Align Technology Announces Third Quarter 2014 Results


SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 23, 2014) - Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN)

  • Revenues of $189.9 million, up 15.4% year-over-year
  • Clear Aligner revenues up 16.0% and Scanner and Services revenues up 7.1% year-over-year
  • Operating margin of 27.1%, compared to 25.2% in Q3 a year-ago
  • Earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.47, compared to $0.42 in Q3 a year-ago

Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2014 (Q3'14) were $189.9 million, a 15.4% increase year-over-year from $164.5 million for the third quarter of 2013 (Q3'13). Clear aligner case shipments in Q3'14 were 119.6 thousand, an 11.9% increase year-over-year from 106.9 thousand for Q3'13. Net profit for Q3'14 was $38.2 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, versus $34.5 million, or $0.42 per diluted share for Q3'13.

"I am pleased to report solid third quarter results with year-over-year growth driven by higher Invisalign volume across all customer channels and geographies, especially from International doctors. Third quarter results also reflect continued growth in the number of teenagers starting orthodontic treatment with Invisalign during the summer season," said Thomas M. Prescott, Align president and CEO. "As a result of solid revenue growth, better than expected gross margin and management of operating expenses, EPS was $0.03 above the high-end range of our outlook."

   
   
Summary Financial Comparisons  
(In millions except for shipments and per share amounts)  
    Q3'14   Q2'14   Q3'13   Q/Q     Y/Y  
GAAP                        
Clear Aligner Shipments     119,615     119,300     106,900   +0.3 %   +11.9 %
Net Revenues   $ 189.9   $ 192.5   $ 164.5   (1.4 )%   +15.4 %
  Clear Aligner   $ 178.1   $ 179.7   $ 153.6   (0.9 )%   +16.0 %
  Scanner and Services   $ 11.7   $ 12.8   $ 11.0   (8.3 )%   +7.1 %
Net Profit   $ 38.2   $ 35.6   $ 34.5   +7.4 %   +10.7 %
Earnings Per Share   $ 0.47   $ 0.43   $ 0.42   +$0.04     +$0.05  
Note: Changes and percentages are based on actual values and may effect totals due to rounding  
   
   

As of September 30, 2014, Align had $561.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term marketable securities compared to $472.0 million as of December 31, 2013. During Q3'14, the Company repurchased 500,000 shares of stock, including 364,000 shares related to the completion of the Company's previously announced $70 million accelerated stock repurchase (ASR) and 136,000 shares amounting to $7.4 million in open market repurchases. The repurchases are part of Align's three-year, $300 million stock repurchase program announced on April 23, 2014, with $100 million of that amount authorized to be purchased through April 2015. Year-to-date, the Company repurchased 1.5 million shares for $77.4 million. The Company anticipates repurchasing the remaining $22.6 million of the first $100 million of the authorization over the next six months.

Q4 Fiscal 2014 Business Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2014 (Q4'14), Align provides the following guidance:

  • Clear aligner case shipments in a range of 125.1 thousand to 127.6 thousand, which reflects a year-over-year increase of 12.6% to 14.8%.
  • Net revenues in a range of $194.9 million to $199.1 million, which reflects a year-over-year increase of 9.3% to 11.7%.
  • Diluted EPS in a range of $0.47 to $0.50.

Align Web Cast and Conference Call
Align Technology will host a conference call today, October 23, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. PT, to review its third quarter 2014 results, discuss future operating trends and the business outlook. The conference call will also be web cast live via the Internet. To access the web cast, go to the "Events & Presentations" section under Company Information on Align's Investor Relations web site at http://investor.aligntech.com. To access the conference call, please dial 201-689-8261 approximately fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call. An archived audio web cast will be available beginning approximately one hour after the call's conclusion and will remain available for approximately 12 months. Additionally, a telephonic replay of the call can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 with conference number 13591983 followed by #. For international callers, please dial 201-612-7415 and use the same conference number referenced above. The telephonic replay will be available through 5:30 p.m. ET on October 30, 2014.

About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology is the leader in modern clear aligner orthodontics that designs, manufactures and markets the Invisalign® system, which provides dental professionals with a range of treatment options for adults and teenagers. Align also offers the iTero 3D digital scanning system and services for orthodontic and restorative dentistry. Align was founded in March 1997 and received FDA clearance to market the Invisalign system in 1998. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign provider in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero 3D digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
While there are no non-GAAP adjustments to the three months ended September 30, 2014, we may use from time to time the following non-GAAP financial measures to supplement our consolidated financial statements: non-GAAP net profit and non-GAAP earnings per share, which exclude, as applicable, impairment of goodwill, impairment of long-lived assets, and any related income tax adjustments. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our "core operating performance." Management believes that "core operating performance" represents Align's performance in the ordinary, on-going and customary course of its operations. Accordingly, management excludes from "core operating performance" certain expenditures and other items that may not be indicative of our operating performance including discrete cash and non-cash charges that are infrequent, or one-time in nature. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal evaluation of period-to-period comparisons. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making, and (2) they are provided to and used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to facilitate comparisons with prior and subsequent reporting periods. A reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and a more detailed explanation of each non-GAAP financial measure and its uses are provided in the footnotes to the table captioned "Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Key Financial Metrics" included at the end of this release. 

Forward-Looking Statement
This news release, including the tables below, contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding certain business metrics for the fourth quarter of 2014, including, but not limited to, anticipated net revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, operating profit, diluted earnings per share, case shipments, additional common stock repurchases and cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the tables below relating to expectations about future events or results are based upon information available to Align as of the date hereof. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, difficulties predicting customer and consumer purchasing behavior, the willingness and ability of our customers to maintain and/or increase product utilization in sufficient numbers, the possibility that the development and release of new products does not proceed in accordance with the anticipated timeline, the possibility that the market for the sale of these new products may not develop as expected, the risks relating to Align's ability to sustain or increase profitability or revenue growth in future periods while controlling expenses, growth related risks, including capacity constraints and pressure on our internal systems and personnel, our ability to successfully achieve the anticipated benefits from the scanner and services business, continued customer demand for our existing and new products, changes in consumer spending habits as a result of, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wages and consumer confidence, the timing of case submissions from our doctors within a quarter, acceptance of our products by consumers and dental professionals, foreign operational, political and other risks relating to Align's international manufacturing operations, Align's ability to protect its intellectual property rights, continued compliance with regulatory requirements, competition from existing and new competitors, Align's ability to develop and successfully introduce new products and product enhancements and the loss of key personnel. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Align's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014. Align undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

                       
                       
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.           
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS      
(in thousands, except per share data)           
                       
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,
2014
    September 30,
2013
  September 30,
2014
    September 30,
2013
 
                       
Net revenues   $ 189,876     $ 164,506   $ 563,053     $ 481,914  
                               
Cost of revenues     44,822       39,416     135,272       120,284  
                               
Gross profit     145,054       125,090     427,781       361,630  
                               
Operating expenses:                              
  Sales and marketing     52,368       45,224     161,642       135,352  
  General and administrative     28,285       27,487     84,533       84,862  
  Research and development     12,854       10,915     39,523       33,113  
  Impairment of goodwill     -       -     -       40,693  
  Impairment of long-lived assets     -       -     -       26,320  
Total operating expenses     93,507       83,626     285,698       320,340  
                               
Operating profit     51,547       41,464     142,083       41,290  
                               
Interest and other income (expense), net     (1,999 )     449     (1,491 )     (874 )
                               
Profit before income taxes     49,548       41,913     140,592       40,416  
                               
Provision for income taxes     11,301       7,376     34,301       18,542  
                               
Net profit   $ 38,247     $ 34,537   $ 106,291     $ 21,874  
                               
Net profit per share                              
  - basic   $ 0.47     $ 0.43   $ 1.31     $ 0.27  
  - diluted   $ 0.47     $ 0.42   $ 1.29     $ 0.26  
                               
Shares used in computing net profit per share                              
  - basic     80,629       79,967     80,924       80,592  
  - diluted     82,014       81,848     82,443       82,549  
         
         
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.        
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS    
(in thousands)        
         
    September 30,
2014
  December 31,
2013
ASSETS        
         
Current assets:            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 180,676   $ 242,953
  Marketable securities, short-term     244,820     127,040
  Accounts receivable, net     130,047     113,250
  Inventories     15,983     13,968
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets     44,146     47,465
    Total current assets     615,672     544,676
             
Marketable securities, long-term     136,017     101,978
Property, plant and equipment, net     86,447     75,743
Goodwill and intangible assets, net     82,926     85,362
Deferred tax assets     19,714     15,766
Other assets     7,513     8,622
             
    Total assets   $ 948,289   $ 832,147
             
   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY            
             
Current liabilities:            
  Accounts payable   $ 24,517   $ 17,718
  Accrued liabilities     86,600     80,345
  Deferred revenues     87,443     77,275
    Total current liabilities     198,560     175,338
             
Other long term liabilities     27,273     22,839
             
    Total liabilities     225,833     198,177
             
Total stockholders' equity     722,456     633,970
             
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 948,289   $ 832,147
           
           
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.     
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP KEY FINANCIAL METRICS     
       
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses        
(in thousands)      
       
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2014   September 30, 2013  
           
GAAP Operating expenses   $ 285,698   $ 320,340  
  Impairment of goodwill (1)     -     (40,693 )
  Impairment of long-lived assets (2)     -     (26,320 )
Non-GAAP Operating expenses   $ 285,698   $ 253,327  
               
               
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Profit       
(in thousands)
      Nine Months Ended  
      September 30, 2014     September 30, 2013  
               
GAAP Operating profit   $ 142,083   $ 41,290  
  Impairment of goodwill (1)     -     40,693  
  Impairment of long-lived assets (2)     -     26,320  
Non-GAAP Operating profit   $ 142,083   $ 108,303  
               
               
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Profit       
(in thousands, except per share amounts)    
      Nine Months Ended  
      September 30, 2014     September 30, 2013  
               
GAAP Net profit   $ 106,291   $ 21,874  
  Impairment of goodwill (1)     -     40,693  
  Impairment of long-lived assets (2)     -     26,320  
  Income tax-related adjustments (3)     -     (3,788 )
Non-GAAP Net profit   $ 106,291   $ 85,099  
               
Diluted Net profit per share:              
    GAAP   $ 1.29   $ 0.26  
    Non-GAAP   $ 1.29   $ 1.03  
               
Shares used in computing diluted GAAP Net profit (loss) per share     82,443     82,549  
Shares used in computing diluted Non-GAAP Net profit per share     82,443     82,549  
               
               

Notes:

There were no Non-GAAP adjustments for the three months ended September 30, 2014 or 2013.

(1) Impairment of goodwill. These costs represent non-cash write-downs of our goodwill generally related to negative trends in market and economic conditions, termination of relationships with distributors, or the increase in competitive environment related to our Scanner and Services reporting unit. We remove the impact of these charges to our operating performance to assist in assessing our ability to generate cash from operations. We believe this may be useful information to users of our financial statements; therefore, we have excluded these charges for purposes of calculating these non-GAAP measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance, particularly in terms of liquidity.

(2) Impairment of long-lived assets. These costs represent non-cash write-downs of our long-lived assets generally related to the increase in competitive environment related to our Scanner and Services reporting unit. As a result of these conditions, we have assessed that our asset group within the reporting unit was not recoverable and, therefore, recorded an impairment charge. We remove the impact of these charges to our operating performance to assist in assessing our ability to generate cash from operations. We believe this may be useful information to users of our financial statements; therefore, we have excluded these charges for purposes of calculating these non-GAAP measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance, particularly in terms of liquidity.

(3) Income tax-related adjustments. Non-GAAP financial information for the quarter is adjusted for a tax rate equal to our annual estimated tax rate on non-GAAP income. This rate is based on our estimated annual GAAP income tax rate forecast, adjusted to account for discrete tax items and items excluded from GAAP income in calculating the non-GAAP financial measures presented above. Our estimated tax rate on non-GAAP income is determined annually and may be re-calculated during the year to take into account events or trends that we believe materially impact the estimated annual rate.

ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.                                                                           
Q3 2014 FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS METRICS                                                                           
(in thousands except utilization and doctors trained)                                                                           
 
                                                   
    Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     FISCAL     Q1     Q2       Q3  
    2013     2013     2013     2013     2013     2014     2014       2014  
Invisalign Clear Aligner Net Revenues by Geography:                                                  
  North America   $ 97,045     $ 102,217     $ 103,888     $ 105,059     $ 408,209     $ 107,910     $ 111,648       $ 113,349  
  International     31,818       40,320       38,983       50,595       161,716       49,848       55,988         53,439  
  Non-case*     12,709       10,766       10,679       10,570       44,724       10,481       12,099         11,350  
    Total Clear Aligner Net Revenues   $ 141,572     $ 153,303     $ 153,550     $ 166,224     $ 614,649     $ 168,239     $ 179,735       $ 178,138  
      YoY % growth     14.8 %     14.7 %     21.2 %     25.1 %     19.0 %     18.8 %     17.2 %       16.0 %
      QoQ % growth     6.6 %     8.3 %     0.2 %     8.3 %             1.2 %     6.8 %       -0.9 %
  *includes Invisalign training, ancillary products, and retainers                                                                  
                                                                     
Invisalign Clear Aligner Net Revenues by Product:                                                                  
  Invisalign Full Products   $ 112,780     $ 123,379     $ 125,169     $ 136,179     $ 497,507     $ 138,133     $ 147,158       $ 147,583  
  Invisalign Express Products     16,083       19,158       17,702       19,475       72,418       19,625       20,478       $ 19,205  
  Non-case*     12,709       10,766       10,679       10,570       44,724       10,481       12,099         11,350  
    Total Clear Aligner Net Revenues   $ 141,572     $ 153,303     $ 153,550     $ 166,224     $ 614,649     $ 168,239     $ 179,735       $ 178,138  
                                                                   
Average Invisalign Selling Price (ASP):                                                                  
  Worldwide ASP (1)   $ 1,315     $ 1,345     $ 1,335     $ 1,400     $ 1,350     $ 1,405     $ 1,405       $ 1,395  
  Worldwide ASP, adjusted (2)   $ 1,340     $ 1,355     $ 1,335     $ 1,400     $ 1,360     $ 1,405     $ 1,405       $ 1,395  
  International ASP   $ 1,355     $ 1,480     $ 1,455     $ 1,630     $ 1,490     $ 1,620     $ 1,625       $ 1,560  
  (1) Invisalign case net revenues / Invisalign case shipments                                                                  
  (2) Adjusted for one-time adjustments (eg. Q1'13 and Q2'13 grandfathered mid-course correction deferrals)                                                                  
                                                                   
Invisalign Clear Aligner Cases Shipped by Geography:                                                                  
  North America     74,730       78,865       80,130       80,120       313,845       81,420       84,850         85,405  
  International     23,445       27,270       26,770       31,010       108,495       30,760       34,450         34,210  
    Total Cases Shipped     98,175       106,135       106,900       111,130       422,340       112,180       119,300         119,615  
                                                                   
Invisalign Clear Aligner Cases Shipped by Product:                                                                  
  Invisalign Full Products     79,235       84,850       87,670       91,605       343,360       92,335       98,565         99,385  
  Invisalign Express Products     18,940       21,285       19,230       19,525       78,980       19,845       20,735         20,230  
    Total Cases Shipped     98,175       106,135       106,900       111,130       422,340       112,180       119,300         119,615  
                                                                   
Number of Invisalign Doctors Cases Shipped To:                                                                  
  North America     17,280       18,070       18,140       18,495       27,330       19,015       19,505         19,550  
  International     5,840       6,355       6,510       6,925       10,800       7,185       7,685         7,950  
    Total Doctors Cases Shipped To     23,120       24,425       24,650       25,420       38,130       26,200       27,190         27,500  
                                                                   
Invisalign Doctor Utilization Rates*:                                                                  
  North America     4.3       4.4       4.4       4.3       11.5       4.3       4.4         4.4  
  North American Orthodontists     8.0       8.0       8.4       8.0       26.4       8.1       8.4         8.8  
  North American GP Dentists     2.9       3.0       2.9       3.0       7.3       2.9       2.9         2.8  
  International     4.0       4.3       4.1       4.5       10.0       4.3       4.5         4.3  
    Total Utilization Rates     4.3       4.4       4.3       4.4       11.1       4.3       4.4         4.4  
  * # of cases shipped/# of doctors to whom cases were shipped                                                                  
                                                                     
Number of Invisalign Doctors Trained:                                                                  
  North America     755       1,130       795       1,460       4,140       700       1,150     #   1,125  
  International     970       1,020       875       1,060       3,925       1255       1,380         1,400  
      Total Doctors Trained Worldwide     1,725       2,150       1,670       2,520       8,065       1,955       2,530         2,525  
      Total to Date Worldwide     78,220       80,370       82,040       84,560       84,560       86,515       89,045         91,570  
                                                                   
Scanner and Services Net Revenues:                                                                  
  North America Scanner and Services   $ 11,952     $ 10,454     $ 10,875     $ 11,980     $ 45,261     $ 12,313     $ 12,698       $ 11,579  
  International Scanner and Services     56       71       81       88       296       94       98         159  
    Total Scanner and Net Revenues   $ 12,008     $ 10,525     $ 10,956     $ 12,068     $ 45,557     $ 12,407     $ 12,796       $ 11,738  
                                                                   
Total Net Revenues by Geography:                                                                  
  Total North America Net Revenues   $ 108,997     $ 112,671     $ 114,763     $ 117,039     $ 453,470     $ 120,223     $ 124,346       $ 124,928  
  Total International Net Revenues     31,874       40,391       39,064       50,683       162,012       49,942       56,086         53,598  
  Total Non-case Net Revenues     12,709       10,766       10,679       10,570       44,724       10,481       12,099         11,350  
    Total Worldwide Net Revenues   $ 153,580     $ 163,828     $ 164,506     $ 178,292     $ 660,206     $ 180,646     $ 192,531       $ 189,876  
      YoY % growth     13.7 %     12.5 %     20.5 %     24.8 %     17.9 %     17.6 %     17.5 %       15.4 %
      QoQ % growth     7.5 %     6.7 %     0.4 %     8.4 %             1.3 %     6.6 %       -1.4 %
                                                                   
Stock-based Compensation (SBC)                                                                  
  SBC included in Gross Profit   $ 600     $ 600     $ 700     $ 700     $ 2,600     $ 800     $ 940       $ 865  
  SBC included in Operating Expenses     5,800       6,700       6,900       4,500       23,900       8,300       9,370         9,045  
    Total SBC Expense   $ 6,400     $ 7,300     $ 7,600     $ 5,200     $ 26,500     $ 9,100     $ 10,310       $ 9,910  
                                                                       

 Note: Historical public data may differ due to rounding. Additionally, rounding may effect totals.   

ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
BUSINESS OUTLOOK SUMMARY
(unaudited)

The outlook figures provided below and elsewhere in this press release are approximate in nature since Align's business outlook is difficult to predict. Align's future performance involves numerous risks and uncertainties and the company's results could differ materially from the outlook provided. Some of the factors that could affect Align's future financial performance and business outlook are set forth under "Forward Looking Information" above in this press release.

     
     
Financial Outlook    
(in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)    
     
    Q4'14 Guidance
     
    GAAP
     
Net Revenues   $194.9 - $199.1
     
Gross Margin   74.2% - 74.6%
     
Operating Expenses   $94.7 - $95.5
     
Operating Margin   25.6% - 26.6%
     
Net Income per Diluted Share   $0.47 - $0.50
     
     
Business Metrics:   Q4'14
     
Case Shipments   125.1K - 127.6K
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities   $580M - $590M
Capital Expenditure   $20.0M - $25.0M
Depreciation & Amortization   $4.5M - $5.0M
Diluted Shares Outstanding   81.9M
Stock Based Compensation Expense   $11.1M
Tax Rate   23.0%