Buy & hold winner Align Technology

Since my last Align Technology update post here on 10/27/2017 ( http://discussion.fool.com/update-algn-delivers-big-time-again-3… ), this company (a) continues to perform superbly for FY 2017 and yesterday’s announced Q1 2018 financial results and (b) expects to continue strong growth and performance as shown in the Financial Outlook guidance for the next Q2 2018:


ALIGN TECHNOLOGY (ALGN)	     Q2 ’18 GUIDANCE	  Q2 2017
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:		
Net Revenues 	             $ 460 M - 470 M	$ 356.482 M
Gross Margin	               74.2% - 75.0%	   76.0%
Operating Expense            $ 245 M - 250 M    $ 187.348 M
Operating Margin	       21.0% - 21.8%	   23.4%
Net Income per Diluted Share  $ 1.02 -  1.06	   $0.85
		
BUSINESS METRICS:		
Case Shipments	               296 K - 301 K	  231,890
Capital Expenditure	     $  65 M -  70 M	 $ 18.5 M
Stock-based Compensation 	 $ 18.3 M	 $ 14.245 M
Expense

Over the recent 52-week period, Align continues to substantially outperform the S&P 500 as shown here:
http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/advchart/frames/frames.asp?..

Here’s the track record for Align, substantially outperforming its own guidance for Q1 2018, Q4 2017, Q3 2017 and Q2 2017.


ALIGN TECHNOLOGY (ALGN)	     Q1 ’18 GUIDANCE	  **Q1 2018**         Q1 2017      Y/Y CHANGE
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:		
Net Revenues 	             $ 400 M - 410 M    $ 436.924 M     $ 310.341 M      40.8%
Gross Margin	               74.3% - 75.0%	   74.9%           75.9%
Operating Expenses         $ 223.5 M - 227.5 M  $ 229.216 M     $ 173.952 M
Operating Margin	       18.5% - 19.5%	   22.5%           19.9%
Net Income per Diluted Share  $ 0.94 -  0.98	  $ 1.17           $0.85         37.6%
		
BUSINESS METRICS:		
Case Shipments	               264 K - 269 K      272,235   	  208,060        30.8%
Capital Expenditure	      $ 65 M - $ 70 M	 $ 57.6  M       $ 59.6   M
Stock-based Compensation 	 $ 16.2 M	 $ 15.83 M       $ 14.812 M
Expense

————————————————————————————————


ALIGN TECHNOLOGY (ALGN)	     Q4 ’17 GUIDANCE	 **Q4 2017**          Q4 2016      Y/Y CHANGE
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:		
Net Revenues 	             $ 391 M - 398 M	$ 421.3 M       $ 293.203 M      60.1%
Gross Margin	               75.0% - 75.5%	   75.5%           75.1%
Operating Margin	       24.3% - 24.8%       26.0%           23.3%
Net Income per Diluted Share  $ 0.92 -  0.95	    0.13(a)        $0.59        -78.0% (a)
		
BUSINESS METRICS:		
Case Shipments    	       245 K - 250 K      255,030	  190,055        34.2%
Capital Expenditure	      $ 55 M -  60 M	 $ 69.5   M      
Stock-based Compensation 	 $ 15.3 M        $ 14.830 M      $ 14.214 M
Expense

(a) Q4’17 diluted EPS of $0.13 includes $86.6 million tax expense, or $1.06 per diluted share negative impact due to the new U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
————————————————————————————————————


ALIGN TECHNOLOGY (ALGN)	     Q3 ’17 GUIDANCE	  Q3 2017	  Q3 2016      Y/Y CHANGE
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:				
Net Revenues 	             $ 355 M - 360 M	$ 385.267 M	$ 278.6 M        38.3%	
Gross Margin	               74.7% - 75.7%	   75.9%	   75.09%	
Operating Margin	       22.7% - 23.6%	   25.6%	   22.28%	
Net Income per Diluted Share  $ 0.78 -  0.81	   $1.01	   $0.63         60.3%	
				
BUSINESS METRICS:				
Case Shipments	               231 K - 234 K	  236,065	  177,755        32.8%	
Capital Expenditure	     $  70 M -  75 M	 $ 48.1 M	 $ 17.3 M	
Stock-based Compensation 	 $ 14.9 M	 $ 14.967 M	 $ 13.711 M	

—————————————————————————————————————


ALIGN TECHNOLOGY (ALGN)	    Q2 ’17 GUIDANCE	  Q2 2017	  Q2 2016	Y/Y CHANGE
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:				
Net Revenues 	            $ 340 M - 345 M	$ 356.482 M	$ 269.362 M	  32.3%
Gross Margin	                74% - 75%	   76.0%	   76.2%	
Operating Margin	      21.0% - 21.7%	   23.4%	   24.2%	
Net Income per Diluted Share $ 0.71 -  0.74	   $0.85	   $0.62	  37.1%
				
BUSINESS METRICS:				
Case Shipments	              221 K - 224 K	  231,890	  176,995	  31.0%
Capital Expenditure	     $ 30 M -  35 M	 $ 18.5 M	 $ 18.8 M	
Stock-based Compensation 	$ 14.7 M	 $ 14.245 M	 $ 13.699 M	
Expense

ALIGN CASE SHIPMENT VOLUME

For FY 2017 , Align continues to realize tremendous growth in case shipment volume:
• 44.9% y-o-y increase in International shipments;
• 24.3% y-o-y increase in North America shipments;
• 31.4% y-o-y increase for Total Shipments.


CLEAR ALIGNER	       NORTH	YoY    INTER-	YoY		YoY
Case Shipment Volume  AMERICA  Change NATIONAL Change	TOTAL  Change
(in thousands)
FY 2017                 576.5   24.3%   354.5   44.9%   931.0   31.4%						
FY 2016	                463.8	16.4%	244.7	32.4%	708.5	21.6%
FY 2015	                398.4	17.7%	184.8	32.5%	583.2	22.0%
FY 2014	                338.5	 7.8%	139.5	28.6%	478.0	13.2%
FY 2013	                313.9	13.4%	108.5	25.0%	422.4	16.2%
FY 2012	                276.7	16.0%	 86.8	22.6%	363.5	17.5%
FY 2011	                238.6	19.7%	 70.8	15.1%	309.4	18.6%
FY 2010	                199.4		 61.5		260.9

========================
CORPORATE FINANCIALS

Align Technology continues its ongoing strong trend, realizing significant year-over-year increases in quarterly and annual revenues and quarterly and annual EPS as shown in the following table. Please note that Q4’17 diluted EPS of $0.13 includes $86.6 million tax expense, or $1.06 per diluted share negative impact due to the new U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act.


**REVENUE     YoY      EPS $ 	 YoY**
**$ million   Change   diluted	Change**

Q1 '18    436.924    40.8%      1.17    37.6%

FY 2017 1,473.413    36.4%      2.83(a) 21.5%

Q4 '17    421.323    43.7%      0.13(a)-77.9%
Q3 '17    385.267    38.3%      1.01    60.3%
Q2 '17	  358.482    32.3%	0.85    37.1%	
Q1 ‘17	  310.341    30.0%	0.85	70.0%
				
FY 2016	1,079.874    27.7%	2.33	31.6%
				
Q4 ‘16	  293.203    27.3%	0.59	-1.7%
Q3 ‘16	  278.589    34.2%	0.63	85.3%
Q2 ‘16	  269.362    28.6%	0.62	59.0%
Q1 ‘16	  238.720    20.5%	0.50	13.6%
				
FY 2015	  845.486    11.0%	1.77	 0.0%
				
Q4 ‘15	  230.276    15.9%	0.60	25.0%
Q3 ‘15	  207.636     9.4%	0.34   -27.7%
Q2 ‘15	  209.488     8.8%	0.39	-9.3%
Q1 ‘15	  198.086     9.7%	0.44	12.8%
				
FY 2014	  761.653		1.77	
				
Q4 ‘14	  198.600		0.48	
Q3 ‘14	  189.876		0.47	
Q2 ‘14	  192.531		0.43	
Q1 ‘14	  180.646		0.39	

(a) Q4’17 diluted EPS of $0.13 includes $86.6 million tax expense, or $1.06 per diluted share negative impact due to the new U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
Source: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands except per share data)
http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ALGN/6224747208x0x978…

=============================================

The table below shows the following major changes to date since the 5/05/2017 financials given in my initial 5/9/2017 ALGN post ( http://discussion.fool.com/align-technology-the-clear-aligner-pi… ):
• On June 16, 2017, after a substantial increase in Market Cap, Align Technology joined the coveted S&P 500 benchmark and was also added to the S&P 500 Global Industry Classification Health Care Supplies Sub-Industry index.
• The ALGN stock price has substantially increased over 108% from $138.03/share on 5/5/17 to a recent 52-week high of $287.32/share on 1/26/2018.


ALIGN	       04/26/2018  10/26/2017	5/05/2017
		
Market Cap      $ 20.83 B   $ 16.27 B	$ 11.09 B
Employees	   8,715       6,060	   6,060
		 
52-wk high	  287.32      207.65	  145.24
Price	          259.89      202.98	  138.03
52-wk low	  119.16       83.27	   74.48
		
EV/EBITDA (mrq)	   50.78       50.78	      NA
P/E (ttm)	   91.83       69.51	   51.50
Fwd P/E	           46.08       49.75	   35.67
P/B (mrq)	   18.08       15.09	   10.56
P/S (ttm)	   14.14       13.13	    9.80
		
Annual dividend	      0           0	      0
Yield	            0.0%        0.0%	    0.0%

Recently, the Align stock prices have been fluctuating up and down. After yesterday’s Q1 2018 financial results, today, 4/26/2018, ALGN closed up $14.26 for a gain of 5.81%.
http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/advchart/frames/frames.asp?..

ROIC-WACC SPREAD

As shown in the following table, for the recent past 5 fiscal years, Align Technology has realized exceptionally strong increases in Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) and superior ROIC-Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) spreads or Economic Value Add (EVA).
Currently, on 4/26/2018, ALGN is creating 37 cents of pure economic value for every dollar invested.

			
ALGN	   ROIC	  WAAC	  EVA

04/26/18  50.1%  13.2%  36.9%			
10/26/17  59.9%  11.6%  48.3%			
05/04/17  57.2%	  9.8%	47.4%
			
2016	  58.1%   9.5%	48.6%
2015	  47.2%  10.4%	36.8%
2014	  52.8%   9.8%  43.0%
2013	  25.5%  19.2%   6.3%
2012	  24.4%  14.3%  10.0%

FREE CASH FLOW

Align Technology has strong free cash flow.


FCF (million $)		
FY:
2017    243	
2016	177
2015	185
2014	203
2013	167
2012	 95
2011	100
2010	111

SUMMARY

In domestic and foreign regional marketplaces, Align Technology has successfully developed and produced several popular viable product lines - primarily Invisalign® and secondarily iTero® intraoral scanners and services - that have significantly enabled a formidable moat with strong fundamentals, superior value creation for shareholders, a solid capital structure with zero debt and strong growth performance in revenues, net income and EPS. Align’s strong financials coupled with the huge growth potential in China, its number one market with a gigantic number of people with crooked teeth, greatly offset and outweigh its currently high P/E.

For those interested, here’s the Align investor presentation of Financial Results for Q1 2018:
http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ALGN/6224747208x0x978…
This presentation also announced that Align has received market approval for the iTero Element Intra-oral Scanner from the CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration), and Align has begun offering the iTero Element scanner in China. The iTero Element scanner launch in China not only supports growth of Align’s base Invisalign clear aligner business, but also represents a major milestone for digital dentistry in China.

As always, conduct your own due diligence and decision-making.

Regards,
Ray

26 Likes

Need to take a closer look at this post and Align in general.

Over the weekend I asked a friend who is a dentist his thoughts on Align, and he is not a big fan because they support a company/subsidiary that provides trays without any consultation with a dental professional. My dentist friend feels that it is negligent to pursue tooth movement without some professional consultation, as moving a tooth outside of the bone would result in permanent loss of said tooth.

I am not surprised that a dentist would have such an opinion with the vested interest of their livelihood, but as someone who had braces twice, my opinion is that there is definitely a place where the Invisalign products could be much preferred to braces. Based on my wife’s and my genes, any future kids are probably going to have the misfortune of having some tooth misalignments.

I am not surprised that a dentist would have such an opinion with the vested interest of their livelihood…

I have heard similar reactions from a dentist friend 2 years ago which kept me out of the stock.

I believe doctors had similar reactions to Intuitive Surgical’s Divinci machine 10 years ago. Sometimes it’s hard teaching old dogs new tricks. Even if it’s a really good trick.

Dominic
Long ALGN

2 Likes

As a recently retired dentist/orthodontist, I would concur with volfan84’s previous post.

Tooth movement without some professional consultation is inviting patient disappointment from wasted money and even potential lawsuits.

Invisalign is a great concept that is a workable solution for a select few orthodontic cases. However, even in those cases, going it alone without professional help is foolish, and likely to not work out long term.

There are plenty of patients; and no orthodontist worth his salt is worried about losing clients over Align products.

Jim (Happily retired and living off stock investments).

1 Like

I’m long ALGN.

These trays come in two classes. Invisalign is a product for orthodontists. There is a second tier of clear trays for simpler problems where the patient is not under the direct care of an orthodontist but there is an orthodontist in the loop who relies on the iTero scan of the teeth to determine if the case can be treated in the DIY mode. This is the province of companies like Smile Direct Club.

Any objection to the first group is unwarranted because there IS an orthodontist treating the patient with trays instead of with wires.

Objections to the second group are understandable but with technology patients are taking care of themselves more and more. Fifty years ago I could take temperature but not my blood pressure. Now I can use one of those electronic gadgets.

Because Invisalign is a product for orthodontists I have no qualms about investing in the company.

Denny Schlesinger

2 Likes

To further clarify my post from before, and my intent for sharing the anecdote from my dentist friend:

I had the original post in this thread open in a tab and was trying to clear out some tabs, thus I replied to “bump” the overall thread further up the page.

I threw the anecdotal story out there simply to ensure my post had a bit more overall value to it than simply bumping it to give myself a pseudo-bookmark. I will be evaluating ALGN the company on its own merits, and my friends’ opinion as a dentist is going to provide very little (if any) deterrence for my investment decision, as there is a clear bias in play.

Similar to what Denny stated, my personal belief is that technology is likely to the point where someone could perform a scan at home and that scan could be sufficient for determining whether the higher level of care was necessary, or if it was a more simple tooth movement that could easily be done with little further involvement from a dentist/orthodontist.

-volfan84
planning to further evaluate ALGN at some point, but no particular timeline associated with that evaluation