Uniform metrics show this passion project turned into a money-printing machine; however, it would need another big leap to justify lofty expectations.
50 years after its beginnings, some investors would be forgiven for thinking this company continues to be focused on passion projects. After all, that’s how it got its start…
…and how we got artificial heart valves.
While the stock is up over 7x in the past several years, as-reported metrics show a flat level of earning power. It’s decent, but it seems not to be moving any higher—according to the commonly used analysis.
As-reported metrics make the company look like it is seeing relatively modest profitability, supporting the “passion project” thesis. However, Uniform earning power for this firm has actually roared higher, driving the stock to all-time highs.
But after this long run higher, market expectations for the company have gotten very high, and management is finally starting to get concerned about their outlook.
Also below, Uniform Accounting Embedded Expectations Analysis and the Uniform Accounting Performance and Valuation Tearsheet for the company.
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In his teenage years, Miles “Lowell” Edwards suffered two separate instances of rheumatic fever. Symptoms of this disease include problems like fatigue, fever, chest and joint pain, and rashes, among others.
Importantly, the disease can also result in long-term heart issues.
One of the most serious issues that can be faced by those with rheumatic fever is heart valve inflammation. After this heals, it can lead to scarring. The scarring makes the heart have to work harder just to support the body and can eventually lead to heart failure.
Fortunately, Edwards recovered from the fever without lasting heart damage, but it left a lasting impression on the young man that would shape healthcare as it was known.
After graduating from Oregon Agricultural College with an Electrical Engineering degree in 1924, Edwards went on to become an apprentice at General Electric.
After completing that, he returned to Oregon where he went on to become a successful engineer with expertise in hydraulics and pumps.
He was eventually tasked in helping companies such as Weyerhaeuser and Boeing with issues ranging from debarking of trees to storing aircraft fuel at high altitudes.
Lowell became incredibly wealthy and successful, consulting on major projects in any number of industries. But the one area that he kept coming back to was healthcare.
Heart-care in particular.
In 1958, then a wealthy man with knowledge of pumps, but less about medicine, Edwards introduced himself to cardiac surgeon, Albert Starr. Edwards approached Starr with an idea for a fully-mechanized heart, and eventually the two settled on a slightly more achievable product—the first artificial heart valve.
In just a few years, the Starr-Edwards valve was designed, and successfully placed in a patient via surgery. Soon after, Edwards Laboratories, now Edwards Lifesciences (EW), was born.
Nearly 60 years later, the company has grown massively, and continues to be focused on heart and other cardiovascular-related issues.
A company that creates ways to save lives, EW has seen shares rise over 60x since its IPO in 2000, and by 7x-8x in just the last five years.
However, investors who have looked at the firm’s as-reported financials at any point in recent history would see a company with stagnant ROA levels.
This is a company that doesn’t appear to have seen any significant profitability expansion since going public. ROAs are just where they were in 2013, at 12%.
When thinking about the company’s purpose, this makes sense. After all, even 60 years later this company looks like it still is a passion-project company.
Why are shares up so much?
The truth comes clear under Uniform Accounting.
Since 2014, as-reported ROA has only improved 1%-2%. Uniform ROA is up from 18% to all-time high levels of 28%.
The company clearly continues to innovate, and focus not just on passion projects, but those projects that can bring the greatest return to shareholders.
With Uniform Accounting, we can now explain what had the market so excited.
That said, with Uniform Accounting, we can also see the true valuations and market expectations for a company. For EW, these valuations are reaching nose-bleed levels.
After running as far as it has, EW is now entering expensive territory. Uniform P/E levels have risen from market-average 20x levels just a few years ago, to double that now.
The market has gotten excited about this name, but while the company has created significant value, it may need another massive leap forward like it delivered 60 years ago to justify valuations.
The market’s expectations border on irrational.
Also, Edwards Lifesciences’ management appears to be growing pessimistic about growth, enrollment, and pricing. Although a historically strong business, high expectations for the firm, coupled with growing management pessimism point to risks investors should be aware of.
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Embedded Expectations Analysis – Market expectations are for significant Uniform ROA expansion, but management appears concerned about growth, enrollment, and pricing
EW currently trades above recent averages relative to UAFRS-based (Uniform) Earnings, with a 39.3x Uniform P/E. At these levels, the market is pricing in expectations for Uniform ROA to improve from 28% in 2018 to 37% in 2023, accompanied by 10% Uniform Asset growth going forward.
However, analysts have bearish expectations, projecting Uniform ROA to fall to 24% in 2020, accompanied by 15% Uniform Asset growth.
Historically, EW has seen improving profitability.
Initially, the firm saw relatively stable profitability, with Uniform ROA sustaining 16%-19% levels from 2003 to 2014, before improving to 28% in 2018.
Meanwhile, Uniform Asset growth has been robust and positive in each of the past 16 years, ranging from 3% to 15%.
Performance Drivers – Sales, Margins, and Turns
Improvements in Uniform ROA have been driven by improvements in Uniform Earnings Margin offsetting declines in Uniform Asset Turns.
Uniform Margins improved from 16% in 2003 to 31% in 2018. Meanwhile, from 2003 to 2013, Uniform Turns fell from 1.2x to 0.8x, before improving to 0.9x-1.0x levels from 2014-2018.
At current valuations, markets are pricing in expectations for Uniform Margins and Uniform Turns to expand to new highs.
Earnings Call Forensics
Valens’ qualitative analysis of the firm’s Q3 2019 earnings call highlights that management generated an excitement marker when saying moderate TAVR growth is consistent with their long-term expectations. In addition, they are confident their quarterly gross profit margin improved compared to the same period last year.
However, management may lack confidence in their ability to sustain growth in TAVR therapy, PASCAL market penetration, and international sales, specifically in Europe.
Moreover, they may be concerned about sales seasonality, margin headwinds, and the progress of their CLASP study enrollment. Furthermore, they may be exaggerating the growth opportunities for TAVR centers and their ability to increase their number of patients treated. Finally, they may lack confidence in their ability to execute a premium pricing strategy for PASCAL, meet mitral sales guidance, and combat TAVR pricing pressures.
UAFRS VS As-Reported
Uniform Accounting metrics also highlight a significantly different fundamental picture for EW than as-reported metrics reflect.
As-reported metrics can lead investors to view a company to be dramatically stronger or weaker than real operating fundamentals highlight. Understanding where these distortions occur can help explain why market expectations for the company may be divergent.
As-reported metrics significantly understate EW’s profitability.
For example, as-reported ROA for EW was 12% in 2018, materially lower than Uniform ROA of 28%. This makes EW appear to be a much weaker business than real economic metrics highlight.
Moreover, since 2016, as-reported has remained at 12% levels, while Uniform ROA has improved from 25% to 28%, directionally distorting the market’s perception of the firm’s recent profitability trends.
SUMMARY and Edwards Lifesciences Tearsheet
As the Uniform Accounting tearsheet for Edwards (EW) highlights, the EW Uniform P/E trades at a very high 39x, well above corporate average valuation levels and its own recent history.
High P/Es require high EPS growth to sustain them, and for EW, the required growth to support current multiples is a high 15%+. That said, in the case of EW, the company has recently shown 16% Uniform EPS growth.
Wall Street analysts provide stock and valuation recommendations that in general provide very poor guidance or insight. However, Wall Street analysts’ near-term earnings forecasts tend to have relevant information.
We take Wall Street forecasts for GAAP earnings and convert them to Uniform earnings forecasts. When we do this, EW’s Wall Street analyst-driven forecast is a somewhat concerning 7%-8% into 2019 and 2020.
What Wall Street analysts expect for EW’s earnings growth falls far below what the current stock market valuation requires.
To conclude, EW’s Uniform earnings growth is roughly in line with peers. Yet, the company is trading at well above average peer valuations.
Best regards,
Joel Litman & Rob Spivey
Chief Investment Strategist &
Director of Research
at Valens Research
