IDEXX fourth quarter revenues increase 8% to $307.2 million

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), today reported that revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 8% to $307.2 million, from $283.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. Organic revenue growth, as defined below, was 7%. Earnings per diluted share ("EPS") for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 increased 8% to $0.67, compared to $0.62 for the same period in the prior year. Fourth quarter 2011 EPS includes a $3 million milestone payment earned related to the 2008 sale of product rights previously included in our pharmaceutical product line, which added $0.03 to EPS. Fourth quarter 2010 EPS of $0.62 included a similar milestone payment as well as the full year 2010 benefit from the reinstatement of the Federal Research and Development tax credit, which added a combined $0.06 to EPS.

Organic revenue growth for the fourth quarter of 2011 excludes revenue from acquisitions, which contributed 1% to revenue growth, and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which contributed less than 1% to revenue growth.

"I am pleased with our fourth quarter results, which marked the conclusion of a strong year," stated Jonathan Ayers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our 7% organic growth in the fourth quarter, in an economic environment that is still not contributing significantly to our performance, demonstrates our continued success in bringing innovative products and services to our veterinary and other customers, as well as strong commercial execution in markets around the world."

"Our results reflect continued momentum of our initiatives aimed at helping veterinarians practice better medicine, run more efficient practices and increase their relevance with pet owners. Our global reference laboratory and consulting services business achieved 10% organic growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. Market response to our ProCyte Dx® and Catalyst Dx® instruments continues to be very positive around the world, as we achieved our highest quarterly placement levels for each of these instrument platforms, boding well for future consumable sales. Our pace of innovation continues with the launch of the Pet Health Network®, a valuable web-based resource through which pet owners can expand their knowledge of pet health. The Pet Health Network builds on our strong foundation of offerings that help veterinarians communicate the important role of diagnostic information to pet owners."  

Revenue Performance

Please refer to the table below entitled "Revenues and Revenue Growth Analysis by Product and Service Categories" in conjunction with the following discussion.

Companion Animal Group. Companion Animal Group ("CAG") revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $251.3 million compared to $229.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. Organic growth of 9% was due primarily to growth in our reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services business and in our instrument and consumables business. In the reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services business, revenues increased due to higher sales volumes driven primarily by the acquisition of new customers and, to a lesser extent, an increase in net sales prices. The revenue increase in our instruments and consumables business was largely the result of higher sales volumes of our Catalyst Dx® and ProCyte Dx® instruments and related consumables. Revenue from acquisitions contributed 1% to revenue growth and changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed less than 1% to revenue growth.

Water. Water segment revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $20.0 million compared to $19.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. Organic revenue growth of 4% was due primarily to higher Colilert® product sales volume driven by new account acquisitions. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed less than 1% to revenue growth.

Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics. Livestock and Poultry Diagnostics ("LPD") revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $24.1 million compared to $24.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. The 3% decline in organic revenue was due, in part, to lower sales of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ("BSE" or "mad cow disease") tests resulting from changes in European Union BSE testing requirements. Effective July 1, 2011, the age at which healthy cattle to be slaughtered are required to be tested for BSE in the European Union was increased from 48 to 72 months, which is reducing the population of cattle tested for this disease. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed 1% to revenue growth.

Additional Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased $14.1 million, or 10%, to $158.9 million from $144.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. As a percentage of total revenue, gross profit increased to 52% from 51%. The increase in the gross profit percentage was due primarily to higher relative sales of higher margin products and ongoing focus on cost reductions and product quality, resulting in decreased manufacturing, freight and distribution costs and improved instrument reliability. Fourth quarter gross profit percentage is typically lower than gross profit percentage for the full year due to higher relative sales of lower margin instruments in the fourth quarter.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expense for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $83.4 million, or 27% of revenue, compared to $76.5 million, or 27% of revenue, for the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase in SG&A expense resulted primarily from higher sales and marketing personnel-related costs, partly offset by an incremental milestone payment earned during the quarter related to the 2008 sale of product rights previously included in our pharmaceutical product line, which was recorded as a reduction in expense. Research and development ("R&D") expense for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $20.2 million, or 7% of revenue, compared to $17.5 million, or 6% of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase in R&D expense resulted primarily from increased personnel-related costs and higher external consulting and development costs.

Year-to-Date Results

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased 10% to $1.219 billion, from $1.103 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010. Organic revenue growth for the year ended December 31, 2011 was 8%. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed 2% to revenue growth and revenue from acquisitions contributed less than 1% to revenue growth for the year ended December 31, 2011.

EPS for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased 17% to $2.78, compared to $2.37 for the same period in the prior year. 2011 EPS includes an aggregate of $4 million in payments relating to the sale of certain product rights and to the sale of certain raw material inventory in connection with the 2008 restructuring of our pharmaceutical business, which added $0.04 to EPS. 2010 EPS included similar milestone payments, which added $0.03 to EPS.

Supplementary Analysis of Results

The accompanying financial tables provide more information concerning our revenue and other operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2011.

Outlook for 2012

The Company provides the following updated guidance for the full year of 2012. This guidance reflects an assumption that the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies will remain at our current assumptions of the euro at $1.25, the British pound at $1.53 and the Canadian dollar at $0.97 for the balance of 2012.  Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates from current assumptions could have a significant positive or negative impact on our actual results of operations for 2012.

• Revenues are expected to be $1.30 to $1.31 billion, which represents reported revenue growth of 7% to 8% relative to 2011. Organic revenue growth, which excludes a projected 1% favorable impact of 2011 acquisitions and an unfavorable projected currency impact of approximately 2%, is estimated to be in the range of 8% to 9%. The reduction of $5 million to the high end of our range provided in October 2011 is the result of the unfavorable impact of currency net of the favorable impact of acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2011. The increase of $5 million to the low end of our range reflects these factors as well as an increase to the low end of our projected range of organic revenue growth.
• EPS are expected to be $3.04 to $3.10, compared to our previous guidance of $3.00 to $3.10. Relative to our EPS guidance provided in October 2011, we expect a negative impact of currency will be offset by the favorable impacts of a slightly lower tax rate and lower weighted average share count. The increase to the low end of our guidance reflects these factors, as well as an increase to the low end of our organic revenue growth range.
• Free cash flow is expected to be approximately 110% of net income.
• Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $60 million.