Medical device maker Covidien (COV.DL) reported fourth-quarter results today before the markets opened, showing that it posted net sales of $2.56 billion, a 4% increase from the same period in the previous year, and right in-line with the $2.56 billion Capital IQ consensus estimate.
While adjusted net income came in at $419 million, or $0.91 per share, essentially unchanged from $413 million, or $0.86 per share, in the same period in 2012, it was a penny-per-share better than the CapIQ estimates of $0.90 per share.
Covidien says between the acquisitions it's made as well as strong growth in all major product lines, it had a solid quarter, but due to the strength of the dollar against foreign currencies the sales growth rate was cut by three percentage points.
The medical device maker reiterated its 2014 guidance of net sales growth between 2% and 5% with medical devices experiencing a similar growth rate but medical supplies coming in flat, but analysts anticipate the medical device maker will post earnings of $3.99 per share for the full year on revenues of $10.6 billion, or a 3.5% increase over estimated 2013 revenues.
