What happened
Shares of genetic-testing powerhouse Myriad Genetics (MYGN -3.49%) rose over 16% this morning, following yesterday's release of fiscal second-quarter 2017 financial results.
So what
The company achieved the highest level of revenue for any second quarter in the last three years -- welcome news considering the recent pressures on its core business. While hereditary-cancer testing revenue continued its steep decline, revenue from all other genetic tests showed impressive growth. Here are the important financial metrics to consider:
|
Metric |
Q2, Fiscal 2017 |
Q2, Fiscal 2016 |
% Change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hereditary-cancer testing revenue |
$143.9 million |
$165.5 million |
(13%) |
|
All other testing revenue |
$40.0 million |
$17.0 million |
135% |
|
Pharmaceutical and clinical service revenue |
$12.6 million |
$10.7 million |
18% |
|
Total revenue |
$196.5 million |
$193.3 million |
2% |
|
Earnings per share |
$0.09 |
$0.50 |
(82%) |
Data source: Myriad Genetics.
It's important to take a nuanced look at the company's performance. The good news is that the long-awaited diversification strategy intended to shed Myriad Genetics' "one-trick pony" status appears to be on the right track. New tests such as GeneSight and Prolaris are showing signs that they could be important contributors in the future, while helping to offset revenue declines today. However, marketing and nurturing the new products has been an expensive process, accompanied by a 29% jump in operating expenses; that resulted in a steep decline in net income.
Gross margins are trending lower, although the decline doesn't appear to be significant. That provides hope that, once new tests are scaled, net income can return to historical levels.
Image source: Getty Images.
Now what
It's important to remember why the company's hereditary-cancer testing revenue is falling in the first place: competition. Several well-funded newcomers are striving to leverage advances in DNA-sequencing technologies to reduce the costs of genetic testing and the barriers surrounding more widespread use. Whether or not Myriad Genetics can use its size and industry knowledge to outmuscle peers during its transformation remains to be seen, although the most recent quarterly results provide the first encouraging signs investors have had in some time.
