Steve Voskuil
Analyst · Raymond James. Please go ahead
Thank you, Robert. First quarter sales totaled $385 million, down 1% on a constant currency basis compared to a year ago. Excluding the expected $13 million decline in corporate sales, volume increased 4%, partially offset by 2% lower selling prices. Adjusted gross margin was 36% this quarter compared to 34% a year ago. The increase was driven by favorable commodity cost and currency exchange rates, with an offset coming from lower selling price in S&IP. Additionally, we incurred lower distribution expense as we cycled against higher prior year cost related to the West Coast Port Straight. Adjusted operating profit was $45 million or 12%, down from $46 million a year ago improved gross margin was offset by planned higher research and development spending to support product innovation and SG&A investment for interventional pain to drive organic growth. During the quarter, we incurred $2 million of post spin related charges, $1 million in acquisition charges, $4 million for litigation matters, $5 million in intangible amortization expense and $4 million related to the remeasurement of a prior year deferred tax asset due to a statutory tax rate change in Thailand. Adjusted EBITDA was $55 million for the quarter, which was even with the first quarter a year ago. As Robert mentioned, we reported $0.53 adjusted diluted earnings per share for the quarter. Our performance was impacted by the following three factors. First, our results have benefited from the timing of certain project expenses, primarily marketing related. These are ongoing planned projects and we anticipating incurring these expenses later in the year to support our marketing and sales efforts behind new product launches. Second, it has taken us longer than anticipated to fill a number open of roles that we carried into 2016. We anticipate filling these positions this year. Finally, favorable currency exchange rates and commodity cost deflation improved our results. Now turning to our segment results. In S&IP, net sales increased 1% on a constant currency basis, volumes increased 4% as we cycled against a quarter where customers and distributors drew down inventory built up at the end of 2014. We also saw slight volume benefit this year due to distributors building their inventory above their average levels. Volume growth for the quarter was also bolstered by robust demand in exam gloves in North America, where we have seen our renewed focus drive year-over-year improvement. Volume gains were partially offset by 3% lower selling prices concentrate and sterilization and exam gloves. While the S&IP markets remain challenging, our price loss was in line with our expectations of a 2% to 4% decline. For the quarter, S&IP operating profit was $25 million, up from $20 million in the prior year. Commodity cost deflation and favorable currency exchange rates benefited the quarter. The impact of lower selling price was partially mitigated by increased volumes as well as improved cost savings and lower distribution expense compared to last year. Turning to medical devices, our business delivered another solid quarter of growth increasing 4% on a constant currency basis to $127 million. Performance was driven by 5% higher volumes, which was partially offset by 1% unfavorable selling prices. COOLIEF fueled another quarter of double-digit growth in interventional pain in North America. In respiratory health, despite this year’s light cold and flu season, sales volumes benefited from the timing of distributor orders. Also ON-Q grew year-over-year for the third consecutive quarter supported by the increasing awareness and acceptance of non-narcotic pain therapies. Medical devices operating profit for the quarter increased to $30 million from $25 million a year ago. Higher volumes and favorable currency exchange rates were partially offset by our planned increase in research and development spending. Turning to our balance sheet and cash generation, we ended the quarter with $165 million of cash on hand. As a result of lower one-time separation cost and capital expenditure we achieved our highest quarterly cash generation of free cash flows of $35 million. For the balance of the year, we expect to continue to generate strong cash flows, which we will use to fuel future growth. Shifting to our guidance for the year, as Robert mentioned, we are maintaining our adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.50 to $1.70, this includes the $0.05 of accretion related to our CORPAK acquisition. Also our 2016 key planning assumptions, which we provided on our year end 2015 conference call on February 29th remained unchanged. As the year unfolds and we gain additional visibility into factors that could affect our performance such as continued currency and commodity volatility, we will provide an update on our outlook and key planning assumptions as appropriate. With that, operator, we are ready to take questions.