Dentsply voices satisfaction with Q1 2015 results despite challenges

Dentsply has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2015, during which it delivered a net sales total of $656.3 million (431.02 million pounds).

In constant currency terms, the firm achieved a 1.3 percent year-on-year improvement, when excluding precious metals. However, negative currency trends created a headwind effect, resulting in a 10.1 percent decline in reported terms.

Net earnings per diluted share were flat at $0.59, the same as in the first quarter of 2014, with the organisation noting that it has been able to overcome weaknesses in the EU market and remains on track to meet its internal goals.

Given these results, as well as the recent strength in the US market and a slight recovery of the euro, Dentsply expects full-year adjusted earnings in the range of $2.50 to $2.60 per diluted share for 2015.

Bret Wise, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, said: "We continue to execute against our strategic objectives focused on growing our operating margin and cash flow, while reinvesting in underlying growth opportunities."

These results are in line with those previously forecast by Dentsply, which predicted that global dental markets are likely to remain slow in 2015, with economic conditions still volatile.