSL expected to be 11% to 14% [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing its innovation agenda and reallocating resources towards higher growth opportunities following the divestiture of the whole blood business [28] - A new regional and market alignment initiative is expected to generate approximately $30 million of net savings over the next two years [28] - The company aims for both blood management technologies and interventional technologies to become billion-dollar franchises each [66] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in the strong growth trajectory of the hospital business, projecting reported and organic revenue growth of 8% to 11% in fiscal year 2026 [16] - The company expects adjusted operating margin to improve by 200 to 300 basis points, reaching 26% to 27% in fiscal year 2026 [33] - Management highlighted the importance of cash flow generation and expects free cash flow in fiscal year 2026 to be in the range of $160 million to $200 million [35] Other Important Information - The company executed a $150 million share buyback, repurchasing approximately 2.4 million shares, reflecting its commitment to value creation [10] - The adjusted income tax rate was 22% for the fourth quarter and 23% for fiscal year 2025, compared to 21% to 23% for the respective periods of the prior year [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on plasma collections and guidance for fiscal year 2026 - Management remains bullish on plasma, indicating that the 11% to 14% growth guidance is primarily driven by share gains and technology adoption, with modest growth expected in the first half of fiscal year 2026 [43][45] Question: Clarification on EPS guidance and operating margin drivers - The operating margin guidance of 26% to 27% is supported by continued gross margin improvement and operational leverage, with a $0.20 impact from tariffs factored into the guidance [47][49] Question: Update on vascular closure portfolio and legacy business performance - The company is focusing on driving utilization and share gains in the vascular closure market, with a dedicated team addressing both new and legacy products [55][60] Question: Changes in strategy following management transitions - The leadership changes are aimed at enhancing focus on growth in the hospital segment, with expectations for both blood management and interventional technologies to reach billion-dollar franchises [66][67] Question: Update on M&A activities and potential acquisition of VIVUSURE Medical - The company maintains a long-term appetite for strategic acquisitions, with optimism regarding the VIVUSURE opportunity, which aligns with its focus on closure and structural heart segments [74][76]