AtriCure falls despite solid Q4, 2018 prelims | Wall Street Beat

AtriCure (NSDQ:ATRC) shares took a fall today despite preliminary results for the fourth quarter and 2018 that topped estimates.

The Mason, Ohio-based cardiac implant maker said it expects to post Q4 sales of $52.9 million and 2018 sales of $201.6 million, beating the consensus estimatyes on Wall Street for both periods.

“We are pleased with our fourth quarter results and performance throughout 2018, as we continue our track record of strong, consistent revenue growth. We achieved many milestones and accomplishments in 2018: we completed enrollment in the Converge IDE trial, trained over 400 healthcare professionals worldwide, surpassed the 170,000 AtriClip milestone, launched the AtriClip FLEX•V device and established a dedicated pain management team,” president & CEO Mike Carrel said in prepared remarks. “We are well-positioned to continue executing on our strategy and positively impacting patient lives.”

The company forecast 2019 sales of $220 million to $228 million. Investors reacted negatively to the news, sending ATRC shares down -4.3% to $29.89 apiece today in mid-afternoon trading.

AxoGen plunges on prelims miss

AxoGen Inc. (NSDQ:AXGN) missed expectations with its preliminary fourth-quarter and 2018 sales, sending its shares plunging this afternoon.

The Alachua, Fla.-based peripheral nerve repair firm said it expects to report Q4 sales of $23.4 million and full-year revenues of $83.9 million, missing the consensus Wall Street estimates of $24.2 million and $84.6 million, respectively.

“The strong growth we delivered in 2018 reflects the progress we are seeing in our core trauma, oral and maxillofacial and breast reconstruction neurotization markets,” chairwoman, president & CEO Karen Zaderej said in prepared remarks. “In 2018, we invested for growth across the organization by expanding our commercial team and surgeon education programs, building our body of clinical evidence, and adding critical capabilities and leadership across the organization. In 2019, we will continue to take steps to drive sharper and more consistent commercial execution and build our platform of nerve repair.”

AxoGen affirmed its guidance for 2019 sales, saying it still expects to report revenue growth of at least 35% over 2018. The company said it’s planning to release its full Q4 and 2018 results Feb. 26.

AXGN shares plunged -21.3% to $16.77 apiece today in mid-afternoon activity.

Sientra treads water after Q4 prelims release

Sientra (NSDQ:SIEN) shares were flat today after the breast implant maker said it expects its fourth-quarter sales to just beat The Street’s consensus.

Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Sientra put its preliminary Q4 sales at $19.0 million, just ahead of the consensus $18.6 million.

“I am extremely proud of everything our team accomplished in 2018. I continue to be encouraged by the consistent progress we have made in establishing Sientra as a leading, diversified global partner to aesthetic physicians, and I believe the company is well positioned for an even stronger 2019,” chairman & CEO Jeffrey Nugent said in prepared remarks.

SIEN shares were up 0.04% to $13.94 apiece today in mid-afternoon trading.

Staar Surgical gets a prelims bump

Staar Surgical (NSDQ:STAA) beat The Street with its Q4 and 2018 preliminary sales numbers, giving its share price a bump today.

The Monrovia, Calif.-based intraocular lens maker said it expects its Q4 and 2018 sales to hit $31.2 million and $124.0 million, respectively.

“Global demand for our ICL product lines continued to expand during the fourth quarter, and all signs currently point to this momentum continuing into 2019,” president & CEO Caren Mason said in prepared remarks. “China led the way with ICL unit growth of approximately 99% in the fourth quarter, sequentially consistent with the growth we reported for the third quarter of 2018. As we planned, Staar Surgical’s business in the U.S. also returned to growth. We began the staged rollout of the Toric ICL in the U.S. to certified surgeons in late October, leading to approximately 16% growth for the ICL in the U.S., compared to the prior year period, in the world’s second-largest refractive surgery market.”

STAA shares were up 6.3% to $31.27 apiece today in mid-afternoon activity. The company said it plans to report its full Q4 and 2018 results Feb 21.

Cerus gains on prelims

Cerus (NSDQ: CERS) shares posted a gain today after the blood components company said its 2018 revenues should beat its own forecast.

The Concord, Calif.-based company said its Q4 sales are expected to be $16.5 million, with full year sales of $60.9 million, ahead of the top end of its $58 million to $60 million guidance.

Cerus said it expects sales of $70 million to $73 million this year.

“The revenue growth we generated in 2018 underscores the increasing demand for safer blood components. We finished 2018 strong with quarter-over-quarter and year-to-date growth in disposable kits led by French national conversion and U.S. demand,” president & CEO William Greenman said in prepared remarks. “Over the past few months, U.S. customer orders for Intercept platelets have been increasing. With the recent FDA publication of the draft guidance document on bacterial risk control strategies for platelet collection and transfusion, we could potentially experience further acceleration in customer demand in the U.S.”

CERS shares were up 5.0% to $5.66 apiece today in mid-afternoon trading.

Cerus said it plans to release its full results in late February.

OrthoPediatrics ticks up on prelims

OrthoPediatrics KIDS shares ticked up today on its Q4 and 2018 sales prelims.

The Warsaw, Ind.-based children’s orthopedic device maker said it expects to report Q4 sales of $14.5 million to $14.7 million and 2018 sales of $57.5 million to $57.7 million.

KIDS shares were up 3.2% to $34.15 apiece on the news today in mid-afternoon trading. Full results are slated for release in early March, OrthoPediatrics said.

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