Align Technology Boosted By Improving Sentiment, Easing Comps, Margins, Earns Analyst Upgrade

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Leerink Partners upgraded Align Technology Inc ALGN, citing upside opportunities throughout 2025 given gross margin expansion opportunities.

Align Technology — a medical device company that manufactures and sells dental aligners, scanners, and software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry — will benefit from improving consumer sentiment, easing comps and continued equipment traction with Lumina.

In October, Align Technology announced that it is planning to repurchase $275 million of its common stock through open market repurchases under its $1 billion stock repurchase program, which was approved by Align’s Board of Directors in January 2023.

Also Read: What Does Dental Player Patterson’s $4.1 Billion Deal Mean For Other Players?

Analyst Michael Cherny still does not anticipate an entirely risk-free situation. Average selling price (ASP) pressures could lead to short-term fluctuations, and unpredictable consumer data may cause stock volatility.

However, the analyst writes the positives outweigh the negatives.

Align has consistently outperformed competitors through innovation, competitive advantages, and relationships with dentists.

Cherny adds that the previous market perform rating reflected expectations of a weaker fiscal year in 2024 due to challenging economic conditions and uncertainty about the earnings impact of new product launches.

Leerink sees a clearer path for growth in fiscal 2025. Operational efficiencies will likely drive additional profit gains beyond that year.

Leerink has upgraded Align Technology from Market Perform to Outperform, with a price target of $280 from $235.

In the third quarter, Align Tech reported adjusted EPS of $2.35, better than the consensus of $2.31, while sales increased 1.8% to $977.9 million, below the consensus of $987.34 million.

Most recently, Align Technology received a CE Mark in Europe for Align’s Invisalign Palatal Expander System.

The Invisalign Palatal Expander System has also completed registration with MHRA for the United Kingdom and overseas territories.

Price Action: Align stock is up 6.45% at $221.68 at last check Monday.

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Got Questions? Ask
Which dental technology companies may follow Align's lead?
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