Heska Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2015

LOVELAND, Colo., July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Heska Corporation (NASDAQ: HSKA - News; "Heska" or the "Company"), a provider of advanced veterinary diagnostic and other specialty veterinary products, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Second Quarter 2015 Highlights with Prior Year Comparison:

• Income from Operations was up nearly 100% to $1.829 million, from $917 thousand.
• Blood Analyzer and Consumables revenue rose 29% to $10.1 million, from $7.8 million.
• Core Companion Animal revenue was up 19% to $20.7 million, from $17.5 million.
• Consolidated revenue was up 4% to $23.9 million, from $22.9 million.
• Gross profit was up 13% to $10.3 million, from $9.1 million.
• Gross margin was up 3.5 percentage points to 43.1%, from 39.6%.
• Heska Imaging revenue was up 35.8% to 4.4 million, from $3.2 million. Heska Imaging Gross margin expanded over 10 percentage points to 37.5%.
• Net income attributable to Heska Corporation of $1.2 million, or 0.17 cents per diluted share, was up 12%.

Kevin Wilson, Heska's Chief Executive Officer and President, commented that, "Heska continued its strong momentum in the quarter by expanding margins, selling more, and spending less per revenue dollar doing it. The newly launched Element HT5 five-part hematology analyzer continues to gain marketshare with overall hematology placements growing 132% over last year and 46% over last quarter. Chemistry placements rose 29% and Blood Gas placements rose 41%. Our close relationship with Henry Schein Animal Health is going very well and gaining momentum in blood analyzers and new collaborations on private label products and software integrations. During the period, we grew our net customer base in all key segments, including the highly competitive blood analyzer space, where roughly eight in ten new analyzer customers upgraded to Heska from a competitor. We are executing well, our pipeline is at record levels, and we are working hard on several new initiatives, including today's release of the all new Element i immunodiagnostics platform for point of care T4, Cortisol, and the market's first point of care TSH testing."

Financial Results
Second quarter 2015 revenue was $23.9 million, up 4% as compared to the second quarter of 2014. In the second quarter of 2015, Core Companion Animal Health revenue increased approximately 19% to $20.8 million from $17.5 million in the prior year period. In line with expectations and timing of shipments and third party partner orders, Other Vaccines, Pharmaceuticals and Products revenue decreased approximately 42% to $3.2 million from $5.4 million in the second quarter last year. Gross profit was $10.3 million, or a 43.1% gross margin, in the second quarter of 2015 compared with gross profit of $9.1 million, or 39.6% gross margin, in the second quarter of 2014. Total operating expenses were $8.5 million, or 35.4% of sales, in the second quarter of 2015 compared with total operating expenses of $8.2 million, or 35.6% of sales, in the prior year period. The Company reported operating income of $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared to operating income of $917 thousand in the second quarter of 2014. Income before income taxes was $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared to income before taxes of $924 thousand in the prior year period. In the second quarter of 2015, net income attributable to Heska Corporation was $1.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Heska Corporation of $1.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2014.

Balance Sheet
As of June 30, 2015, Heska had $6.6 million in cash and working capital of $20.4 million. Stockholders' equity increased to $56.6 million compared to $53.1 million as of December 31, 2014.

Investor Conference Call
Management will conduct a conference call on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 9 a.m. MDT (11 a.m. EDT) to discuss the second quarter 2015 financial results.  To participate, dial (888) 510‑1786 (domestic) or (719) 325-2469 (international); the conference call access number is 9262530.  The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet at http://www.heska.com.  To listen, simply log on to the web at this address at least ten minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Telephone replays of the conference call will be available for playback on Heska's home page at www.heska.com until August 12, 2015.  The telephone replay may be accessed by dialing (888) 203-1112 (domestic) or (719) 457-0820 (international).  The replay access number is 9262530.

About Heska
Heska Corporation (NASDAQ: HSKA - News) sells advanced veterinary diagnostic and other specialty veterinary products.  Heska's state-of-the-art offerings to its customers include blood testing instruments and supplies, digital imaging products, software and services, and single use products and services such as in-clinic heartworm diagnostic tests, heartworm preventive products, allergy immunotherapy products and allergy testing.  The Company's core focus is on the canine and feline markets where it strives to provide high value products and unparalleled customer support to veterinarians.  For further information on Heska and its products, visit the company's website at www.heska.com.  

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding Heska's future financial and operating results.  These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.  Investors should note that there is an inherent risk in using past results, including trends, to predict future outcomes, including using customer trends to predict future success with new customers.  In addition, factors that could affect the business and financial results of Heska generally include the following: uncertainties related to an entity's perceived pipeline translating into future sales; uncertainties related to the economic success of any collaboration; uncertainties related to the perception of any business relationship, and the ultimate economic impact of any such relationship; uncertainties related to product development; uncertainties related to the commercialization of any new product; uncertainties related to the ultimate commercial success of any product, including a product where the initial customer experience is positive; competition; risks related to Heska's reliance on third-party suppliers, which is substantial; uncertainties related to Heska's ability to compete successfully as compared to Heska's competitors for the time, energy and focus of a given distributor's employees; and the risks set forth in Heska's filings and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in Heska's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

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SOURCE Heska Corporation