Health and Healthcare

Bristol-Myers Squibb Earnings, Trial Results Not Enough to Please Investors

Thinkstock

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2017 results before markets opened Monday. For the quarter, the drug maker posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.68 on revenues of $5.45 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS $0.63 on revenues of $5.24 billion. Fourth-quarter results also compare to consensus estimates for EPS of $0.67 and $5.35 billion in revenues.

For the full year, the company reported adjusted EPS of $3.01 per share and revenues of $20.78 billion, which compares to EPS of $2.83 a year ago on revenues of $19.43 billion. Analysts had been looking for EPS of $3.00 and revenues of $20.67 billion.

Bristol-Myers also announced this morning a successful CheckMate-227 Phase 3 trial of its Opdivo-Yervoy combination non-small cell lung cancer treatment. That announcement was likely more responsible for the company’s share-price bump in Monday’s premarket than were the quarterly and full-year results. Enthusiasm has waned, however, during the regular trading session.

The company’s effective tax rate increased to 434% in the quarter from 17% in the fourth quarter last year primarily due to a one-time $2.9 billion charge resulting from U.S. tax law changes.

CEO Giovanni Caforio said:

[W]e believe the exciting results from CheckMate -227 that we announced today are a meaningful step forward for patients with lung cancer. As we begin 2018, I am confident that we are well positioned for long-term growth through our strong commercial and R&D capabilities in bringing transformational medicines to patients with serious diseases.

Bristol-Myers Squibb guided GAAP full-year 2018 EPS to $3.00 to $3.15 and non-GAAP EPS to $3.15 to $3.30. The company expects revenues to rise in the low- to mid-single digits and gross margin to come in at around 70%. The estimated effective tax rate for the year is 20% to 21%.

Analysts had estimated first-quarter revenues at $5.09 billion and EPS of $0.81. For the full year, analysts are expecting EPS of $3.23 and revenues of $21.38 billion.

The stock traded down about 0.4% at $63.28 about an hour after Monday’s opening bell. The 52-week trading range is $50.56 to $66.10, and the 12-month consensus price target on the stock is $64.55.

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.