Kalamazoo, Michigan, Oct. 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stryker (NYSE:SYK) reported operating results for the third quarter of 2019:

Third Quarter Highlights

"We delivered another strong quarter of results, with organic sales growth of 8.6% and adjusted EPS growth of 13%," said Kevin A. Lobo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect this momentum to continue, which positions us well to deliver above the high end of our initial guidance range for both organic sales and adjusted EPS."

Sales Analysis

Consolidated net sales of $3.6 billion increased 10.6% in the quarter and 11.5% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 8.6% in the quarter including 9.3% from increased unit volume partially offset by 0.7% from lower prices.

Orthopaedics net sales of $1.3 billion increased 7.8% in the quarter and 8.8% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 8.8% in the quarter including 10.1% from increased unit volume partially offset by 1.3% from lower prices.

MedSurg net sales of $1.6 billion increased 9.2% in the quarter and 10.0% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 8.8% in the quarter including 9.2% from increased unit volume partially offset by 0.4% from lower prices.

Neurotechnology and Spine net sales of $0.7 billion increased 19.4% in the quarter and 20.2% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 7.6% in the quarter including 7.8% from increased unit volume partially offset by 0.2% from lower prices.

Earnings Analysis

Reported net earnings of $466 million decreased 21.0% in the quarter. Reported net earnings per diluted share of $1.23 decreased 20.6% in the quarter. Reported gross profit margin and reported operating income margin were 65.0% and 17.5% in the quarter. Adjusted gross profit margin(1) and adjusted operating income margin(1) were 65.7% and 25.4%, an improvement of 50 basis points in the quarter. Adjusted net earnings(1) of $725 million increased 12.8% in the quarter. Adjusted net earnings per diluted share(1) of $1.91 increased 13.0% in the quarter.

2019 Outlook

Based on our performance to date and anticipated strength in the remainder of the year, we now expect 2019 organic net sales growth to be toward the higher end of our previously guided range of 7.5% to 8.0% and expect adjusted net earnings per diluted share(2) to be in the range of $8.20 to $8.25. For the fourth quarter we expect adjusted net earnings per diluted share(2) to be in the range of $2.43 to $2.48. If foreign currency exchange rates hold near current levels, we expect net sales in the fourth quarter and full year will be negatively impacted by approximately 1.0%, and net earnings per diluted share will be negatively impacted by approximately $0.02 in the fourth quarter and $0.15 in the full year.

(1) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin, adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per diluted share, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures: gross profit margin, operating income and operating income margin, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, and other important information accompanies this press release.

(2) We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of our expected net earnings per diluted share to expected adjusted net earnings per diluted share as we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the impact and timing of restructuring-related and other charges, acquisition-related expenses and fair value adjustments to inventory and the outcome of certain regulatory, legal and tax matters. The financial impact of these items is uncertain and is dependent on various factors, including timing, and could be material to our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Conference Call on Tuesday, October29, 2019

As previously announced, Stryker will host a conference call on Tuesday, October29, 2019 at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss the company's operating results for the quarter ended September30, 2019 and provide an operational update.

To participate in the conference call dial (877) 702-4565 (domestic) or (647) 689-5532 (international) and be prepared to provide conference ID number 6039299 to the operator.

A simultaneous webcast of the call will be accessible via the company's website at http://www.stryker.com. The call will be archived on the Investor Relations page of this site.

A recording of the call will also be available from 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, October29, 2019, until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. To hear this recording, you may dial (800) 585-8367 (domestic) or (416) 621-4642 (international) and enter conference ID number 6039299.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains information that includes or is based on forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: weakening of economic conditions that could adversely affect the level of demand for our products; pricing pressures generally, including cost-containment measures that could adversely affect the price of or demand for our products; changes in foreign exchange markets; legislative and regulatory actions; unanticipated issues arising in connection with clinical studies and otherwise that affect U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of new products; potential supply disruptions; changes in reimbursement levels from third-party payors; a significant increase in product liability claims; the ultimate total cost with respect to recall-related matters; the impact of investigative and legal proceedings and compliance risks; resolution of tax audits; the impact of the federal legislation to reform the United States healthcare system; costs to comply with medical device regulations; changes in financial markets; changes in the competitive environment; our ability to integrate acquisitions; and our ability to realize anticipated cost savings. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and,together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. The company offers innovative products and services inOrthopaedics, Medical and Surgical,and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improvepatient and hospital outcomes. More information is available atwww.stryker.com.

For investor inquiries please contact:

Katherine Owen, Vice President, Strategy & Investor Relations at 269-385-2600 or katherine.owen@stryker.com

For media inquiries please contact:

Yin Becker, Vice President, Communications, Public Affairs and Corporate Marketing at 269-385-2600 or yin.becker@stryker.com

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: percentage sales growth; percentage sales growth in constant currency; percentage organic sales growth; adjusted gross profit; adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses; adjusted research, development and engineering expenses; adjusted operating income; adjusted effective income tax rate; adjusted net earnings; and adjusted net earnings per diluted share (Diluted EPS). We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful information to assist investors and shareholders in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance. Management believes percentage sales growth in constant currency and the other adjusted measures described above are important indicators of our operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of or are unrelated to our core operating results and provide a baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for reviewing the operating results of reportable business segments and analyzing potential future business trends in connection with our budget process and bases certain management incentive compensation on these non-GAAP financial measures.

To measure percentage sales growth in constant currency, we remove the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates that affect the comparability and trend of sales. Percentage sales growth in constant currency is calculated by translating current and prior year results at the same foreign currency exchange rate. To measure percentage organic sales growth, we remove the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and acquisitions, which affect the comparability and trend of sales. Percentage organic sales growth is calculated by translating current year results at prior year average foreign currency exchange rates excluding the impact of acquisitions. To measure earnings performance on a consistent and comparable basis, we exclude certain items that affect the comparability of operating results and the trend of earnings.

Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported sales growth, gross profit, selling, general and administrative expenses, research, development and engineering expenses, operating income, effective income tax rate, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures below, provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors and shareholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

The following reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding used in the calculation of non-GAAP earnings per share are the same as those used in the calculation of reported earnings per share for the respective period.

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Stryker reports third quarter 2019 operating results - BioSpace