CHICAGO, Sept. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces
the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the
Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events
impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently
featured in the blog include: The Cooper Companies (NYSE:
COO), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Novartis
(NYSE: NVS), Joy Global Inc. (Nasdaq: JOYG) and Cameron
International Corporation (NYSE: CAM).
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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:
Cooper Beats, but Profit
Dips
The Cooper Companies (NYSE: COO), a company focused on
contact lens and women's health, reported third-quarter fiscal 2011
(ended July 31) results with adjusted
earnings per share of $1.15
comfortably beating both the Zacks Consensus Estimate of
$1.08 and the year-ago earnings per
share of 91 cents.
Net income (as reported) for the quarter stood at $38.1 million (or 78
cents a share), down 4% y/y, after the company recalled
certain Avaira toric contact lenses and recognized a one-time
charge.
Revenue Analysis
Company-wide revenues for the quarter increased 19% (12% in
constant currency) year over year to $351.4
million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of
$332 million, driven mostly by solid
growth in vision-related products.
Sales from the contact lens division ("CVI") were up 20% (11% in
constant currency) year over year to $298.3
million. Sales were higher across the board with mainstay
toric lenses (up 17%), single-use sphere lenses (higher 21%) and
non-single-use sphere lenses (up 24%) doing well, while multifocal
sales were up more marginally.
On a geographic basis, sales from EMEA and Asia-Pacific jumped 25% and 40%, respectively,
and increased a more modest 7% in the Americas. On a material
basis, sales of silicone hydrogel were up a significant 56% to
$91.9 million while Proclear sales
increased moderately by 14% to $80.7
million.
The women's health segment ("CSI") continued to perform
reasonably well with revenues rising 14% year over year (12%
excluding acquisitions) to $53.1
million. Sales of this strategic business unit were
bolstered by surgical procedures which increased 29% to
$20.4 million.
Margin Trends
Cooper's gross margin dropped to 58% in the quarter from 60% a
year ago, on account of a $14.2
million reserve for inventory and return provisions arising
from the voluntary recall of select lots of Avaira toric lenses, on
August 19, 2011. Gross margin was
higher at 62% excluding this reserve. Operating margin dropped to
13% from 17% in the prior-year quarter due to the Avaira recall and
the reversal of a one-time gain of $6.1
million. Excluding these adjustments, operating margin was
19%.
Financial Health
Cooper exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of only
$7.9 million, up 143% year over year.
The company continued with its de-leveraging trend as total debt
fell 34.9% year over year, to $406.5
million in the quarter.
Cooper generated $87.4 million of
operating cash flow in the quarter and spent $19.1 million on capital expenditure, yielding
free cash flows of $68.3 million (up
17% year over year).
Outlook
Cooper amended its guidance for fiscal 2011 based on better
prospects for contact lens sales. The company now forecasts
adjusted earnings per share for the year in a higher range of
$4.20 to $4.25 versus its earlier
projection of $4.00 to $4.15. Revenue
forecast for the year has also been slightly modified to a higher
range of $1.320 billion to $1.335
billion versus the earlier forecast of $1.280 billion to $1.300 billion.
Revenues for the CVI and CSI divisions are projected in the
range of $1,117 million to $1,127
million and $203 million to $208
million, respectively. Free cash flow has been forecast in a
range of $200 million to $220
million, up from the earlier guidance of $190 million to $210 million.
Cooper said it expects revenues in the range of $350 million to $365 million with adjusted
earnings per share between $1.19 and
$1.24 per share in the fiscal fourth quarter. That comprises
$300 million to $310 million in sales
from CVI and $50 million to $55
million from CSI.
Cooper is a global medical products company specializing in a
wide range of contact lenses for the vision correction market with
a smaller strategic business unit for women's health. It reportedly
holds the number three position in the $6
billion global contact lens industry.
Cooper is a leader in the high-margin toric lens market. It
offers multiple designs of toric lenses, across a wide range of
parameters, unlike some of its competitors, who offer toric lenses
in a limited number of designs. The company is benefiting from
strong demand for its Biofinity toric lenses.
However, Cooper faces formidable competition in each of its
major product lines. Competition comes from globally well
established contact lens makers such as Johnson &
Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Novartis (NYSE: NVS). Depressed
levels of consumer spending have heightened the competitive
pressures on the company. Our Outperform recommendation on the
stock is backed by a short-term Zacks #2 Rank (Buy).
Joy Global to Sell LeTourneau Unit
Mining equipment maker Joy Global Inc. (Nasdaq: JOYG)
said it has agreed to sell the drilling products business of the
recently acquired LeTourneau Technologies Inc. The company will
sell the LeTourneau Technologies Drillings Systems and Offshore
Products divisions to Cameron International Corporation
(NYSE: CAM) for $375 million in
cash.
The LeTourneau unit designs offshore jack-up drilling rigs and
manufactures primary components for the rigs, along with drilling
equipment for large land and offshore rigs. LeTourneau's products
include elevating systems, skidding systems, cranes, top drives,
rotary tables, draw works, mud pumps and rig control and power
systems.
The boards of Cameron and Joy
Global have unanimously approved the transaction. The companies
expect to close the deal during the fourth quarter of 2011, pending
customary closing conditions.
Joy Global's decision to sell the LeTourneau drilling products
unit stemmed from its intention to focus on its core business of
manufacturing surface and underground mining equipment. Also, the
company expects this sale to expand its funding options to complete
the planned acquisition of China-based International Mining Machinery
Holdings Ltd.
As part of the deal, with Cameron, Joy Global will dispose the
LeTourneau facilities in Houston
and Vicksburg, Mississippi.
However, it will retain a facility in Longview, Texas, where LeTourneau manufactures
large capacity wheel loaders for the surface mining market.
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