Healthcare
Medical Distribution
$8.95B
25K
Henry Schein, Inc. provides health care products and services to dental practitioners, laboratories, physician practices, and ambulatory surgery centers, government, institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care clinics worldwide. It operates through two segments, Health Care Distribution, and Technology and Value-Added Services. The Health Care Distribution segment offers dental products, including infection-control products, handpieces, preventatives, impression materials, composites, anesthetics, teeth, dental implants, gypsum, acrylics, articulators, abrasives, dental chairs, delivery units and lights, X-ray supplies and equipment, personal protective equipment, and high-tech and digital restoration equipment, as well as equipment repair services. This segment also provides medical products, such as branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products, X-ray products, equipment, and vitamins. The Technology and Value-Added Services segment offers software, technology, and other value-added services that include practice management software systems for dental and medical practitioners; and value-added practice solutions comprising practice consultancy, education, revenue cycle management and financial services, e-services, practice technology, and network and hardware services, as well as consulting, and continuing education services. Henry Schein, Inc. was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.
Key insights and themes extracted from this filing
Net sales increased 3.3% year-over-year (YoY) for the three months ended June 28, 2025, reaching $3.24 billion. This growth was primarily driven by Global Technology (7.4% YoY) and Global Medical (6.1% YoY), while Global Dental showed modest 1.1% growth for the quarter and a 0.9% decline for the six months ended June 28, 2025, reflecting varied segment performance.
Gross profit declined 0.2% YoY for the three months ended June 28, 2025, with gross margin contracting by 110 basis points to 31.4% (from 32.5% in prior year). Operating income also decreased 5.0% YoY to $151 million, leading to a 40 basis point reduction in operating margin, primarily due to lower glove pricing and time-limited sales initiatives.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 28, 2025, was $157 million, a substantial decrease from $493 million in the prior-year period. This decline is attributed to changes in working capital accounts, including accounts receivable and inventories, and the residual impacts of the October 2023 cyber incident.
The company continued its acquisition strategy, acquiring companies within its Global Distribution and Value-Added Services and Global Specialty Products segments for $138 million during the six months ended June 28, 2025. This aligns with the strategy to add new customers, enter new markets, and access new products/technologies, with goodwill attributed to expected synergies and growth potential.
Internally generated local currency sales showed a 1.9% increase for the three months ended June 28, 2025, and 1.1% for the six months. This was primarily driven by strong performance in Global Technology (6.6% 3M YoY) and Global Medical (4.4% 3M YoY), while Global Dental experienced a 0.4% decline in local currency sales for the quarter.
Henry Schein executed an Accelerated Share Repurchase (ASR) program on May 19, 2025, repurchasing $250 million of common stock. This follows a Board authorization of an additional $500 million for repurchases in January 2025, indicating management's confidence in the company's valuation and future cash flow generation.
Henry Schein is actively pursuing its 2024 restructuring plan, incurring $23 million in charges for the three months and $48 million for the six months ended June 28, 2025. These costs, primarily related to severance and accelerated depreciation, underscore management's active efforts to streamline operations and increase overall efficiency, with expected benefits in future periods.
The company successfully remediated the October 2023 cyber incident that affected its dental and medical distribution businesses. While the incident incurred professional fees, Henry Schein received insurance proceeds of $20 million during the three months ended March 29, 2025, and $10 million during the three months ended June 29, 2024, mitigating the financial impact.
Operating expenses for the three months ended June 28, 2025, increased by $6 million, partly due to investments in technology related to the anticipated launch of the Global E-Commerce Platform (henryschein.com). This indicates management's focus on digital transformation to enhance future operational capabilities and customer experience.
New regulations, including the EU Medical Device Regulation (effective January 1, 2025), EU sustainability reporting (effective January 1, 2026), and the European Health Data Space (effective February 11, 2025), are introducing significant compliance requirements. Additionally, the US "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) and OECD Pillar Two rules are expected to impact tax rates and Medicaid enrollment, increasing operational and financial complexity.
The company highlights ongoing geopolitical risks, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel-Gaza, and broader macroeconomic conditions such as inflation and potential recession, as factors that could materially affect its operations. These external factors introduce uncertainty and potential for increased costs or reduced demand.
Henry Schein identifies its dependence on third parties for manufacturing and supply, as well as potential supply chain disruptions, as significant risk factors. Increases in shipping, fuel, and energy costs further exacerbate these risks, potentially impacting product availability and profitability.
Henry Schein asserts its position as the world's largest provider of healthcare products and services, leveraging its extensive distribution network and "One Schein" initiative to capitalize on the ongoing industry consolidation trend. The company's ability to support increased sales through existing infrastructure positions it favorably despite the shift towards larger purchasing entities.
While the company's product portfolio allows it to offer lower-cost alternatives to mitigate inflationary pressures, it experienced margin contraction due to factors like lower glove pricing. Gross margin declined by 110 basis points for the three months ended June 28, 2025, indicating that competitive pricing dynamics continue to exert pressure on profitability.
The aging US population (85+ projected to increase to 17 million by 2050) and growing healthcare awareness are expected to drive continued demand for Henry Schein's products and services. The proliferation of medical technology and expanded insurance coverage further supports a favorable market environment, despite competitive pressures.
Henry Schein's 2024 restructuring plan led to $23 million in charges for the three months and $48 million for the six months ended June 28, 2025. These costs, primarily for severance and accelerated depreciation, underscore management's active efforts to streamline operations and enhance overall efficiency, with expected benefits in future periods.
The company experienced a 110 basis point decline in gross margin for the three months ended June 28, 2025, to 31.4%, primarily driven by lower glove pricing and time-limited sales initiatives. This indicates pressure on the cost structure and product mix, challenging overall profitability despite revenue growth.
The October 2023 cyber incident significantly affected the company's North American and European dental and medical distribution businesses, leading to temporary operational disruptions. While the affected platform functionality was remediated, the incident highlights the vulnerability of operational systems to external threats.
The Global Technology segment demonstrated robust growth, with net sales increasing 7.4% for the three months and 5.1% for the six months ended June 28, 2025. This growth is primarily attributed to an increase in cloud-based users of practice management software and e-services, indicating successful digital transformation efforts and market acceptance of the company's technology solutions.
Henry Schein increased its capitalized software costs to $26 million for the six months ended June 28, 2025, up from $20 million in the prior-year period. This investment supports the development of new technological capabilities, including the upcoming Global E-Commerce Platform, which is expected to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
Management's discussion highlights investments in technology for the launch of its Global E-Commerce Platform and the "One Schein" initiative, which aims to provide streamlined access to products and services. These efforts signify a strategic focus on digital transformation to improve customer engagement and operational efficiency.
Henry Schein demonstrated strong confidence in its valuation by executing an Accelerated Share Repurchase (ASR) program on May 19, 2025, repurchasing $250 million of common stock. This action, coupled with a $500 million additional authorization by the Board in January 2025, reflects a commitment to returning capital to shareholders and a belief in the company's intrinsic value.
Total debt increased to $3,018 million as of June 28, 2025, from $2,536 million at December 28, 2024. This increase was primarily driven by net borrowings from bank credit lines ($248 million) and long-term debt issuance ($244 million), indicating the company is leveraging its capital structure to fund acquisitions and its accelerated share repurchase program.
The company's investing activities for the six months ended June 28, 2025, included $101 million for business acquisitions and $63 million for purchases of property and equipment, alongside $26 million for capitalized software costs. This allocation reflects a balanced approach to growth, investing in both external expansion and internal infrastructure and technology improvements.
The EU Directive No. 2025/794, effective January 1, 2026, will introduce uniform two-year sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements. This new regulation will necessitate enhanced disclosure and operational adjustments, presenting both compliance challenges and an opportunity to strengthen the company's sustainability framework.
The strategic investment by KKR, announced on January 29, 2025, included KKR-appointed directors joining Henry Schein's Board of Directors. This development suggests an enhancement in board oversight and governance, potentially bringing new perspectives and expertise to the company's strategic direction.
The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) was amended effective September 1, 2025, allowing participants flexible options for payment of their accrued balance, including lump sum or installment payments. This adjustment aims to enhance executive retention and align with best practices in compensation governance.
The aging US population, with significant projected increases in the 65+ and 85+ age groups by 2050, is expected to fuel continued demand for healthcare products and services. This demographic shift, coupled with increased healthcare awareness and the proliferation of medical technology, provides a strong tailwind for Henry Schein's business.
Recent legislative changes like the US "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) and new EU directives on medical devices, sustainability reporting, and health data are creating a more complex regulatory environment. These changes could impact Medicaid enrollment, corporate tax rates, and require significant compliance efforts, posing potential headwinds for operations.
The healthcare products distribution industry is experiencing ongoing consolidation, with practitioners forming larger entities. Henry Schein believes it is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend due to its robust infrastructure and ability to serve larger consolidated groups, reinforcing its competitive advantage in a changing market structure.