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Smith & Nephew plc (GB:SN)
LSE:SN
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Smith & Nephew (SN) AI Stock Analysis

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GB:SN

Smith & Nephew

(LSE:SN)

Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
Smith & Nephew's strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment are the primary drivers of its stock score. The company's robust revenue growth, profitability improvements, and operational efficiencies are significant strengths. However, technical indicators suggest potential overbought conditions, and the valuation appears high, which could limit upside potential. Challenges in China and tariff headwinds also pose risks.
Positive Factors
Earnings and Valuation
Analysts reiterate a buy rating due to upside risks in earnings and valuation, with targets set for higher earnings per share and valuation ratios.
Sales Growth
The company's third-quarter sales growth is strong, with an increase of 7.6%, and there are no negative impacts from trading days, indicating a positive outlook.
Share Buyback
A $500 million share buyback is planned, indicating confidence in the company's financial health and potential to return value to shareholders.
Negative Factors
China Ortho Sales
Ortho sales in China were significantly down and are expected to continue at the same extent in the near term.
Revenue Guidance
Lack of revenue guidance upgrade reflects procedure, macro uncertainty.
Skin Substitutes Market
New coverage in the skin substitutes market is expected to be a headwind, indicating potential challenges in this business segment.

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 focuses on the innovation and development of advanced medical devices and solutions. The company operates primarily in three sectors: Orthopaedics, Advanced Wound Management, and Sports Medicine. Its core products include joint implants, wound care products, and surgical instruments, which are designed to enhance surgical outcomes and improve patient recovery. Smith & Nephew is committed to delivering high-quality healthcare solutions through continuous research and development.
How the Company Makes MoneySmith & Nephew generates revenue through the sale of its medical devices and products across its three primary sectors. The Orthopaedics segment, which includes joint reconstruction and trauma products, is a significant revenue driver, as it caters to the growing demand for hip and knee replacement surgeries. The Advanced Wound Management division contributes by providing innovative wound care solutions, addressing the needs of patients with chronic and acute wounds. The Sports Medicine sector focuses on arthroscopy and other minimally invasive surgical procedures, which are gaining popularity in the healthcare market. Moreover, Smith & Nephew benefits from strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and payers, as well as collaborations with research institutions to enhance product offerings. The company also invests in marketing and sales initiatives to promote its products, ensuring a steady stream of revenue.

Smith & Nephew Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 24, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlighted strong revenue growth, profitability improvements, and successful execution of operational efficiencies, with significant progress in the U.S. Recon and Robotics segments. However, challenges remain in emerging markets, particularly China, and there are uncertainties related to tariffs and future reimbursement changes for skin substitutes.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth
Smith & Nephew reported a 6.7% underlying revenue growth in the quarter with a 7.8% reported growth due to a 110 basis point tailwind from foreign exchange.
Profitability and Margin Expansion
There was a 100 basis point expansion in trading margin in the first half, slightly ahead of expectations. The company is on track for a full-year margin guidance of 19% to 20%.
Free Cash Flow and Share Buyback
Free cash flow increased by 500% to $244 million in the first half, and a $500 million share buyback is planned for the second half of 2025, funded by cash flow and existing balances.
Advanced Wound Management Growth
Advanced Wound Management showed a 10.2% growth, driven by a strong rebound in Bioactives and double-digit growth in skin substitutes.
Operational Efficiency Improvements
A 70% increase in trading cash flow was realized, attributed to cost savings, inventory reduction, and restructuring charge reductions.
Orthopaedics Margin Expansion
Orthopaedics saw a 230 basis point margin expansion due to inventory reduction, portfolio simplification, and focus on higher volume accounts.
Strong Performance in U.S. Recon and Robotics
Fourth consecutive quarter of sequential improvement in U.S. Recon and Robotics, with U.S. Hips and Knees showing acceleration.
Negative Updates
Emerging Markets Performance
Emerging markets declined by 0.2%, with strong growth in the Middle East and India offset by challenges in China due to volume-based procurement.
Tariff Uncertainty
Tariffs are expected to pose a $15 million to $20 million net headwind in 2025, with uncertainty remaining about the final outcome.
Challenges in U.S. Knee Segment
Softness in U.S. Knee growth attributed to portfolio rationalization and slower procedures among active surgeon base.
Skin Substitutes Reimbursement Headwinds
Proposed Medicare reimbursement changes for skin substitutes are anticipated to be a headwind to Advanced Wound Management sales and profitability in 2026.
Company Guidance
In the Smith & Nephew second quarter 2025 results meeting, CEO Deepak Nath highlighted the company's performance, featuring a 6.7% underlying revenue growth and a 100 basis point expansion in trading margin, slightly ahead of expectations. The company's Sports Medicine, Wound, and Orthopaedics units showed strong performances, with double-digit growth in Wound and sustained improvements in U.S. Recon and Robotics. Emerging markets, excluding China, grew by 12.2%. The trading cash flow rose by 70%, resulting in nearly $250 million of free cash flow in the first half. The company maintained its full-year margin guidance of 19% to 20%, anticipating a $15 million to $20 million impact from tariffs. Smith & Nephew also announced a $500 million share buyback, funded by 2025 cash flow and existing balances, without affecting its growth plans. The company remains committed to achieving market growth rates in U.S. Recon by the end of the year, leveraging innovation and improved commercial execution.

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.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.81B5.55B5.21B5.21B4.56B
Gross Profit4.05B3.89B3.67B3.67B3.16B
EBITDA1.22B956.00M943.00M1.24B866.00M
Net Income412.00M263.00M223.00M524.00M448.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets10.35B9.99B9.97B10.92B11.01B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments619.00M302.00M350.00M1.29B1.76B
Total Debt3.32B3.08B2.87B3.34B3.69B
Total Liabilities5.09B4.77B4.71B5.35B5.73B
Stockholders Equity5.26B5.22B5.26B5.57B5.28B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow606.00M181.00M110.00M469.00M492.00M
Operating Cash Flow987.00M608.00M468.00M877.00M935.00M
Investing Cash Flow-569.00M-448.00M-472.00M-691.00M-606.00M
Financing Cash Flow-86.00M-200.00M-926.00M-645.00M1.16B

Smith & Nephew Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1380.00
Price Trends
50DMA
1198.20
Positive
100DMA
1125.00
Positive
200DMA
1069.85
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
57.37
Positive
RSI
79.55
Negative
STOCH
71.87
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 1380 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1318.67, above the 50-day MA of 1198.20, and above the 200-day MA of 1069.85, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 57.37 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 79.55 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 71.87 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 (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
£12.02B31.849.30%2.31%2.51%56.56%
70
Outperform
£4.01B14.1715.66%3.49%3.73%27.13%
69
Neutral
£909.36M49.462.51%1.03%6.95%-34.38%
65
Neutral
£436.97M62.842.93%1.27%40.66%-55.09%
64
Neutral
£4.76B29.6512.73%2.16%4.18%37.65%
51
Neutral
$7.83B-0.18-40.10%2.29%21.46%-2.03%
44
Neutral
£56.72M-38.49%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GB:SN
Smith & Nephew
1,382.00
238.77
20.89%
GB:AMS
Advanced Medical Solutions
205.00
-37.99
-15.63%
GB:CTEC
ConvaTec
233.40
5.60
2.46%
GB:CREO
Creo Medical
13.12
-16.88
-56.27%
GB:HIK
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
1,843.00
-82.94
-4.31%
GB:SPI
Spire Healthcare
223.00
-26.56
-10.64%
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: Aug 06, 2025