
Thermo Fisher 3Q23 Results and 2023 Guidance Forbodes Further Weakness in Life Science Tools; Management Anticipates Headwind Abatement in 2H24
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has released its financial results for the third quarter of 2023. The company reported third-quarter revenue of $10.57 billion, representing a 1% decrease compared to the same quarter the previous year. Analysts had been forecasting revenue of $10.61 million. The company cited the impact of industry-wide macroeconomic conditions for the disappointing results, most notably customer spending and China. Other life science tools companies such as Danaher have cited the currently challenging market environment. The company noted that its North American business declined in the mid-single digits, Europe grew in the low-single digits, and that China declined in the high-single digits from a growth perspective.
The weakest business unit was the Life Science segment which declined 18% year-over-year. The company cited the reduction was predominantly due to the run-off of pandemic related revenue versus one year ago. Analytical Instruments grew 8% and the company cited strength in electron microscopy. Specialty diagnostic revenue grew 2% with the highest contributors being immunodiagnostics, microbiology, and transplant diagnostics. Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services revenue increased 3%, led by pharma services.
The company highlighted the introduction of several new products during the third quarter which could drive future growth. These included the EXENT® Solution in Europe, aimed at diagnosing and monitoring patients with blood protein abnormalities related to multiple myeloma and other disorders. Additionally, Thermo Fisher introduced the Gibco™ CTS™ Detachable Dynabeads™, a next-generation platform of cell therapy reagents designed to enhance process flexibility, scalability, and drug efficacy for cell therapy manufacturers. The Thermo Scientific™ Fill Finish Solution™ was also unveiled to improve the efficiency of the sterile fill-finish process, particularly in drug manufacturing. Furthermore, management highlighted its recently announced acquisition of multiplexed protein testing company Olink which closed shortly after the quarter.
The company did make positive progress in operating margin expansion and profitability. The company’s adjusted EPS for the third quarter of 2023 were $5.69, compared to $5.08 in the third quarter of the previous year. Street forecasts called for adjusted EPS of $5.63. Adjusted operating income reached $2.56 billion in the third quarter of 2023, marking an increase from $2.37 billion in the same quarter in 2022. The non-GAAP operating margin was 24.2%, compared to 22.2% in the third quarter of 2022.
Marc Casper, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, expressed his satisfaction with the company’s performance despite weakening market conditions in the third quarter. He highlighted the excellent margin expansion and adjusted EPS growth achieved by the team. Casper also emphasized the company’s commitment to both short-term performance and long-term competitiveness.
Due to the current macroeconomic environment, Thermo Fisher has adjusted its revenue and adjusted EPS guidance for the full year. The company now expects 2023 revenue to reach $42.7 billion, with core organic revenue growth projected at 1%. The adjusted EPS guidance for the year is $21.50. Previously the company had expected revenue to be in the range of $43.4 billion to $44.0 billion, with Core organic revenue growth of 2% to 4%, and adjusted EPS of $22.28 to $22.72. The new guidance implies fourth quarter revenue of $10.7 billion, up slightly from 3Q23 levels. The company noted on its call that it expects COVID-19 related headwinds to moderate through 2024, customer destocking activity to abate, and China to stabilize leading to the opportunity for growth in the second part of the year.