Reported Q1'23 Revenue of $178 Million and Growth of 28% Year-Over-Year
Delivered Organic Growth Excluding COVID of 7%
Reducing Cost Structure to Deliver Two Points of Margin Enhancement in 2nd Half FY23
BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azenta, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZTA) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2022.
Management Comments
"Our first fiscal quarter growth highlights the strength of the business, achieving 7% organic growth excluding COVID impacts, while delivering record revenue from B Medical, the recent addition to our cold chain portfolio," stated Steve Schwartz, President and CEO, "Integration of B Medical is well under way and momentum continues in many areas across the business. In addition, we have initiated actions to streamline our business structure to enhance efficiency in operations, which we expect to contribute two points of margin improvement in the third fiscal quarter. In all, we see significant opportunity ahead and remain focused on delivering profitable growth."
First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results
The Company has referenced in the explanation of revenue the estimated impact of COVID which includes the estimated revenue contribution from products delivered and services rendered to support COVID testing and research, and estimated constraints on the business due to disruptions in customer demand or the Company's ability to deliver in the COVID environment.
Revenue was $178 million, up 28% year over year and up 30% sequentially. Organic revenue declined 1%, which excludes 4 percentage points of headwind from foreign exchange and $46 million revenue contribution from acquired businesses, B Medical and Barkey.
Organic growth was 7% excluding COVID impacts. The estimated COVID impact on organic revenue was approximately zero in the first quarter compared to $11 million in the prior year period primarily from higher sales of consumables for COVID testing.
Life Sciences Products revenue increased 80% year over year primarily due to the addition of B Medical. Acquired businesses contributed $46 million to revenue in the quarter. Organic revenue declined 6% and was up 15% excluding COVID impacts.
Life Sciences Services revenue declined 1% year over year, with 7% growth in sample repository solutions ("SRS") and a 4% decline in genomics. Organic growth was 2%, and was up 4% excluding COVID impacts. The genomics business provided 2% organic growth and the SRS business provided 10% organic growth, excluding COVID impacts.
Summary of GAAP Earnings Results
Operating loss was $28 million. Gross margin was 41.4%, down 80 basis points quarter over quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses of $93 million included the addition of B Medical structure, the advisory costs related to M&A and the share buyback, and purchase accounting treatment.
Diluted EPS from continuing operations was ($0.15) compared to $0.04 in first quarter of fiscal 2022. Total diluted EPS was ($0.15), compared to $0.58 one year ago. Other income included $11 million of net interest income versus a $0.4 million expense in the prior year period.
Summary of Non-GAAP Earnings Results
Operating income was breakeven at $0.0 million. Operating margin declined 880 basis points year over year. Gross margin was 45.4%, up 150 basis points quarter over quarter and down 390 basis points year over year. Operating expense in the quarter was $81 million, up $24 million year over year.
Diluted EPS was $0.12, flat versus one year ago. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes stock-based compensation, was $12 million, and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 6.7%, down 750 basis points year over year.
Cash and Liquidity as of December 31, 2022
The Company ended the quarter with a total balance of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities of $1.4 billion.
On November 23, 2022, the Company entered into a $500 million accelerated share repurchase agreement ("ASR") with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. The Company received initial delivery of 6.1 million shares of the Company's common stock. The final settlement of the ASR is expected to be completed by the end of the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023.
On October 3, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of B Medical Systems S.a.r.l for approximately $424 million in cash, of which $43 million was paid in fiscal 2022 and $383 million was paid in the first quarter.
Subsequent Events
On February 2, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Ziath, Ltd., a leading provider of 2D barcode readers for life sciences applications.
Cost Reduction Initiatives
After the end of the first fiscal quarter of 2023, the Company initiated cost reductions expected to deliver two points of operating margin enhancement in the 2nd half of fiscal year 2023.
Guidance for Second Quarter Fiscal 2023
The Company announced revenue and earnings guidance for the second quarter fiscal 2023. Revenue is expected to be in the range of $156 to $171 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is expected to be in the range of ($0.04) to $0.04. GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations is expected to be in the range of ($0.24) to ($0.16).
Conference Call and Webcast
Azenta management will webcast its first quarter fiscal 2023 earnings conference call today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. During the call, Company management will respond to questions concerning, but not limited to, the Company's financial performance, business conditions and industry outlook. Management's responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed.
The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and, together with presentation materials referenced on the call, will be hosted at the Investor Relations section of Azenta's website at and will be archived online on this website for convenient on-demand replay. In addition, you may call 800- 908-8386 (US & Canada only) or +1-212-231-2924 for international callers to listen to the live webcast.
Regulation G – Use of Non-GAAP financial Measures
The Company supplements its GAAP financial measures with certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors a better perspective on the results of business operations, which the Company believes is more comparable to the similar analyses provided by its peers. These measures are not presented in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. These measures should always be considered in conjunction with appropriate GAAP measures. A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measures is included at the end of this release following the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows.
"Safe Harbor Statement" under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Some statements in this release are forward-looking statements made under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause Azenta's financial and business results to differ materially from our expectations. They are based on the facts known to management at the time they are made. Other forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements about our revenue and earnings expectations, our ability to realize margin improvement from cost reductions, our ability to integrate acquired companies, our ability to improve or retain our market position, and our ability to deliver financial success in the future and otherwise related to future operating or financial performance and opportunities. Factors that could cause results to differ from our expectations include the following: our ability to reduce costs effectively, the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the markets we serve, including our supply chain, and on the global economy generally; the volatility of the life sciences markets the Company serves; our possible inability to meet demand for our products due to difficulties in obtaining components and materials from our suppliers in required quantities and of required quality; the inability of customers to make payments to us when due; price competition; disputes concerning intellectual property; uncertainties in global political and economic conditions; our ability to successfully invest the cash proceeds from the sale of our Semiconductor Automation business; and other factors and other risks, including those that we have described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Current Reports on Form 8-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. As a result, we can provide no assurance that our future results will not be materially different from those projected. Azenta expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Azenta undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
About Azenta Life Sciences
Azenta, Inc. (Nasdaq: AZTA) is a leading provider of life sciences solutions worldwide, enabling impactful breakthroughs and therapies to market faster. Azenta provides a full suite of reliable cold-chain sample management solutions and genomic services across areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies for the industry's top pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and healthcare institutions globally.
Azenta is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit .
AZENTA INVESTOR CONTACTS:
Sara Silverman
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
[email protected]
Sherry Dinsmore
[email protected]
Notes on Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Management adjusts the GAAP results for the impact of amortization of intangible assets, restructuring charges, purchase price accounting adjustments and charges related to M&A to provide investors better perspective on the results of operations which the Company believes is more comparable to the similar analysis provided by its peers. Management also excludes special charges and gains, such as impairment losses, gains and losses from the sale of assets, certain tax benefits and charges, as well as other gains and charges that are not representative of the normal operations of the business. Management strongly encourages investors to review our financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single measure.
The Company has referenced in the explanation of revenue the estimated impact of COVID. Estimated impact of COVID includes the estimated revenue contribution from products delivered and services rendered to support COVID testing and research, and estimated constraints on the business due to disruptions in customer demand or the Company's ability to deliver in the COVID environment
SOURCE Azenta