Dentsply highlights positive underlying business trends in 2014

Dentsply has announced its financial results for 2014, during which it recorded a net sales total of $2.92 billion (1.89 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year decrease of one percent, with constant currency growth of two percent partially offset by negative currency headwinds. Despite this, the firm set new records for adjusted earnings and operating cash flow, which grew six percent and 34 percent respectively.

In spite of continued slow market conditions in Europe, the company grew revenues organically in all three of its main geographic regions, with an 80 basis point improvement in adjusted operating margins seen during the year.

Although global dental markets are likely to remain slow in 2015 and economic conditions are still volatile, the firm expects to continue to create value, with a new efficiency programme set to play a key part in this.

Bret Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Dentsply, said: "Applying our 2015 performance assumptions and current exchange rates leads us to expect adjusted earnings for 2015 in the range of $2.50 to $2.60 per diluted share."

The company employs in excess of 2,800 members of staff worldwide and operates in more than 120 countries.