Zacks_Analysts' Blog : Nanosphere Sales Growth In 2H 2009 - Analyst Blog

Manufacturing efficiency programs and economies of scale through higher production volumes should benefit gross margins and help offset increased operating expenses. Grants and government contracts, which had provided 25% of revenue in 2008, will likely be immaterial in 2009 and beyond.

We expect the cystic fibrosis, HFE, Cardiac Troponin and next-generation RVP assays along with the Verigene SP system to receive FDA approval and launch in the second half of 2009. This should help drive significant revenue growth in 2009.

Longer-term growth expectations could significantly increase depending on the success of the Cardiac Troponin assay. We note that Nanosphere should be very diligent in getting its SP system to market as soon as possible in order to continue to grow its customer base, ramp sales of its assays and avoid customer attrition. We believe growing the customer base will be slow-going until the SP system is launched as customers will be hesitant to start with the legacy system, only to switch to the next-generation system shortly afterwards.

Cash position is healthy. At the current annualized cash-burn run-rate the company has enough cash reserves to operate for about 24 months, which could lengthen as additional product approvals come to market and sales growth outpaces that of operating expenses. The company is relatively conservatively capitalized. Amortization of the credit facility and capex requirements should be easily manageable for at least the next 2 years.

For 2009 we model sales of $4.25 million, up significantly from the $1.37 million posted in 2008. Revenue growth will be supported by increased utilization rates and the launch of several new assays and the next-generation Verigene system. A favorable decision by CMS relative to reimbursement of the warfarin test would provide some upside to our current financial forecast.

Risks to our forecast are delays in getting the new assays to market or a delay in commercializing the SP system, which could result in customer attrition and overall difficulty in growing the customer base.

We currently forecast revenue to grow at a CAGR of 71% from 2008 through 2012 but for net income to remain negative through that period. Positive net income should materialize in the next decade as the company is able to ramp sales and leverage its marketing/administrative and manufacturing bases. Research and development spending should moderate relative to sales and further improve operating margins.

Nanosphere shares currently trade at $5.32. We recommend that investors hold at the current price and forecast EPS loss of $1.64 in 2009. Our price target is $6.00.