Sales gains in its home healthcare solutions, patient care and clinical informatics, and customer services groups contributed to a 2% increase in currency-adjusted sales for Philips Healthcare in its fourth quarter.
For the period (end-December 31), the Andover, MA-based vendor had sales of 2.6 billion euros ($3.5 billion U.S.), up 2% on a comparable, currency-adjusted basis from the 2.4 billion euros ($3.2 billion U.S.) reported in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Philips had earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITA) of 522 million euros ($699 million U.S.), up from 452 million euros ($605 million U.S.) a year ago.
Imaging system sales for the most recent period were slightly lower than in the fourth quarter of 2009, due to lower sales in the Latin America region.
On a regional basis, comparable sales in North America were in line with the fourth quarter of 2009; elsewhere, sales grew by 2%, according to Philips. Emerging market sales climbed 8%, thanks to notably better sales in China and in the firm's customer services unit.
Fourth-quarter equipment orders increased 3% on a comparable basis, driven by improvements in patient care and clinical informatics. The vendor reported an 8% growth rate in North America, with flat order intake outside the region. Emerging market equipment orders did grow by 9%, however.
For the full year, Philips posted sales in the healthcare division of 8.6 billion euros ($11.7 billion U.S.), compared with sales of 7.8 billion euros ($10.7 billion U.S.) for 2009. The group's full-year income from operations in 2010 stood at 922 million euros ($1.3 billion U.S.), compared with 591 million euros ($806 million U.S.) the year before.
For the year, currency-comparable equipment orders increased by 9%, with 16% growth recorded in emerging markets.
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