Achieves fourth quarter revenue growth of 9% reported and 8% organic, driven by CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth of 11% reported and 10% organic
Solid growth supported by continued benefits from IDEXX execution drivers, including 11% year-over-year expansion of IDEXX’s global premium instrument installed base
Delivers fourth quarter EPS of $2.32, an increase of 13% as reported and 17% on a comparable basis
Provides initial outlook for 2024 revenue of $3,930 million – $4,040 million, reflecting growth of 7.5% – 10.5% reported and 7% – 10% organic, supported by CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth of 7.5% – 10.5% as reported and on an organic basis
Estimates 2024 EPS of $10.84 – $11.33, an increase of 8% – 13% as reported and on a comparable basis, including a ~2% negative EPS growth impact from 2023 customer contract resolution
WESTBROOK, Maine–(BUSINESS WIRE)–IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in pet healthcare innovation, today announced fourth quarter and full year results.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
The Company reports revenues of $902 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 9% compared to the prior year period on a reported basis and 8% on an organic basis driven by Companion Animal Group (“CAG”) growth of 10% reported and 9% organic. CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue gains of 11% reported and 10% organic in the quarter were supported by continued benefits from IDEXX execution drivers including high quality placements of CAG Diagnostics capital instruments across regions, high customer retention, new business gains, and net price realization. CAG revenue gains also reflect double-digit veterinary software, services and diagnostic imaging systems recurring revenue growth as reported and organically, supported by strong software solution placement growth and a continued shift to cloud-based products.
Earnings per diluted share (“EPS”) were $2.32 for the fourth quarter, an increase of 13% as reported and 17% on a comparable basis. Results reflect operating margin contraction of 10 basis points as reported and expansion of 60 basis points on a comparable basis. Fourth quarter EPS included $0.04 per share negative impact from currency changes and $0.02 per share in tax benefits from share-based compensation. Fourth quarter EPS also benefit by $0.10 per share from the release of tax valuation allowances in certain jurisdictions which lowered the full year effective tax rate by approximately 100 basis points.
Revenue for the full year of $3,661 million increased 9% as reported and organically, driven by 10% reported and 10.5% organic growth in CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue.
“Outstanding execution by IDEXX’s commercial and operations teams supported delivery of strong organic revenue growth and financial results for the Company in 2023. We’re excited about our sustained business momentum, supported by partnerships with our customers, that will be further enabled by key innovations we are advancing across our instrument platforms, test menu and software offerings. This includes the launch of our new revolutionary slide-free cellular analyzer, IDEXX inVue Dx™ targeted for late 2024,” said Jay Mazelsky, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our performance and progress demonstrate that customers of all types appreciate the purpose-built solutions that we provide and utilize these tools and services to deliver increased standards of care while realizing critical efficiency gains.”
For the full year 2023, EPS of $10.06 increased 25% on a reported basis and 29% on a comparable basis, including a ~12% EPS growth benefit related to $80 million of discrete in-license of technology in 2022 and a $16 million customer contract resolution in 2023. EPS results reflect operating margin expansion of 330 basis points as reported and 390 basis points on a comparable basis, including a ~280 basis point benefit from the discrete in-license of technology and customer contract resolution. EPS results include a $0.24 negative impact from currency changes and $0.16 in tax benefits from share-based compensation.
The Company’s 2024 revenue guidance range reflects full year growth of 7.5% – 10.5% as reported and 7% – 10% on an organic basis, supported by 7.5% – 10.5% reported and organic CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth. The guidance range for global CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth reflects goals for sustained benefits from execution drivers, supporting continued solid volume gains, and an estimated 5% full year benefit from net price improvement. 2024 EPS guidance of $10.84 – $11.33 reflects expectations for solid organic revenue gains and a targeted 20 – 70 basis points of reported operating margin improvement net of a ~40 basis point negative impact from lapping the 2023 customer contract resolution.
Fourth Quarter Performance Highlights
Companion Animal Group
The Companion Animal Group generated 10% reported revenue growth for the fourth quarter. CAG Diagnostics organic recurring revenue growth of 10% reflects solid gains across IDEXX’s major modalities globally, supported by growth in clinical service demand and expanded utilization of diagnostic products and services.
Additional U.S. companion animal practice key metrics are available in the Q4 2023 Earnings Snapshot accessible on the IDEXX website, www.idexx.com/investors.
Strong global growth was achieved across IDEXX’s testing modalities.
IDEXX VetLab® consumables generated 14% reported and 13% organic revenue growth reflecting double-digit gains across U.S. and International regions, supported by global premium instrument installed base growth, high customer retention levels and net price gains.
Reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services generated 8% reported and 7% organic revenue growth, reflecting high single-digit growth in the U.S. and sustained solid organic revenue growth in International regions.
Rapid assay products generated 9% revenue growth as reported and organically, reflecting continued solid volume gains in the U.S. and benefits from net price increases.
Veterinary software, services and diagnostic imaging systems revenue growth increased 6% as reported and organically compared to strong prior year performance levels, supported by double-digit growth in recurring revenues and strong interest in cloud-based veterinary software solutions.
Water
Water achieved revenue growth of 6% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic basis, reflecting benefits from net price improvement and solid gains in the U.S. and Europe, moderated by lower revenues in China and year-end order timing.
Livestock, Poultry and Dairy (“LPD”)
LPD revenue declined 2% on a reported basis and 4% on an organic basis as solid core product growth in the U.S. and Europe was offset by declines in herd health screening and China revenues.
Gross Profit and Operating Profit
Gross profits increased 9%. Gross margins of 58.4% contracted 20 basis points compared to prior year on a reported basis and expanded 50 basis points on a comparable basis. Gross margin results reflect benefits from net price improvement which offset inflationary cost impacts, favorable business mix benefits from strong consumable growth, and higher software service gross margins.
Operating margin was 27.2% in the quarter, 10 basis points lower than the prior year period results on a reported basis and 60 basis points higher on a comparable basis. Operating expenses grew 9% as reported and 7% on a comparable basis. Operating expense growth reflects increased investments in commercial resources and R&D project spend.
2024 Growth and Financial Performance Outlook
The following table provides the Company’s initial estimates for annual key financial metrics in 2024:
Amounts in millions except per share data and percentages
Growth and Financial Performance Outlook
2024
Revenue
$3,930
–
$4,040
Reported growth
7.5%
–
10.5%
Organic growth
7%
–
10%
CAG Diagnostics Recurring Revenue Growth
Reported growth
7.5%
–
10.5%
Organic growth
7.5%
–
10.5%
Operating Margin
30.2%
–
30.7%
Reported operating margin expansion
20
–
70 bps
Comparable operating margin expansion
20
–
70 bps
Negative impact of 2023 customer contract resolution payment
~ 40 bps
EPS
$10.84
–
$11.33
Reported growth
8%
–
13%
Comparable growth
8%
–
13%
Negative impact of 2023 customer contract resolution payment
~ 2%
Other Key Metrics
Net interest expense
~ $27
Share-based compensation tax benefit
~ $8
Share-based compensation tax rate benefit
~ 1 %
Effective tax rate
~ 22 %
Share-based compensation EPS impact
~ $0.10
Reduction in average shares outstanding
0.5%
–
1%
Operating Cash Flow
110% – 115% of net income
Free Cash Flow
90% – 95% of net income
Capital Expenditures
~ $180 million
The following table outlines estimates of foreign currency exchange rate impacts, net of foreign currency hedging transactions, and foreign currency exchange rate assumptions reflected in the above financial performance outlook for 2024.
Estimated Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Impacts
2024
Revenue growth rate impact
~ 0%
CAG Diagnostics recurring revenue growth rate impact
~ 0%
Operating margin growth impact
~ 0 bps
EPS impact
~ $0.02
EPS growth impact
~ 0%
Go-forward Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Assumptions
In U.S. dollars
euro
$1.08
British pound
$1.25
Canadian dollar
$0.74
Australian dollar
$0.66
Relative to the U.S. dollar
Japanese yen
¥147
Chinese renminbi
¥7.23
Brazilian real
R$4.95
Conference Call and Webcast Information
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) to discuss its 2023 fourth quarter and full year financial results and management’s outlook. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-800-776-0420 or 1-773-377-9037 and reference access code 764284. Individuals can access a live webcast of the conference call on the IDEXX website, www.idexx.com/investors. An archived edition of the webcast will be available after 1:00 p.m. (Eastern) on that day via the same link and will remain available for one year.
About IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
IDEXX is a global leader in pet healthcare innovation. Our diagnostic and software products and services create clarity in the complex, constantly evolving world of veterinary medicine. We support longer, fuller lives for pets by delivering insights and solutions that help the veterinary community around the world make confident decisions—to advance medical care, improve efficiency, and build thriving practices. Our innovations also help ensure the safety of milk and water across the world and maintain the health and well-being of people and livestock. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a member of the S&P 500® Index. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs nearly 11,000 people and offers solutions and products to customers in more than 175 countries and territories. For more information about IDEXX, visit www.idexx.com.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This earnings release and the statements to be made in the accompanying earnings conference call contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including forward-looking statements about the Company’s business prospects and estimates of the Company’s financial results for future periods. Forward-looking statements are included under “2024 Growth and Financial Performance Outlook” and elsewhere in this earnings release and can be identified by the use of words such as “expects”, “may”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “would”, “will”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “projected”, “should”, and similar words and expressions. Our forward-looking statements include statements relating to our expectations regarding financial and business performance; revenue growth and EPS outlooks; operating and free cash flow forecast; projected impact of foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; projected operating margins and expenses and capital expenditures; projected tax, tax rate and EPS benefits from share-based compensation arrangements; projected effective tax rates, reduction of average shares outstanding and net interest expense; and expectations for net price improvement. These statements are intended to provide management’s expectation of future events as of the date of this earnings release; are based on management’s estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this earnings release; and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the matters described under the headings “Business,” “Risk Factors,” “Legal Proceedings,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the corresponding sections of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023, as well as those described from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Statement Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following defines terms and conventions and provides reconciliations regarding certain measures used in this earnings release and/or the accompanying earnings conference call that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), otherwise referred to as non-GAAP financial measures. To supplement the Company’s consolidated results presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company has disclosed non-GAAP financial measures that exclude or adjust certain items. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information for its and investors’ evaluation of the Company’s business performance and liquidity and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of the performance of the Company’s business and its liquidity and to the performance and liquidity of our peers. While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s business, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Constant currency – Constant currency references are non-GAAP financial measures which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and are consistent with how management evaluates our performance and comparisons with prior and future periods. We estimated the net impacts of currency on our revenue, gross profit, operating profit, and EPS results by restating results to the average exchange rates or exchange rate assumptions for the comparative period, which includes adjusting for the estimated impacts of foreign currency hedging transactions and certain impacts on our effective tax rates. These estimated currency changes impacted fourth quarter 2023 results as follows: decreased gross profit growth by 0.2%, decreased gross margin growth by 70 basis points, increased operating expense growth by 1.3%, decreased operating profit margin growth by 70 basis points, and decreased EPS growth by 1.9%. Estimated currency changes impacted full year 2023 results as follows: decreased gross profit growth by 1.3%, decreased gross margin growth by 60 basis points, was immaterial to operating expense growth, decreased operating profit margin growth by 60 basis points, and decreased EPS growth by 3.0%. Constant currency revenue growth represents the percentage change in revenue during the applicable period, as compared to the prior year period, excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. See the supplementary analysis of results below for revenue percentage change from currency for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023 and refer to the 2024 Growth and Financial Performance Outlook section of this press release for estimated foreign currency exchange rate impacts on 2024 projections and estimates.
Growth and organic revenue growth – All references to growth and organic growth refer to growth compared to the equivalent prior year period unless specifically noted. Organic revenue growth is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the percentage change in revenue, as compared to the same period for the prior year, net of the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, certain business acquisitions, and divestitures. Management believes that reporting organic revenue growth provides useful information to investors by facilitating easier comparisons of our revenue performance with prior and future periods and to the performance of our peers. Organic revenue growth should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement of or a superior measure to, revenue growth reported in accordance with GAAP. See the supplementary analysis of results below for a reconciliation of reported revenue growth to organic revenue growth for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Please refer to the constant currency note above for a summary of foreign currency exchange rate impacts. The percentage change in revenue resulting from acquisitions represents revenues during the current year period, limited to the initial 12 months from the date of the acquisition, that are directly attributable to business acquisitions. Revenue from acquisitions is expected to increase projected full year 2024 revenue growth by 50 basis points.
Comparable growth metrics – Comparable gross profit growth, comparable gross margin gain (or growth), comparable operating expense growth, comparable operating profit growth and comparable operating margin gain (or growth) are non-GAAP financial measures and exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and non-recurring or unusual items (if any). Please refer to the constant currency note above for a summary of foreign currency exchange rate impacts. Management believes that reporting comparable gross profit growth, comparable gross margin gain (or growth), comparable operating expense growth, comparable operating profit growth and comparable operating margin gain (or growth) provides useful information to investors because it enables better period-over-period comparisons of the fundamental financial results by excluding items that vary independent of performance and provides greater transparency to investors regarding key metrics used by management. Comparable gross profit growth, comparable gross margin gain (or growth), comparable operating expense growth, comparable operating profit growth and comparable operating margin gain (or growth) should be considered in addition to, and not as replacements of or superior measures to, gross profit growth, gross margin gain, operating expense growth, operating profit growth and operating margin gain reported in accordance with GAAP.
The reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is as follows:
Three Months Ended
Year-over-Year
Twelve Months Ended
Year-over-Year
December 31,
December 31,
Change
December 31,
December 31,
Change
Dollar amounts in thousands
2023
2022
2023
2022
Gross Profit (as reported)
$
526,167
$
484,927
9
%
$
2,189,970
$
2,004,338
9
%
Gross margin
58.4
%
58.5
%
(20) bps
59.8
%
59.5
%
30 bps
Less: comparability adjustments
Change from currency
(1,062
)
—
(25,887
)
—
Comparable gross profit growth
$
527,229
$
484,927
9
%
$
2,215,857
$
2,004,338
11
%
Comparable gross margin and gross margin gain (or growth)
59.1
%
58.5
%
50 bps
60.5
%
59.5
%
90 bps
Operating expenses (as reported)
$
280,865
$
258,400
9
%
$
1,092,842
$
1,105,573
(1
)%
Less: comparability adjustments
Change from currency
3,440
—
(507
)
—
Comparable operating expense growth
277,425
258,400
7
%
1,093,349
1,105,573
(1
)%
Income from operations (as reported)
$
245,302
$
226,527
8
%
$
1,097,128
$
898,765
22
%
Operating margin
27.2
%
27.3
%
(10) bps
30.0
%
26.7
%
330 bps
Less: comparability adjustments
Change from currency
(4,501
)
—
(25,380
)
—
Comparable operating profit growth
$
249,803
$
226,527
10
%
$
1,122,508
$
898,765
25
%
Comparable operating margin and operating margin gain (or growth)
28.0
%
27.3
%
60 bps
30.6
%
26.7
%
390 bps
Amounts presented may not recalculate due to rounding.
Projected 2024 comparable operating margin expansion outlined in the 2024 Growth and Financial Performance Outlook section of this earnings release reflects the projected full year 2024 reported operating margin adjusted for estimated positive year-over-year foreign currency exchange rate change impact of approximately 0 basis points.
These impacts described above reconcile reported gross profit growth, gross margin gain, operating expense growth, operating profit growth and operating margin gain (including projected 2024 operating margin expansion) to comparable gross profit growth, comparable gross margin gain, comparable operating expense growth, comparable operating profit growth and comparable operating margin gain for the Company.
Comparable EPS growth – Comparable EPS growth is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the percentage change in earnings per share (diluted) (“EPS”) for a measurement period, as compared to the prior base period, net of the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates from the prior base period and excluding the tax benefits of share-based compensation activity under ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, and non-recurring or unusual items (if any). Management believes comparable EPS growth is a more useful way to measure the Company’s business performance than EPS growth because it enables better period-over-period comparisons of the fundamental financial results by excluding items that vary independent of performance and provides greater transparency to investors regarding a key metric used by management. Comparable EPS growth should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement of or a superior measure to, EPS growth reported in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the constant currency note above for a summary of foreign currency exchange rate impacts.
The reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure is as follows:
Three Months Ended
Year-over-Year
Twelve Months Ended
Year-over-Year
December 31,
December 31,
Growth
December 31,
December 31,
Growth
2023
2022
2023
2022
Earnings per share (diluted)
$
2.32
$
2.05
13
%
$
10.06
$
8.03
25
%
Less: comparability adjustments
Share-based compensation activity
0.02
0.05
0.16
0.15
Change from currency
(0.04
)
—
(0.24
)
—
Comparable EPS growth
2.34
2.00
17
%
10.14
7.88
29
%
Amounts presented may not recalculate due to rounding.
Contacts
John Ravis, Investor Relations, 1-207-556-8155