Thermo Fisher Scientific Beats Estimates on Top and Bottom Lines

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYS: TMO) reported earnings on Feb. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Thermo Fisher Scientific beat expectations on revenues and earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue improved and GAAP earnings per share expanded.

Gross margins increased, operating margins contracted, and net margins dropped.

Revenue details
Thermo Fisher Scientific booked revenue of $3.13 billion. The 18 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $3.07 billion. Sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.78 billion.

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Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.18. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.16 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.77 for Q4 were 4.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.74 per share.

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Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 43.3%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.0%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.2%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.03 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.11.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $12.45 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.74.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 548 members out of 569 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 190 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 189 give Thermo Fisher Scientific a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Thermo Fisher Scientific is buy, with an average price target of $60.84.

At the time thisarticle was published Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor ofMotley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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