Stryker shrugs off recall charges in Q4 to end 2012 on target

Medical device company Stryker Corp. gives back ⅓ of its profits on charges related to the 4th-quarter recall of its Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck hip stems, but manages to top analyst estimates nonetheless.

Orthopedic giant Stryker [1] (NYSE:SYK [2]) reported a nearly 33% drop in net income for the 4th quarter on expected charges related to the Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck hip stems recall but the company managed to end 2012 strong.

The Kalamazoo, Mich.-based medical device company reported net income of $270 million, or 71¢ per share, on $2.34 billion in sales during the last 3 months of the year, a dramatic drop from the $401 million profit on $2.21 billion in sales the company reported during the same period in 2011.

Excluding the $133 million recall charge, Stryker's Q4 profits jumped 12% to about $1.14 in adjusted earnings per share, beating analysts' expectations, which were in the $1.11-$1.13 range.