Press Release details

Kalamazoo, MI, Oct. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stryker (NYSE:SYK) reported operating results for the third quarter of 2021:

Third Quarter Results

• Reported net sales increased 11.3% from 2020 and 16.0% from 2019 to $4.2 billion
• Organic net sales increased 4.5% from 2020 and 8.4% from 2019
• Reported operating income margin of 13.8%
• Adjusted operating income margin ⁽¹⁾ contracted 260 bps to 25.4%
• Reported EPS decreased 30.1% to $1.14
• Adjusted EPS ⁽¹⁾ increased 2.8% to $2.20

In addition to sales growth analysis versus 2020, we are including sales growth versus 2019 as 2019 provides a more normal baseline for comparison given the variability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020.

"Our teams showed strong resilience and delivered solid quarterly financial results despite a resurgence of COVID-19 that intensified through the quarter,” said Kevin Lobo, Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “This latest spike mostly impacted our U.S. implant related businesses as scheduled procedures were deferred. Despite those impacts, we delivered strong growth in our MedSurg and NeuroTech businesses and are ready to support our customers as the pandemic recedes."

Sales Analysis Compared to 2020 and 2019

Consolidated net sales of $4.2 billion increased 11.3% in the quarter and 10.7% in constant currency from 2020. Organic net sales increased 4.5% in the quarter including 5.2% from increased unit volume partially offset by 0.7% from lower prices. From 2019 consolidated net sales increased 16.0% in the quarter and 14.8% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 8.4% in the quarter including 10.6% from increased unit volume partially offset by 2.2% from lower prices.

Orthopaedics net sales of $1.5 billion increased 16.1% in the quarter and 15.5% in constant currency from 2020. Organic net sales decreased 1.8% in the quarter including 1.2% from decreased unit volume and 0.6% from lower prices. From 2019 Orthopaedics net sales increased 21.3% in the quarter and 19.9% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 2.0% in the quarter including 4.8% from increased unit volume partially offset by 2.8% from lower prices.

MedSurg net sales of $1.8 billion increased 9.4% in the quarter and 8.9% in constant currency from 2020. Organic net sales increased 8.8% in the quarter including 9.6% from increased unit volume partially offset by 0.8% from lower prices. From 2019 MedSurg net sales increased 12.8% in the quarter and 12.0% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 11.9% in the quarter including 13.4% from increased unit volume partially offset by 1.5% from lower prices.

Neurotechnology and Spine net sales of $0.9 billion increased 7.3% in the quarter and 6.4% in constant currency from 2020. Organic net sales increased 6.1% in the quarter including 6.7% from increased unit volume partially offset by 0.6% from lower prices. From 2019 Neurotechnology and Spine net sales increased 13.7% in the quarter and 12.2% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 11.8% in the quarter including 14.2% from increased unit volume partially offset by 2.4% from lower prices.

Earnings Analysis Compared to 2020

Reported net earnings of $438 million decreased 29.5% in the quarter. Reported net earnings per diluted share of $1.14 decreased 30.1% in the quarter. Reported gross profit margin and reported operating income margin were 63.5% and 13.8% in the quarter. In the quarter, an impairment charge of $105 million was recorded for certain long-lived and intangible assets resulting from price reductions on our trauma and joint replacement products in China based on the outcome of the regional and national volume-based procurement programs. Reported net earnings include certain items, such as charges for acquisition and integration-related activities, the amortization of purchased intangible assets, restructuring-related and other charges, costs to comply with certain medical device regulations, recall-related matters, regulatory and legal matters and tax matters. Excluding the aforementioned items, adjusted gross profit margin⁽¹⁾ was 66.3% in the quarter, and adjusted operating income margin⁽¹⁾ was 25.4% in the quarter. Adjusted net earnings⁽¹⁾ of $842 million increased 3.7% in the quarter. Adjusted net earnings per diluted share⁽¹⁾ of $2.20 increased 2.8% in the quarter.

2021 Outlook

We continue to monitor and evaluate the impact the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, on our operations and financial results. Based on third quarter performance, the volatility experienced as a result of COVID as well as the labor and staffing environment in healthcare potentially hindering an accelerated recovery, we now expect 2021 organic net sales growth to be in the range of 7% to 8% from 2019, and now expect adjusted net earnings per diluted share⁽²⁾ to be in the range of $9.08 to $9.15, including the full year impact of the acquisition of Wright Medical. If foreign currency exchange rates hold near current levels, we expect EPS will be positively impacted by approximately $0.05 to $0.10 for the full year.

(1 ) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin, adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per diluted share, to the most directly comparable GAAP mea sures: gross profit margin, operating income and operating income margin, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, and other important information accompanies this press release.

(2) We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of our exp ected net earnings per diluted share to expected adjusted net earnings per diluted share as we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the impact and timing of restructuring-related and other charges, acquisition-rel ated expenses and fair value adjustments to inventory and the outcome of certain regulatory, legal and tax matters. The financial impact of these items is uncertain and is dependent on various factors, including timing, and could be material to our Consoli dated Statements of Earnings.

Conference Call on Thursday, October 28, 2021

As previously announced, Stryker will host a conference call on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss the Company's operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provide an operational update.

To participate in the conference call dial (833) 979-2711 (domestic) or (236) 714-2206 (international) and enter passcode 7351349.

A simultaneous webcast of the call will be accessible via the Company's website at www.stryker.com. The call will be archived on the Investor Relations page of this site.

A recording of the call will also be available from 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, October 28, 2021, until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, November 4, 2021. To hear this recording, you may dial (800) 585-8367 (domestic) or (416) 621-4642 (international) and enter passcode 7351349.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains information that includes or is based on forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the impact on our operations and financial results of the COVID-19 pandemic and any related policies and actions by governments or other third parties; unexpected liabilities, costs, charges or expenses in connection with the acquisition of Wright Medical Group N.V. ("Wright"); the effects of the Wright acquisition on the parties' relationships with employees, customers, other business partners or governmental entities; weakening of economic conditions that could adversely affect the level of demand for our products; pricing pressures generally, including cost-containment measures that could adversely affect the price of or demand for our products; changes in foreign exchange markets; legislative and regulatory actions; unanticipated issues arising in connection with clinical studies and otherwise that affect U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of new products, including Wright products; potential supply disruptions; changes in reimbursement levels from third-party payors; a significant increase in product liability claims; the ultimate total cost with respect to recall-related matters; the impact of investigative and legal proceedings and compliance risks; resolution of tax audits; the impact of the federal legislation to reform the United States healthcare system; costs to comply with medical device regulations; changes in financial markets; changes in the competitive environment; our ability to integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions in full or at all or within the expected timeframes, including the acquisition of Wright; and our ability to realize anticipated cost savings. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. The Company offers innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. More information is available at www.stryker.com.

For investor inquiries please contact:

Preston Wells, Vice President, Investor Relations at 269-385-2600 or preston.wells@stryker.com

For media inquiries please contact:

Yin Becker, Vice President, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at 269-385-2600 or yin.becker@stryker.com

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Note: Third quarter 2021 had the same number of selling days as 2020 and 2019. The nine months 2021 had one less selling day than 2020 and the same number of selling days as 2019.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: percentage sales growth; percentage sales growth in constant currency; percentage organic sales growth; adjusted gross profit; adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses; adjusted research, development and engineering expenses; adjusted operating income; adjusted other income (expense), net; adjusted effective income tax rate; adjusted net earnings; adjusted net earnings per diluted share (Diluted EPS); free cash flow; and free cash flow conversion. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful information to assist investors and shareholders in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance. Management believes percentage sales growth in constant currency and the other adjusted measures described above are important indicators of our operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of or are unrelated to our core operating results and provide a baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for reviewing the operating results of reportable business segments and analyzing potential future business trends in connection with our budget process and bases certain management incentive compensation on these non-GAAP financial measures.

To measure percentage sales growth in constant currency, we remove the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates that affect the comparability and trend of sales. Percentage sales growth in constant currency is calculated by translating current and prior year results at the same foreign currency exchange rate. To measure percentage organic sales growth, we remove the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, acquisitions and divestitures, which affect the comparability and trend of sales. Percentage organic sales growth is calculated by translating current year results at prior year average foreign currency exchange rates excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestitures. To measure earnings performance on a consistent and comparable basis, we exclude certain items that affect the comparability of operating results and the trend of earnings. To measure free cash flow, we adjust cash provided by operating activities by the amount of purchases of property, plant and equipment and proceeds from long-lived asset disposals and remove the impact of certain legal settlements and recall payments. To measure free cash flow conversion we divide free cash flow by adjusted net earnings.

Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported sales growth, gross profit, selling, general and administrative expenses, research, development and engineering expenses, operating income, other income (expense), net, effective income tax rate, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures below, provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors and shareholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

The following reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding used in the calculation of non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share are the same as those used in the calculation of reported net earnings per diluted share for the respective period.