Roche posts outstanding results for 2006
Sales increase substantially faster than the market – Core Earnings per Share up well ahead of sales – Board to propose significant, 36% dividend increase
Group
• Group sales advance 17% to 42.0 billion Swiss francs – a record increase of over 6.5 billion Swiss francs
• Operating profit margin increases 2.0 percentage points to 27.9%
• Net income up 34% to 9.2 billion Swiss francs, driven by a strong operating performance and significantly higher net financial income
• Board to propose 20th consecutive dividend increase: 36% to 3.40 Swiss francs per share and non-voting equity security
Pharmaceuticals
• Pharmaceutical sales grow 21%, more than three times as fast as the global market
• Division reinforces its leadership in oncology
• Operating profit margin rises 4.1 percentage points to 31.7%
• Marketing approvals received for Avastin in lung cancer, Herceptin in early-stage breast cancer and MabThera/Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis
• First marketing applications filed for Mircera in renal anemia
• Major development targets met: 13 new marketing applications filed and 14 approvals received
Diagnostics
• Division posts 5% sales growth, consolidating its global market leadership
• As anticipated, divisional operating profit declines as a result of investments in new product launches, impairment charges on intangible assets and lower royalty income from licences in the molecular diagnostics segment
• New range of Accu-Chek products now available worldwide
Outlook for 2007
• Double-digit sales growth for the Roche Group and the Pharmaceuticals Division
• Above-market sales growth in both divisions
• Core Earnings per Share growth target in line with sales growth
All growth rates are based on local currencies
Operating profits and operating profit margins are stated before exceptional items
Commenting on the full-year results, Roche Chairman and CEO Franz B. Humer said, “2006 was another year of strong growth and outstanding financial performance at Roche. The Group’s sales rose 17% in local currencies to a record high of 42 billion Swiss francs. This 6.5 billion Swiss franc revenue increase over 2005 reflects exceptionally strong organic growth. The Group’s earnings performance improved significantly again last year, and total net income rose by one-third to 9.2 billion Swiss francs, the highest profit ever recorded by Roche. Top-line growth was driven primarily by the Pharmaceuticals Division, where sales advanced at more than three times the market growth rate in 2006. Roche Diagnostics maintained its leadership position in an increasingly competitive market, thanks to numerous new product launches and continued growth in all of the division’s business areas. With our broad portfolio of innovative products and strong R&D pipeline, we are equipped to continue growing well ahead of the market and creating value for patients, our employees and our shareholders in the years ahead.”
[+/-] show/hide this post
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment