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Smith & Nephew plc (GB:SN)
LSE:SN

Smith & Nephew (SN) AI Stock Analysis

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Smith & Nephew

(LSE:SN)

Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
Smith & Nephew demonstrates robust financial performance with consistent revenue growth and effective cost management. Earnings call insights reinforce confidence in future growth, despite pricing pressures and challenges in China. However, the high P/E ratio and neutral technical indicators suggest cautious optimism. Overall, the stock is positioned for moderate growth with potential upside if operational improvements continue.
Positive Factors
Earnings
Smith+Nephew had an encouraging start to 2025 in 1Q25, with organic growth at 3.1%, surpassing the initial guidance of 1%-2%.
Financial Performance
Significant cost savings are being achieved, with expectations to reach $300 million by the end of 2025, indicating strong financial management.
Market Position
The company holds a strong position in the European market with its robotic platform, ranking as the #1 provider.
Negative Factors
Market Challenges
China headwind (Recon destocking and Sports Medicine VBP) continued to impact sales, highlighting ongoing challenges in that region.
Operational Risks
Key risks to achieving 2025 margin targets include challenges with cost savings, performance in China, and operational leverage, particularly in the US orthopedic market.
Segment Performance
The orthopedic segment is currently not contributing positively, and the potential for robotics to gain market share has not materialized.

Smith & Nephew (SN) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)

Smith & Nephew Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSmith & Nephew (SN) is a global medical technology company that specializes in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of a wide range of advanced medical devices. The company operates primarily in three sectors: Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT, and Advanced Wound Management. Smith & Nephew is known for its innovative products, which include joint replacement systems, trauma devices, arthroscopy products, and wound care solutions, aimed at improving patient outcomes and enhancing the quality of life.
How the Company Makes MoneySmith & Nephew generates revenue through the sale of its medical devices and products across its three primary sectors. In the Orthopaedics sector, the company earns money by providing joint replacement systems and trauma devices used in surgical procedures. The Sports Medicine & ENT sector contributes to revenue through the sale of products used in minimally invasive surgery and treatments for ear, nose, and throat conditions. The Advanced Wound Management sector generates income from the sale of products designed to manage chronic and acute wounds. Additionally, Smith & Nephew benefits from strategic partnerships and collaborations with healthcare providers and research institutions, which help in expanding its market reach and driving sales growth. The company's global presence, with operations in over 100 countries, further supports its revenue streams by tapping into diverse markets and meeting the varying needs of healthcare systems worldwide.

Smith & Nephew Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 25, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: 7.25%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted Smith & Nephew's strong performance in Q4 2024, driven by innovation and operational improvements. However, challenges in China and pricing pressures remain concerns. The company has a positive outlook for 2025, expecting growth and margin expansion.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Year-End Performance
Smith & Nephew delivered 8.3% underlying growth in Q4 2024, with strong volumes across most regions and 60 basis points of margin expansion for the year.
Innovation Driving Growth
60% of revenue growth in 2024 came from products launched in the last five years, with continued investment in innovation expected to support further growth.
Operational Improvements
The company has enhanced its organizational structure, reducing headcount by 9% and improving inventory management, resulting in 95% cash conversion.
Optimized Cost Base
Smith & Nephew expects gross cost savings of $325 to $375 million, with significant manufacturing and procurement savings contributing to margin expansion.
Positive Outlook for 2025
The company forecasts around 5% revenue growth and trading margin expansion to 19-20% in 2025, with continued improvements in ROIC expected.
Negative Updates
Challenges in China
China presented a major headwind, costing 280 basis points of group growth in Q4. The Orthopedics and Sports Medicine segments faced significant declines due to VBP impacts.
Orthopedics Margin Pressure
Despite operational improvements, the Orthopedics segment only achieved a 20 basis point margin increase, with ongoing challenges in U.S. Recon growth.
Pricing Pressure
The company anticipates a return to normal levels of price erosion (1-2%), which could pressure margins in the future.
Company Guidance
During the call, Smith & Nephew's CEO, Deepak Nath, emphasized the financial improvements driven by the 12-Point Plan, highlighting a 60 basis points (bps) margin expansion and a 95% cash conversion rate in 2024, which exceeded their target. Operational and commercial enhancements, combined with innovation, contributed to an 8.3% underlying growth in Q4, despite a 280 bps headwind from China. The company maintained its 2025 outlook, anticipating around 5% revenue growth and significant trading margin expansion to 19-20%, supported by operating leverage and manufacturing cost optimizations. The call also underscored the company's consistent above-average growth over four years, with 80 bps of trading margin expansion since 2022, and a rise in ROIC to 7.4%, aiming to exceed the cost of capital in 2025. Additionally, Smith & Nephew achieved a free cash flow of over $0.5 billion in 2024, with inventory days reduced and restructuring costs down. The company expects further margin accretion in the subsequent years, driven by continued operational improvements and cost-saving initiatives.

Smith & Nephew Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Smith & Nephew exhibits strong financial health with consistent revenue growth and profitability improvements. The company efficiently manages its operating costs and debt levels, leading to enhanced net income and shareholder returns. Cash flows are robust, providing a solid foundation for future investments. Nonetheless, continuous focus on optimizing capital expenditures and leveraging assets more effectively will further strengthen its financial position.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
The company's revenue has shown a consistent growth, rising 4.7% from 2023 to 2024. Gross profit margin remains strong at 69.6% in 2024, indicating effective cost management. Net profit margin improved from 4.7% in 2023 to 7.1% in 2024, showcasing enhanced profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins also improved, reflecting operational efficiency. However, the growth rate could be higher compared to peers in the industry.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
Smith & Nephew's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.63, indicating moderate leverage and effective use of debt. Return on equity increased to 7.8% in 2024, revealing improved shareholder value generation. The equity ratio is stable, although slightly lower than ideal industry standards, indicating room for improvement in reducing liabilities relative to assets.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
The company demonstrated strong cash flow management with operating cash flow exceeding net income, suggesting effective cash generation from operations. Free cash flow grew significantly by 234.8% from 2023 to 2024. Both operating and free cash flow to net income ratios are favorable, indicating robust cash flow relative to profitability. However, the high capital expenditures could impact future free cash flow growth.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.64B5.81B5.55B5.21B5.21B4.56B
Gross Profit3.97B4.05B3.89B3.67B3.67B3.16B
EBITDA1.06B1.22B956.00M943.00M1.24B866.00M
Net Income305.00M412.00M263.00M223.00M524.00M448.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets10.54B10.35B9.99B9.97B10.92B11.01B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments568.00M619.00M302.00M350.00M1.29B1.76B
Total Debt3.65B3.32B3.08B2.87B3.34B3.69B
Total Liabilities5.34B5.09B4.77B4.71B5.35B5.73B
Stockholders Equity5.21B5.26B5.22B5.26B5.57B5.28B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow301.00M606.00M181.00M110.00M469.00M492.00M
Operating Cash Flow733.00M987.00M608.00M468.00M877.00M935.00M
Investing Cash Flow-626.00M-569.00M-448.00M-472.00M-691.00M-606.00M
Financing Cash Flow258.00M-86.00M-200.00M-926.00M-645.00M1.16B

Smith & Nephew Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1101.00
Price Trends
50DMA
1062.09
Positive
100DMA
1059.26
Positive
200DMA
1040.83
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
4.23
Positive
RSI
55.55
Neutral
STOCH
53.06
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:SN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 1101 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1091.22, above the 50-day MA of 1062.09, and above the 200-day MA of 1040.83, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 4.23 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 55.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.06 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GB:SN.

Smith & Nephew Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
£5.92B39.8611.12%1.88%3.94%41.63%
GBHIK
79
Outperform
£4.49B16.0415.79%2.83%5.83%83.35%
GBSN
76
Outperform
£9.59B29.587.78%3.19%1.85%51.77%
GBSPI
72
Outperform
£873.15M34.443.41%0.79%11.20%-6.80%
GBAMS
68
Neutral
£464.84M65.112.93%0.99%40.66%-55.09%
60
Neutral
HK$15.43B5.49-7.43%5.78%11.72%-20.69%
54
Neutral
£55.68M-38.49%3.66%48.18%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GB:SN
Smith & Nephew
1,101.00
145.59
15.24%
GB:CTEC
ConvaTec
288.80
58.71
25.52%
GB:CREO
Creo Medical
13.75
-18.50
-57.36%
GB:SPI
Spire Healthcare
224.00
-8.26
-3.56%
GB:HIK
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
1,999.00
163.79
8.92%
GB:AMS
Advanced Medical Solutions
213.00
1.62
0.77%
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: May 01, 2025