DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. (XRAY) Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 revenue of $904M was slightly above S&P Global consensus, but adjusted EPS of $0.37 missed; GAAP EPS was ($2.14) on $263M after-tax non-cash impairments tied to tariffs and lower projected volumes in U.S. equipment, implants, and prosthetics . Revenue beat consensus by ~$6.3M while EPS missed by ~$0.08*.
- Guidance cut: FY25 adjusted EPS reduced to ~$1.60 (from $1.80–$2.00), constant currency sales growth lowered to (-5%)–(-4%), while reported net sales maintained at $3.6–$3.7B .
- Europe improved (+9.9% reported, +2.6% cc), but U.S. fell 22.2% (cc), reflecting weakness in Essential Dental, CAD/CAM, Imaging, and Implants; Wellspect grew across regions .
- CEO launched a 24‑month Return‑to‑Growth plan with pillars spanning customer centricity, reigniting U.S. commercial execution, empowering people (including a Transformation Office to drive AI/automation), and evolving operations; CFO departed; multi-channel re-engagement with distributors underway .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Europe sales rose +9.9% reported (+2.6% cc), led by Connected Technology Solutions and labs; UK/France/Italy/Spain strong; Germany flat YoY .
- Wellspect Healthcare delivered growth across all regions; in Europe +5.3% cc, ROW grew off a small base; segment adjusted operating income rose YoY .
- Management action plan: “By sharpening our focus on our customers…reigniting growth in the U.S. business…empowering our people…and evolving our operations to drive innovation,” aiming for sustained, profitable growth over 24 months .
What Went Wrong
- U.S. net sales declined 22.2% (cc), with weakness across Essential Dental, CAD/CAM, Imaging, and Implants; adjusted EPS fell 26.5% YoY to $0.37 .
- Orthodontic & Implant Solutions declined 17.1% (cc) YoY; distributor inventories for CAD/CAM and imaging remain below historical averages; implants softness in U.S. and China (ahead of VBP phase 2) .
- Adjusted free cash flow conversion dropped to 54% vs 97% prior year; operating cash flow declined to $79M from $141M YoY driven by unfavorable working capital .
Financial Results
Values with asterisks (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Non-GAAP reconciliation highlights (Q3): Adjusted EPS excludes $263M after-tax impairment, $41M amortization, $20M restructuring and other, and $176M income tax-related adjustment .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Third quarter results fell short of our expectations…we are taking decisive action…launch of our Return-to-Growth strategy” — Dan Scavilla, President & CEO .
- Four pillars: Putting Customers at the Center; Reigniting the U.S. Business; Empowering People (Transformation Office, AI/automation); Evolving Operations to Fuel Innovation .
- Capital allocation: “We plan on deleveraging the business through profitable growth…debt reduction, and shareholder returns” .
- CFO transition: Matt Garth departed; interim oversight by Audit & Finance Committee Chair Leslie Varon; CFO search underway (Heidrick & Struggles) .
- U.S. commercial reset: re-align teams, invest in clinical education, multi-channel dealer re-engagement, DSOs support, expand field resources .
Q&A Highlights
- U.S. weakness: U.S sales down ~10% ex one-time items; drivers are structural approach, dealer relationships, DSOs; return-to-health plan to fix execution .
- Growth cadence: Do not model immediate growth; expect sequential improvements in 2026 plan; conservative guidance approach (beat/raise over time) .
- Capital allocation: Focus on deleveraging via EBITDA growth; retire debt; dividend under review with board; share repurchase opportunistic .
- R&D: Pulling forward spend in Q4; long-term target ~6–7% of sales; ensure efficient allocation and risk mitigation before scaling .
- Distributors: Moving to multi-channel; re-engaging with Shine/Patterson and new dealers; broader presence expected in 2026 .
- CFO profile: Deep data/metrics orientation, enterprise leader, strong communicator; guidance philosophy conservative with intent to beat/raise .
Estimates Context
- XRAY Q3 2025: Revenue beat by ~$6.3M; Adjusted EPS missed by ~$0.079 vs S&P Global consensus. Given U.S. demand softness and tariff impacts, Street models likely need lower EPS estimates and reflect a more gradual recovery path, while revenue expectations may be less impacted given European strength and Wellspect resilience . Consensus revenue estimate $897.73M*; consensus EPS $0.449*; actual revenue $904M, adjusted EPS $0.37 . Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- The guidance cut (EPS to ~$1.60, cc sales to (-5%)–(-4%)) and U.S. weakness are the primary stock drivers; watch for milestones in U.S. commercial rebuild, dealer partnerships, and clinical education ramp .
- Tariff headwinds (~$25M in 2025; ~$80M annualized gross) plus pricing/mitigation uncertainty warrant cautious EPS assumptions into 2026 .
- Europe stabilization plus Wellspect growth provide partial offsets; segment mix and geography shifts will influence margins (adj. gross margin 52.6% in Q3) .
- Non-GAAP adjustments (notably impairments) are sizable; focus on underlying adjusted profitability and cash conversion trajectory as transformation executes .
- Near-term margin pressure likely as R&D and commercial investments are pulled forward; monitor for evidence that OpEx unlocks self-funding efficiencies in 2026 .
- Balance sheet flexibility improved earlier in the year (hybrid bond); deleveraging path depends on sustained EBITDA growth and working capital normalization .
- Catalysts: concrete dealer agreements, U.S. sales stabilization, DS Core/AI initiatives delivering measurable adoption/throughput, and 2026 targets at investor forums could reset expectations .
All data and statements above are sourced from the Q3 2025 press release and 8-K, Q3 earnings call transcript, and Q1–Q2 2025 releases/calls, with citations as noted.