Staar Surgical (STAA -4.93%), a pioneer in implantable contact lenses, released its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 30. Its sales climbed 10% year over year to $88.6 million, illustrating continued strong demand for its key product, the Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL). Despite this sales boost, gross profit margins dropped to 77.3% from 79.2% in the prior-year period, mainly due to a decrease in unit production that reduced overall cost efficiency. Overall, while Staar's sales figures demonstrated promising demand, declining margins and increased operational costs resulted in operating income of $5.7 million, down from $6.3 million in the prior-year period, posing concerns about its profitability outlook against a backdrop of growing expenses.
Metric | Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | % Change |
---|---|---|---|
Net sales | $88.6 million | $80.3 million | 10.3% |
Gross profit margin | 77.3% | 79.2% | (190 basis points) |
Operating income | $5.7 million | $6.3 million | (9.7%) |
Net income | $10.0 million | $4.8 million | 107.2% |
Overview of Staar Surgical's Business
Staar Surgical develops and manufactures Implantable Collamer Lenses that provide permanent refractive vision correction. Sales of these lenses account for 99% of its revenue. Staar holds a distinctive advantage due to its proprietary collamer material, which offers superior biocompatibility compared to competitors' lenses made from silicone or acrylic. This advantage has positioned Staar as a key player in this niche of the ophthalmology sector.
Innovations, particularly its EVO lens for moderate and high myopia treatment, illustrate its commitment to pioneering advancements. Staar's success will hinge on earning further regulatory endorsements for its innovative lenses and gaining greater acceptance for them among clinicians and patients alike.
Quarterly Highlights and Financial Developments
Staar Surgical's 10% rise in net sales to $88.6 million dominated the third quarter's highlight reel, as strong traction in the EVO lens product line drove ICL sales. This growth was attributed to strategic expansions and heightened demand across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. The Americas led the way with a 14% sales rise, followed by EMEA’s 12%, and APAC's 9% uplift, despite muted economic activity in the Asia-Pacific region, especially China.
Research and development (R&D) expenditures grew substantially to $14.5 million compared to $11.5 million in Q3 2023. Those hefty outlays showcase Staar's dedication to developing cutting-edge technologies, potentially sacrificing short-term gains for long-term profitability. Operating expenses surged to $62.8 million from $57.3 million in the previous year, primarily due to increased personnel and facilities costs. Despite these operational challenges, Staar's operating income remained resilient at $5.7 million -- 6.4% of sales. That was slightly down from $6.3 million (7.8% of net sales) in the third quarter of 2023.
Net income of $10 million was a leap from $4.8 million in Q3 of the previous year. Staar does not pay dividends, preferring to deploy its funds toward R&D and expanding its sales.
The Road Ahead
Staar Surgical reiterated its previous 2024 outlook with projected net sales of between $340 million and $345 million, and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $42 million. However, it adjusted its regional sales expectations, notably diminishing APAC growth projections due to conditions in China.
For future quarters, investors should pay attention to Staar's strategic execution, particularly as it attempts to amplify ICL sales.