Mallinckrodt (MNK) Up 28.5% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Mallinckrodt (MNK). Shares have added about 28.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Mallinckrodt due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Mallinckrodt Q3 Earnings Beat, Sales Miss

Mallinckrodt reported adjusted earnings of $2.07 per share in the quarter, declining from the year-ago quarter’s $2.25 but easily beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98.

Net sales in the quarter came in at $743.7 million, decreasing 7.1% year over year and falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $772.4 million.

Quarter in Detail

The company now operates two reportable segments aligned with the previously-announced separation — the Specialty Brands and the Specialty Generics.

Specialty Brands sales came in at $580.4 million, down 9.3% year over year.
Acthar, Mallinckrodt’s largest product, generated sales of $229.8 million, down 20.8% year over year primarily due to persistent reimbursement challenges impacting new and returning patients, and continued payer scrutiny on overall specialty pharmaceutical spending.

Inomax, the company’s second-largest product, generated sales of $136.8 million, up 2.7% year over year, driven by continued demand and significant utilization in multi-year, unlimited use contracts.

Ofirmev sales decreased 1.1% year over year to $86.1 million, due to lower demand and typical quarter-to-quarter order variability.

Sales of the Therakos immunology platform were $60.9 million, up 1.5% on growth in the United States.

Amitza net sales were $52.6 million, up 9.1% owing to consistent strong utilization in Japan, partially offset by an increasingly competitive landscape in the United States.

Specialty Generics sales amounted to $163.3 million, up 2.1% on share recapture across the business.

Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were $182 million, down from $205.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Research and development expenses increased to $103.1 million from $86.1 million, primarily owing to the $20-million up-front payment for collaboration with Silence Therapeutics concerning the RNAi technology platform for complement-mediated diseases.

Guidance Update

Earnings per share are now projected to be $8.50-$8.70, up from the previous guidance of $8.40-$8.70. The hospital business continues to perform well and the company expects the portfolio to see high-single-digit growth for the full year.

Pipeline Update

In September, Mallinckrodt reported positive top-line results for its phase III study demonstrating the benefit of StrataGraft regenerative skin tissue in patients with deep partial-thickness burns. The company plans to submit a BLA for StrataGraft tissue to the FDA in the first half of 2020.

Meanwhile, the CONFIRM study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of pipeline candidate terlipressin in adults with HRS type I, met its primary endpoint. The company is planning to submit an NDA for the same to the FDA in early 2020.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

In the past month, investors have witnessed an upward trend in estimates review.

VGM Scores

Currently, Mallinckrodt has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Mallinckrodt has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Mallinckrodt public limited company (MNK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.