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Sonic Healthcare Limited (AU:SHL)
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Sonic Healthcare Limited (SHL) AI Stock Analysis

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AU

Sonic Healthcare Limited

(Sydney:SHL)

Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:
AU$30.00
▲(8.66%Upside)
Sonic Healthcare Limited's strong financial performance and positive earnings call contribute significantly to the overall score. The company's robust profitability, strategic growth initiatives, and effective cost management are key strengths. While the technical indicators suggest a neutral trend, the valuation remains fair, making it a balanced investment choice.

Sonic Healthcare Limited (SHL) vs. iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA)

Sonic Healthcare Limited Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSonic Healthcare Limited offers medical diagnostic services to medical practitioners, hospitals, community health services, and their collective patients. The company provides laboratory medicine/pathology testing services, such as biochemistry, cytopathology, genetics, haematology, histopathology, immunoserology, microbiology, molecular pathology, prenatal testing, toxicology, and ancillary functions; and radiology services, including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, X-ray, mammography, nuclear medicine, PET CT, interventional procedures, and bone mineral densitometry. It also offers primary care medical services comprising general practice clinics, occupational health services, skin cancer clinics, after-hours general practice services, general practice IT solutions, and community-based healthcare services. The company operates in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Belgium, and internationally. Sonic Healthcare Limited was incorporated in 1934 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
How the Company Makes MoneySonic Healthcare makes money primarily through the provision of medical diagnostic services. The company's revenue model is centered on offering pathology and laboratory services, which include testing and analyzing biological samples such as blood, tissue, and other bodily fluids. These services are essential for the diagnosis and management of diseases, making them integral to healthcare systems. Key revenue streams for Sonic Healthcare include service fees charged to healthcare providers, hospitals, and patients for diagnostic tests and procedures. Additionally, Sonic Healthcare benefits from partnerships with healthcare institutions and government contracts, which ensure a steady flow of diagnostic service demand. The company's diversified geographical presence also allows it to tap into various healthcare markets, contributing to its revenue growth.

Sonic Healthcare Limited Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 19, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -2.71%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 21, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a positive outlook with significant revenue and profit growth, successful M&A activities bolstering future potential, and strong performances in several divisions. However, challenges in the US market, initial losses on a new UK contract, and ongoing labor cost management issues temper the overall sentiment.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and Profit Growth
Sonic Healthcare reported revenue of $4.669 billion, up 8% year-over-year. EBITDA increased by 12% to $827 million, and net profit rose 17% to $237 million.
Strong Cash Generation
The company generated strong operating cash flow of $620 million, which is up 37% on the prior period.
Margin Expansion
EBITDA margin increased by 60 basis points, and excluding recent acquisitions, the margin expansion was 90 basis points.
Successful M&A Activity
The acquisition of LADR in Germany, expected to add over AUD 80 million in EBITDA, and other acquisitions in Switzerland and Germany are on track with synergy initiatives.
Australian Pathology Division Performance
The division showed strong organic revenue growth of 9% and significant progress in genetics and private billing initiatives.
UK Growth and Contract Wins
The UK division reported 10% growth with notable contract wins, including Hertfordshire and West Essex, and a new hub lab in Watford.
Radiology Division Expansion
The division achieved organic revenue growth of 12% and is investing in AI solutions with plans to open new sites.
Negative Updates
US Market Challenges
Organic growth in the US was only 2% due to weaker performance in anatomical pathology and slower-than-expected benefits from the XiFin billing system.
Belgium Revenue Decline
Organic growth was negative at -1%, impacted by fee cuts despite indexation, although future growth is expected to be positive.
Labor Cost Challenges
While labor costs as a percentage of revenue reduced, there is still room for improvement, particularly in the US division.
HWE Contract Initial Losses
The Hertfordshire and West Essex contract will initially incur a loss of AUD 10 million, with profitability expected in FY 2026.
Company Guidance
During the Sonic Healthcare financial results call for the half year ending December 31, 2024, CEO Dr. Colin Goldschmidt highlighted several key metrics indicating the company's recovery and growth post-pandemic. Sonic's revenue increased by 8% to AUD 4.669 billion, with EBITDA up 12% to AUD 827 million. Net profit saw a 17% rise to AUD 237 million, and earnings per share grew by 15% to AUD 0.492. Organic revenue growth was strong at 6.1%, contributing to a 60-basis-point expansion in the EBITDA margin, which would have been 90 basis points excluding recent zero-margin acquisitions. Labor costs as a percentage of revenue decreased by 50 basis points, reflecting effective cost management. The company expects continued growth, bolstered by acquisitions like the LADR Group, anticipated to add over AUD 80 million in annual EBITDA. Additionally, a dividend of AUD 0.44 was declared, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year.

Sonic Healthcare Limited Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Sonic Healthcare Limited demonstrates strong profitability and operational efficiency, with stable margins and effective management of equity. While there is a slight increase in leverage and a recent decline in free cash flow, the company remains financially robust with well-managed resources.
Income Statement
76
Positive
Sonic Healthcare Limited shows a robust gross profit margin and stable net profit margins over the past years. Despite a moderate decline in revenue growth from 2022 to 2023, the company has managed to maintain strong EBIT and EBITDA margins, indicating operational efficiency and stability in its income-generating capabilities.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The company maintains a healthy debt-to-equity ratio, though it has increased recently, which could indicate higher leverage risk. Return on Equity (ROE) remains strong, demonstrating effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio shows a solid level of equity financing, contributing to financial stability.
Cash Flow
68
Positive
Operating cash flow remains strong, yet there has been a significant decline in free cash flow year-over-year. The company has a solid operating cash flow to net income ratio, suggesting efficient cash conversion from profits. However, the drop in free cash flow growth might indicate increased capital expenditures or reduced cash generation.
BreakdownJun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021Jun 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue8.93B8.14B9.31B8.75B6.56B
Gross Profit2.33B2.84B3.73B3.43B2.20B
EBITDA1.66B1.72B2.83B2.56B1.42B
Net Income511.09M684.98M1.46B1.32B527.75M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets14.83B13.56B13.11B12.27B12.63B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments645.00M797.99M780.00M899.83M1.23B
Total Debt4.52B3.10B3.01B3.23B4.62B
Total Liabilities6.75B5.64B5.68B5.77B6.97B
Stockholders Equity7.92B7.74B7.27B6.38B5.57B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow492.01M974.02M1.85B1.68B1.03B
Operating Cash Flow1.07B1.47B2.23B2.04B1.36B
Investing Cash Flow-1.81B-580.04M-989.18M-386.75M-334.92M
Financing Cash Flow592.41M-911.51M-1.35B-1.95B-536.74M

Sonic Healthcare Limited Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price27.61
Price Trends
50DMA
26.67
Positive
100DMA
26.34
Positive
200DMA
26.83
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.25
Negative
RSI
69.27
Neutral
STOCH
80.51
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AU:SHL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 27.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 26.89, above the 50-day MA of 26.67, and above the 200-day MA of 26.83, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.25 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 69.27 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 80.51 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for AU:SHL.

Sonic Healthcare Limited Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (52)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
AUSHL
73
Outperform
AU$13.65B24.246.86%3.19%10.15%6.20%
52
Neutral
$7.36B-0.07-63.77%2.36%16.35%0.03%
DEPGZ
€318.75M-4.46%
AUACL
66
Neutral
AU$559.72M18.5218.39%2.46%7.80%99.87%
AUMVF
55
Neutral
AU$296.12M-0.87%6.84%14.24%-109.59%
AUIDX
53
Neutral
AU$990.66M109.471.14%1.88%7.83%
AUGSS
45
Neutral
AU$89.72M-47.52%44.61%16.40%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AU:SHL
Sonic Healthcare Limited
27.61
2.03
7.94%
DE:PGZ
Healius Limited
0.42
-0.19
-31.15%
AU:GSS
Genetic Signatures Ltd.
0.40
-0.36
-47.37%
AU:IDX
Integral Diagnostics Ltd.
2.66
0.22
9.02%
AU:ACL
Australian Clinical Labs Ltd
2.85
0.49
20.76%
AU:MVF
Monash IVF Group Ltd
0.76
-0.47
-38.21%

Sonic Healthcare Limited Corporate Events

Sonic Healthcare Completes Acquisition of LADR Laboratory Group
Jul 1, 2025

Sonic Healthcare Limited has successfully completed the acquisition of LADR Laboratory Group Dr. Kramer & Colleagues, as announced earlier. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Sonic’s market position in the diagnostic services sector, potentially enhancing its operational capabilities and offering new growth opportunities.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:SHL) stock is a Hold with a A$30.80 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Sonic Healthcare Limited stock, see the AU:SHL Stock Forecast page.

Sonic Healthcare Limited Announces Quotation of New Securities on ASX
Jul 1, 2025

Sonic Healthcare Limited announced the quotation of 13,833,980 ordinary fully paid securities on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) as part of a previously disclosed transaction. This move is expected to enhance the company’s financial flexibility and potentially improve its market position, benefiting stakeholders by increasing the liquidity of its shares.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:SHL) stock is a Hold with a A$25.40 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Sonic Healthcare Limited stock, see the AU:SHL Stock Forecast page.

Sonic Healthcare Limited Announces Cessation of Securities
Jun 16, 2025

Sonic Healthcare Limited announced the cessation of 20,000 securities, identified by the ASX security code SHLAK, as of June 16, 2025. This cessation of securities may impact the company’s capital structure and could have implications for stakeholders, reflecting a strategic decision in managing their financial operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:SHL) stock is a Hold with a A$25.40 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Sonic Healthcare Limited stock, see the AU:SHL Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jun 28, 2025