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Net earnings per diluted share from continuing operations rise 12 percent to $0.87 for the quarter and $2.96 for fiscal year 2010; net orders grow by 15 percent in Oncology Systems and X-Ray Products businesses for the quarter

Varian Medical Systems is reporting net earnings from continuing operations of $0.87 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, up 12 percent from $0.78 in the year-ago quarter.  Net earnings per diluted share from continuing operations for fiscal year 2010 climbed to $2.96, also up 12 percent from $2.65 in fiscal year 2009.  Including discontinued operations, net earnings were $0.87 per diluted share for the fourth quarter and $2.91 for the fiscal year.  Compared to the same periods in fiscal year 2009, fourth-quarter revenues grew 2 percent to $652 million and revenues for fiscal year 2010 rose by 6 percent to $2.4 billion.

Net orders rose by 12 percent to $777 million for the fourth quarter and increased by 10 percent to $2.6 billion for the fiscal year, excluding from the year-ago periods a $62 million proton therapy system order that has been cancelled.  Excluding the proton order, the year-ending backlog rose 10 percent to $2.2 billion.  Including the proton order in the year-ago periods, net orders rose 3 percent for the fourth quarter and 5 percent for the fiscal year, and the year-ending backlog rose 7 percent.

"Our Oncology Systems and X-Ray Products businesses each generated solid order gains and achieved double-digit increases in backlog with the help of strong demand for new products, particularly our TrueBeam™ system and flat panel detectors," said Tim Guertin, president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems .  "Total revenues expanded modestly, reflecting the economic challenges and slower order activity that we experienced in the previous year, particularly in North America.  Product and territorial mix shifts within the Oncology business, a comparatively stronger dollar, and product launch costs contributed to a decline in the company's margins for the fourth quarter, but margins were up for the year."

The company ended the fiscal year with $520 million in cash and cash equivalents and $43 million of debt. During the fourth quarter, the company spent $255 million to repurchase 4.8 million shares of common stock, including an accelerated buyback of 3.9 million shares.  The company ended the quarter with accounts receivable days sales outstanding of 82, an increase of one day from the year-ago quarter.

Oncology Systems

Oncology Systems' fourth quarter revenues totaled $512 million, down 3 percent from the same period of fiscal year 2009.  Oncology revenues for fiscal year 2010 were $1.9 billion, up 4 percent from fiscal year 2009.  Fourth-quarter net orders were $657 million, up 15 percent, with a 24 percent gain in North America and a 7 percent increase in international markets.  Net orders for the fiscal year rose to $2.1 billion, up 10 percent from the last fiscal year, with a 4 percent gain in North America and a 16 percent increase in international markets.  

"Customers placed more than 60 orders for our TrueBeam radiotherapy and radiosurgery system during the quarter, bringing cumulative orders for this exciting new product to more than 125 units since its introduction in the second quarter of this year," said Guertin.  "TrueBeam together with RapidArc helped to stimulate a recovery in the North American oncology market.  Service added to growth for Oncology Systems and it now represents nearly 30 percent of annual orders and revenue for this business."

X-Ray Products

Fourth quarter revenues for the X-Ray Products business were $107 million, up 16 percent from the year-ago quarter, and revenues for fiscal year 2010 were $403 million, up 22 percent from the prior year.  Compared to the corresponding periods in fiscal year 2009, X-Ray Products' fourth quarter net orders rose 15 percent to $112 million, and fiscal year net orders rose 24 percent to $419 million.

"This was a record quarter for our X-Ray Products business with strong growth in orders and sales," Guertin said. "Flat panel detectors, including our newer panels for digital radiography, led the expansion in this business.   Orders for X-ray tubes grew solidly for the quarter and the year. Record sales volumes and a mix shift toward panel shipments contributed to strong gross margins and record quarterly operating earnings for this business."

Other

The company's Other category, which is comprised of the Security and Inspection Products business, the Varian Particle Therapy business, and the Ginzton Technology Center, recorded fourth quarter revenues of $33 million, up 47 percent or $11 million from the year-ago period.  Revenues for fiscal year 2010 totaled $91 million, up 8 percent from fiscal year 2009.

Excluding the cancelled proton order, fourth quarter net orders in the Other category were $8 million, down $19 million from the year-ago quarter, and net orders for fiscal year 2010 totaled $61 million, down $27 million from the prior year.  "Tender award protests in the U.S. continued to hinder our security business," Guertin said.  "Consequently, the company restructured this business and booked a $2 million restructuring charge in the fourth quarter to bring costs in line with actual business activity."

Outlook

"Strengthened order activity for our Oncology Systems business in the second half of this fiscal year as well as ongoing momentum in our X-Ray Products business has set the stage for better growth in the company's revenues and earnings in fiscal 2011," said Guertin.  "For fiscal year 2011, we believe that revenues and operating earnings could increase by 10 to 11 percent over fiscal 2010 totals and that net earnings per diluted share from continuing operations could rise around 14 percent to a range of $3.34 to $3.39.  For the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, total company revenues could increase by about 8 percent over the prior year, and net earnings per diluted share from continuing operations could also rise around 15 percent to a range of  $0.71 to $0.74."

Investor Conference Call

Varian Medical Systems is scheduled to conduct its fourth quarter fiscal year 2010 conference call at 2 p.m. PT today.  To hear a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the company's web site at www.varian.com/investor where it will be archived for a year.  To access the call via telephone, dial 1-866-831-6270 from inside the U.S. or 1- 617-213-8858 from outside the U.S. and enter confirmation code 77390623.  The replay can be accessed by dialing 1-888-286-8010 from inside the U.S. or 1-617-801-6888 from outside the U.S. and entering confirmation code 92095527.  The telephone replay will be available through 5 p.m. PT, October 29, 2010.

Source: Varian Medical Systems