On April 18, Stryker (NYSE:SYK) released first-quarter earnings for the period ended March 31.

  • Net sales were up 12.7%, with the company's top performance coming from its MedSurg unit.
  • The company's net profits grew 65.1%, aided by improved margins.
  • Free cash flow became positive, thanks to higher net earnings and favorable changes in working capital.
  • The company projects that diluted EPS for fiscal '07 will be $2.42, representing an increase of 20% over fiscal '06.
  • Stryker has the top five-star rating in Motley Fool CAPS, ahead of competitors like Biomet (NASDAQ:BMET) and Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN).

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Sales

$1,489.3

$1,320.9

12.7%

Net Profit

$243.5

$147.5

65.1%

EPS

$0.59

$0.36

63.9%

Diluted Shares

416.0

411.3

1.1%

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

66.7%

65.7%

0.9

Operating Margin

21.8%

16.8%

5.0

Net Margin

16.4%

11.2%

5.2

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$1,466.2

$874.1

67.7%

Accounts Rec.

$936.6

$841.8

11.3%

Inventory

$710.2

$595.6

19.2%

Liabilities

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

       

Long-Term Debt

$0.1

$99.6

(99.9%)

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash From Ops.

$152.7

$20.7

637.7%

Capital Expenditures

$41.9

$51.9

(19.3%)

Free Cash Flow

$110.8

($31.2)

N/A

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

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