Derik De Bruin's questions to AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES (A) leadership • Q1 2024
Question
Derik De Bruin inquired about the growth trajectory of the NASD business, citing concerns over clinical trial pushouts and potential overcapacity. He also asked for an update on the pharma market, seeking signs of an inflection point or budget releases.
Answer
CEO Michael McMullen and CFO Robert McMahon acknowledged that some customer clinical trial pushouts into FY25 could result in the NASD business being 'closer to flat' for the year, but clarified this was not due to industry overcapacity. Regarding pharma, McMullen, COO Padraig McDonnell, and McMahon noted that while the market shows stability, no material improvement is evident yet. They highlighted that strong services and consumables performance indicates continued lab activity despite a depressed capital spending environment.