PALO ALTO, Calif., July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today is reporting net earnings of $1.13 per diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015. Third quarter net earnings per diluted share rose 11 percent versus the year-ago period when the company recorded a $0.06 per diluted share charge related to the impairment of a portion of the company's investment in Augmenix. Varian's company-wide revenues totaled $784 million for the third quarter, up 5 percent from the year-ago quarter and up 11 percent in constant currency. The company ended the third quarter with a $3.1 billion backlog, up 9 percent from the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.
"The third quarter was mixed for Varian with double-digit constant currency gross orders growth in Oncology Systems, significant challenges in Imaging Components, and strong performance in Particle Therapy," said Dow R. Wilson, CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "The stronger U.S. dollar continued to have a big impact on our performance, contributing to lower margins. Excellent cost controls enabled us to deliver solid earnings for the period."
The company finished the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 with $951 million in cash and cash equivalents and $494 million of debt. Cash flow from operations for the third quarter was $184 million. During the quarter, the company spent $92 million to repurchase about 1 million shares of common stock.
Oncology Systems
Oncology Systems' third quarter revenues totaled $559 million, down 3 percent from the same quarter of fiscal year 2014, but up mid-single digits on a constant currency basis. Third-quarter Oncology gross orders were $635 million, up 2 percent versus the year-ago quarter and up 10 percent in constant currency. Oncology gross orders rose 4 percent in the Americas in both U.S. dollars and constant currency. EMEA gross orders were down 2 percent, but up 13 percent in constant currency. APAC gross orders rose 8 percent and were up 21 percent in constant currency.
"Continued global demand for versatile, reliable, efficient accelerators and integrated software systems gave Varian a competitive advantage and drove solid growth in the quarter," said Wilson. "We were selected to replace several older machines and software systems from competitors as customers moved to modernize their treatment capabilities."
Imaging Components
Third quarter revenues for Imaging Components were $135 million, down 17 percent from the year-ago quarter while third quarter gross orders decreased by 25 percent to $122 million.