Heska Corporation (HSKA)

[Camaro1093]

Heska Announces Q4 and Annual 2009 Results

Heska Corporation (Nasdaq: HSKA, "Heska" or the "Company") today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2009.

"In the fourth quarter of 2009, we produced revenue growth in both of our operating segments, increased our gross margin and decreased our operating expenses compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. For full year 2009, our team generated over $4 million in operating income - the second best result in company history, despite a challenging economic environment," said Robert Grieve, Heska's Chairman and CEO. "We also placed our first DRI-CHEM(R) 7000 Veterinary Chemistry Analyzers with our customers in the fourth quarter of 2009. We have been pleased with customer interest in this fine new product, which represents a line extension in our chemistry offering and is the fastest multi-patient clinical chemistry analyzer available to the veterinary in-clinic market. We also are excited by the prospects for another new product in 2010, the VitalPath(TM) Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analyzer, which we expect to begin shipping to our customers in the near future."

Investor Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. MST (3:00 p.m. EST) to discuss the fourth quarter and year-end 2009 financial results. To participate, dial [phone] (domestic) or [phone] (international); the conference call access number is 4218183. 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 until March 8, 2010. The telephone replay may be accessed by dialing [phone] (domestic) or [phone] (international). The webcast replay may be accessed from Heska's home page at www.heska.com until March 8, 2010.

About Heska

Heska Corporation (Nasdaq: HSKA) sells advanced veterinary diagnostic and other specialty veterinary products. Heska's state-of-the-art offerings to its customers include diagnostic instruments and supplies as well as single use, point-of-care tests, pharmaceuticals and vaccines. 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. In addition, factors that could affect the business and financial results of Heska generally include the following: uncertainties related to the access to products from Abbott Point of Care Inc. as of November 1, 2009, which represent approximately 15% of Heska's revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009, including the impact of the loss of related profits on Heska's year-over-year performance; risks inherent in relying on perceived initial customer interest to indicate future market acceptance and success of any given product; uncertainties related to product performance and market acceptance of any product planned, but not yet placed, with customers; risks related to any change in Heska's strategy, including Heska's recent decision to terminate its contractual agreements with most domestic third-party distributors who carry Heska's full product line, and the year-over-year and future impact of any such decision; uncertainties regarding Heska's reliance on third parties to whom Heska has granted substantial marketing rights to certain of Heska's existing products and whom may be large Heska customers; uncertainties regarding Heska's ability to successfully market and sell its products in an economically sustainable manner; risks related to Heska's reliance on third parties to properly and timely complete certain research and development activities; competition, including uncertainties regarding the impact of new products competitors have recently launched or may launch in the future; uncertainties related to Heska's ability to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market; uncertainties regarding Heska's ability to generate profits and positive cash flow in future periods; risks regarding Heska's reliance on third-party suppliers, which is substantial and could have significant negative consequences if Heska were to lose access to a product line; uncertainties regarding overall economic conditions and the affect of these conditions on Heska's business, which may change as compared to historical results, as well as Heska's accuracy in predicting these and related matters; 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Financial Table Follows:
View data


Consolidated Statements of Operations
In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts
(unaudited)

Three Months Twelve Months
Ended Ended
----- -----
December 31, December 31,
------------ ------------
2008 2009 2008 2009
---- ---- ---- ----
Revenue, net:
Core companion animal health $13,667 $14,541 $68,140 $66,449
Other vaccines, pharmaceuticals
and products 1,767 2,817 13,513 9,229
----- ----- ------ -----
Total revenue, net 15,434 17,358 81,653 75,678
------ ------ ------ ------

Cost of revenue 11,093 10,723 52,809 47,219
------ ------ ------ ------

Gross profit 4,341 6,635 28,844 28,459
----- ----- ------ ------

Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing 3,616 3,449 17,640 14,524
Research and development 489 410 1,951 1,718
General and administrative 2,161 1,918 8,917 8,173
Restructuring expenses 785 - 785 -
Other 232 - 232 -
--- --- --- ---
Total operating expenses 7,283 5,777 29,525 24,415
----- ----- ------ ------
Operating income (loss) (2,942) 858 (681) 4,044
Interest and other expense, net 140 113 640 306
--- --- --- ---
Income (loss) before income taxes (3,082) 745 (1,321) 3,738
Income tax expense (benefit) (1,215) 285 (471) 1,496
------ --- ---- -----
Net income (loss) $(1,867) $460 $(850) $2,242
======= ==== ===== ======

Basic net income (loss) per share $(0.04) $0.01 $(0.02) $0.04
====== ===== ====== =====
Diluted net income (loss) per share $(0.04) $0.01 $(0.02) $0.04
====== ===== ====== =====

Shares used for basic net income
(loss) per share 51,821 52,123 51,674 52,068
====== ====== ====== ======

Shares used for diluted net income
(loss) per share 51,821 52,199 51,674 52,115
====== ====== ====== ======





Balance Sheet Data
In Thousands (unaudited)

December 31, December 31,
2008 2009
---- ----
Cash and cash equivalents $4,705 $5,400
Total current assets 31,290 28,493
Total assets 70,438 64,134
Line of credit 11,042 4,201
Current portion of long-term debt 770 381
Total current liabilities 22,228 14,107
Long-term debt, net of current portion 381 -
Stockholders' equity 42,523 45,055






Consolidated Statements of Operations In Thousands, Except per Share Amounts (unaudited) Three Months Twelve Months Ended Ended ----- ----- December 31, December 31, ------------ ------------ 2008 2009 2008 2009 ---- ---- ---- ---- Revenue, net: Core companion animal health $13,667 $14,541 $68,140 $66,449 Other vaccines, pharmaceuticals and products 1,767 2,817 13,513 9,229 ----- ----- ------ ----- Total revenue, net 15,434 17,358 81,653 75,678 ------ ------ ------ ------ Cost of revenue 11,093 10,723 52,809 47,219 ------ ------ ------ ------ Gross profit 4,341 6,635 28,844 28,459 ----- ----- ------ ------ Operating expenses: Selling and marketing 3,616 3,449 17,640 14,524 Research and development 489 410 1,951 1,718 General and administrative 2,161 1,918 8,917 8,173 Restructuring expenses 785 - 785 - Other 232 - 232 - --- --- --- --- Total operating expenses 7,283 5,777 29,525 24,415 ----- ----- ------ ------ Operating income (loss) (2,942) 858 (681) 4,044 Interest and other expense, net 140 113 640 306 --- --- --- --- Income (loss) before income taxes (3,082) 745 (1,321) 3,738 Income tax expense (benefit) (1,215) 285 (471) 1,496 ------ --- ---- ----- Net income (loss) $(1,867) $460 $(850) $2,242 ======= ==== ===== ====== Basic net income (loss) per share $(0.04) $0.01 $(0.02) $0.04 ====== ===== ====== ===== Diluted net income (loss) per share $(0.04) $0.01 $(0.02) $0.04 ====== ===== ====== ===== Shares used for basic net income (loss) per share 51,821 52,123 51,674 52,068 ====== ====== ====== ====== Shares used for diluted net income (loss) per share 51,821 52,199 51,674 52,115 ====== ====== ====== ====== Balance Sheet Data In Thousands (unaudited) December 31, December 31, 2008 2009 ---- ---- Cash and cash equivalents $4,705 $5,400 Total current assets 31,290 28,493 Total assets 70,438 64,134 Line of credit 11,042 4,201 Current portion of long-term debt 770 381 Total current liabilities 22,228 14,107 Long-term debt, net of current portion 381 - Stockholders' equity 42,523 45,055

SOURCE Heska Corporation