Sirona Dental Reports Fiscal 4Q Profit

NEW YORK (AP) — Dental equipment maker Sirona Dental Systems Inc. on Friday reported a fiscal 2009 fourth-quarter profit on a boost in sales from its digital imaging products, along with lower expenses and one-time gains.

The company earned $26.8 million, or 48 cents per share, in the three months that ended in September, compared with a loss of $5.2 million, or 9 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 4 percent to $188.2 million from $180.6 million, helped by sales of imaging products used for dental procedures including crowns, veneers and bridges. The company said its digital imaging system, Cerec AC, drove sales during the quarter.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected 51 cents per share in profit and $180.6 million in revenue.

During the quarter, the company reported a $6.8 million gain from foreign currency transactions and a $1.4 million gain from derivative instruments.

Meanwhile, selling, general, and administrative expenses fell 6 percent to $58.4 million, while research and development expenses fell 14 percent to $9.6 million.

For the full year, the company earned $53.4 million, or 96 cents per share, compared with profit of $29.4 million, or 53 cents per share, a year prior. Revenue fell to $713.3 million from $757.1 million.

Looking ahead, the company said it expects revenue growth between 4 percent and 6 percent in fiscal 2010, implying a range of $741.8 million to $756.1 million. Analysts expect revenue of about $754.8 million.

Sirona shares closed at $31.16 Thursday.

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