ZBH Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc

• Fourth quarter net sales of $1.940 billion increased 6.3% and 6.1% on a constant currency¹ basis
• Fourth quarter diluted earnings per share were $2.01; adjusted¹ diluted earnings per share were $2.20
• Full-year net sales of $7.394 billion increased 6.5% and 7.5% on a constant currency¹ basis
• Full-year diluted earnings per share were $4.88; adjusted¹ diluted earnings per share were $7.55
• Company provides full-year 2024 financial guidance

WARSAW, Ind., Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH) today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.  The Company reported fourth quarter net sales of $1.940 billion, an increase of 6.3% over the prior year period, and an increase of 6.1% on a constant currency¹ basis.  Net sales for the full year were $7.394 billion, an increase of 6.5% over the prior year, and an increase of 7.5% on a constant currency¹ basis.  Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $419.2 million, or $458.1 million on an adjusted¹ basis.  For the full year, net earnings were $1.024 billion, or $1.584 billion on an adjusted¹ basis.

Diluted earnings per share were $2.01 for the fourth quarter, and adjusted¹ diluted earnings per share were $2.20.  Full-year diluted earnings per share were $4.88, and adjusted¹ diluted earnings per share were $7.55.

"We are pleased to conclude a very successful year with strong fourth quarter results driven by consistent execution, including a healthy second-half growth profile," said Ivan Tornos, Zimmer Biomet's President and Chief Executive Officer. "I'm confident in our ability to carry our 2023 momentum into 2024 and to create further value for our stakeholders. As we look ahead, we remain laser focused on our priorities to advance people and culture, achieve operational excellence and drive innovation and diversification to deliver on our Mission."

Recent Highlights

Aligned with the ongoing transformation of Zimmer Biomet's business, key recent highlights include:

• Received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially closing out the FDA Warning Letter for the Warsaw North Campus facility, allowing for the re-allocation of team time and resources to support future innovation and long-term growth
• Introduced HAMMR™, an automated Hip Impaction System for bone preparation and implant placement during hip replacement surgery, strengthening Zimmer Biomet's portfolio of automated surgical instruments to help surgeons achieve customized control, precision, and energy levels
• Initiated a global restructuring program in late 2023 to optimize our cost base and drive greater efficiencies throughout the Company. These actions underscore our commitment to improving our growth profile and profitability and are expected to result in approximately $200 million in run rate cost savings as we exit 2025
• Completed a $500 million share buyback program in January 2024
• Appointed Louis A. Shapiro to the Zimmer Biomet Board of Directors; as the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health, Mr. Shapiro brings a significant depth of industry leadership experience and a unique customer perspective to the ZB Board
• Continued recognition for our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts with inclusion in the Newsweek America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 list as well as earning a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index
• Received additional recognition for our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts from CDP earning an 'A' score for climate change based on 2023 disclosures

Geographic and Product Category Sales

The following sales tables provide results by geography and product category for the three-month period and year ended December 31, 2023, as well as the percentage change compared to the applicable prior year period, on both a reported basis and a constant currency basis.

Financial Guidance

The Company is providing the following full-year 2024 financial guidance:

Conference Call

The Company will conduct its fourth quarter and full-year 2023 investor conference call today, February 8, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET.  The audio webcast can be accessed via Zimmer Biomet's Investor Relations website at https://investor.zimmerbiomet.com.  It will be archived for replay following the conference call. 

About the Company

Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology leader with a comprehensive portfolio designed to maximize mobility and improve health. We seamlessly transform the patient experience through our innovative products and suite of integrated digital and robotic technologies that leverage data, data analytics and artificial intelligence. 

With 90+ years of trusted leadership and proven expertise, Zimmer Biomet is positioned to deliver the highest quality solutions to patients and providers. Our legacy continues to come to life today through our progressive culture of evolution and innovation.

For more information about our product portfolio, our operations in 25+ countries and sales in 100+ countries or about joining our team, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or follow Zimmer Biomet on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zimmerbiomet or X / Twitter at www.twitter.com/zimmerbiomet.  

Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.zimmerbiomet.com, in the "Investor Relations" section.  We use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.  Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. 

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website or any other website referenced herein is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and our commentary in our investor conference call today include non-GAAP financial measures that differ from financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Net sales change information for the three-month period and the year ended December 31, 2023 is presented on a GAAP (reported) basis and on a constant currency basis.  Constant currency percentage changes exclude the effects of foreign currency exchange rates.  They are calculated by translating current and prior-period sales at the same predetermined exchange rate.  The translated results are then used to determine year-over-year percentage increases or decreases. 

Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the three-month period and the year ended December 31, 2023, net earnings (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the three-month period ended December 31, 2022, and net earnings and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 are presented on a GAAP (reported) basis and on an adjusted basis.  These adjusted financial measures exclude the effects of certain items, which are detailed in the reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures presented later in this press release. 

Free cash flow from continuing operations is an additional non-GAAP measure that is presented in this press release.  Free cash flow from continuing operations is computed by deducting additions to instruments and other property, plant and equipment of continuing operations from net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in this press release.  This press release also contains supplemental reconciliations of additional non-GAAP financial measures that the Company presents in other contexts.  These additional non-GAAP financial measures are computed from the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure as indicated in the applicable reconciliation.

Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally to evaluate the performance of the business.  Additionally, management believes these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful incremental information to investors to consider when evaluating the performance of the Company.  Management believes these measures offer the ability to make period-to-period comparisons that are not impacted by certain items that can cause dramatic changes in reported income but that do not impact the fundamentals of our operations.  The non-GAAP measures enable the evaluation of operating results and trend analysis by allowing a reader to better identify operating trends that may otherwise be masked or distorted by these types of items that are excluded from the non-GAAP measures.  In addition, constant currency sales changes, adjusted operating profit, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are used as performance metrics in our incentive compensation programs.

Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release also includes certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures for the year ending December 31, 2024.  We calculate forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures based on internal forecasts that omit certain amounts that would be included in GAAP financial measures.  For instance, we exclude the impact of certain charges related to initial compliance with the European Union Medical Device Regulation; restructuring and other cost reduction initiatives; acquisition, integration, divestiture and related; and certain legal and tax matters.  We have not provided quantitative reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because the excluded items are not available on a prospective basis without unreasonable efforts.  For example, the timing of certain transactions is difficult to predict because management's plans may change.  In addition, the Company believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors.  It is probable that these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures may be materially different from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding financial guidance, statements regarding continuation of execution, growth, and value creation, and any statements about our forecasts, expectations, plans, intentions, strategies or prospects. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to: competition; pricing pressures; dependence on new product development, technological advances and innovation; changes in customer demand for our products and services caused by demographic changes, obsolescence, development of different therapies or other factors; shifts in the product category or regional sales mix of our products and services; the effects of business disruptions, either alone or in combination with other risks on our business and operations; the risks and uncertainties related to our ability to successfully execute our restructuring plans; control of costs and expenses; our ability to attract, retain and develop the highly skilled employees, senior management, independent agents and distributors we need to support our business; the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits from mergers and acquisitions will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time periods; the risks and uncertainties related to our ability to successfully integrate the operations, products, employees and distributors of acquired companies; the effect of the potential disruption of management's attention from ongoing business operations due to integration matters related to mergers and acquisitions; the effect of mergers and acquisitions on our relationships with customers, suppliers and lenders and on our operating results and businesses generally; the ability to form and implement alliances; dependence on a limited number of suppliers for key raw materials and other inputs and for outsourced activities; the risk of disruptions in the supply of materials and components used in manufacturing or sterilizing our products; breaches or failures of our information technology systems or products, including by cyberattack, unauthorized access or theft; challenges relating to changes in and compliance with governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other government regulators, such as more stringent requirements for regulatory clearance of products; the outcome of government investigations; the impact of healthcare reform and cost containment measures, including efforts sponsored by government agencies, legislative bodies, the private sector and healthcare purchasing organizations, through reductions in reimbursement levels, repayment demands and otherwise; the impact of substantial indebtedness on our ability to service our debt obligations and/or refinance amounts outstanding under our debt obligations at maturity on terms favorable to us, or at all; changes in tax obligations arising from examinations by tax authorities and from changes in tax laws in jurisdictions where we do business, including as a result of the "base erosion and profit shifting" project ("Pillar Two") undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ("OECD") and otherwise; challenges to the tax-free nature of the ZimVie Inc. ("ZimVie") spinoff transaction and the subsequent liquidation of our retained interest in ZimVie; the risk of additional tax liability due to the recategorization of our independent agents and distributors to employees; the risk that material impairment of the carrying value of our intangible assets, including goodwill, could negatively affect our operating results; changes in general domestic and international economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in general industry and market conditions, including domestic and international growth, inflation and currency exchange rates; the domestic and international business impact of political, social and economic instability, tariffs, trade restrictions and embargoes, sanctions, wars, disputes and other conflicts, including on our ability to operate in, export to or from or collect accounts receivable in affected countries; challenges relating to changes in and compliance with governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including regulations of the FDA and other government regulators relating to medical products, healthcare fraud and abuse laws and data privacy and security laws; the success of our quality and operational excellence initiatives; the ability to remediate matters identified in inspectional observations or warning letters issued by the FDA and other regulators, while continuing to satisfy the demand for our products; product liability, intellectual property and commercial litigation losses; and the ability to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property protection. A further list and description of these risks and uncertainties and other factors can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.zimmerbiomet.com or on request from us. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in our filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we expressly disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements since there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary note is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Note: Amounts reported in millions within this press release are computed based on the actual amounts. As a result, the sum of the components reported in millions may not equal the total amount reported in millions due to rounding. Certain columns and rows within tables may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying unrounded amounts.