Dissynergies and Guidance
Q: Why didn't you lower the $150M dissynergy number despite raising guidance?
A: We are pleased with our first-quarter performance and have increased full-year revenue guidance, but we are still applying appropriate conservatism. We haven't seen any material rep reductions or anything that would cause us to believe the situation is worsening. We'll feel more comfortable adjusting the dissynergy number as we progress through the year, likely deep into the third quarter. " "

Gross Margin Outlook
Q: How will gross margins evolve, and when will benefits be seen?
A: Our guidance of mid to high 60s gross margins remains consistent. Early improvements came from standardization and renegotiating contracts. In-sourcing and expanding manufacturing will take longer, with significant savings occurring in 2025 and 2026. We're aggressively taking actions now, but benefits won't flow through the P&L until then. "

Enabling Technology Growth
Q: What's driving growth in the Enabling Technologies business?
A: The capital environment remains robust, with a strong pipeline and increasing adoption of our robotic technology. We're integrating NuVasive customers into our Excelsius portfolio, adding to our pipeline. The market has moved past early adopters, and there's more willingness from surgeons and hospitals to adopt proven technologies, driving growth in the next couple of quarters. " " "

Competitive Spine Robots
Q: How will you compete against new spine robots entering the market?
A: We believe we have the best enabling technology and are well-positioned to compete. The market still has low penetration, and we're focused on innovation, continuing to invest in our robot and implant R&D. New products like DuraPro and the VERZA power tools will further differentiate us. "

New Product Timelines
Q: What's the timeline for the Recon robot and augmented reality headsets?
A: We have filed the recon robotics with the FDA and expect approval in the second half of the year, likely late third quarter. For the augmented reality headsets, we anticipate launching in the back half of the year; we need to file and get approval but feel good about it. " "

Integration Progress
Q: When will you feel comfortable adjusting dissynergy estimates post-integration?
A: We're pleased with our first-quarter performance and expect to feel the same in Q2, but we'll feel most comfortable as we get through the third quarter. We're being responsible to shareholders and need to progress through these phases before adjusting estimates. "

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
Q: What are your expectations for free cash flow, and how does share repurchase affect M&A?
A: In fiscal '23, we generated about $180 million in free cash flow and have identified $170 million of synergies for the long term. Our share repurchases are both opportunistic and ongoing, taking advantage of an undervalued stock to remove dilution and enhance EPS. This doesn't limit our ability to pursue tuck-in acquisitions; we have ample cash and an untapped line of credit. " "

Record Hiring and Sales Force
Q: How is the record hiring evolving, and when will we see the impact?
A: We've onboarded a record number of recruits in the first quarter, with a stronger pipeline than we've seen in recent history. Typically, we see a lift in the current year, stronger impact in the second year, and level out in the third year. We believe this signals a strong second half and momentum into next year. "