Prepared remarks
Thank you for standing by. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Orthofix Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call. I would now like to turn the call over to Julie Dewey.
Thank you, and good morning, everyone. Welcome to Orthofix's Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call. I'm Julie Dewey, Orthofix's Chief IR and Communications Officer. Joining me today are President and Chief Executive Officer, Massimo Calafiore; and Chief Financial Officer, Julie Andrews. Earlier today, Orthofix released its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. A copy of the press release and supplemental presentation are available on our Investor Relations website, and a replay of this call will be posted shortly after we conclude. Before we begin, please note that our remarks include forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. All statements other than those of historical facts are forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in our most recent filings with the SEC and may be included in our future filings with the SEC. We will also reference certain non-GAAP financial measures during today's call, including certain growth rates presented on a pro forma constant currency basis and excluding discontinued M6 artificial disc product lines. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures and additional information are included in our press release and supplemental materials. Here's today's agenda. Massimo will start with business performance and operational highlights. Julie Andrews will follow with our financial results and guidance, then we'll open the call for Q&A. With that, I'll turn the call over to Massimo to discuss our second quarter performance and the progress we're making across our strategic priorities. Massimo?
Thank you, Julie, and good morning, everyone. I appreciate you joining us today. Our second quarter results provide further evidence that the operational actions we have taken over the past year are showing up more clearly in the business. While that progress is encouraging, our transformation remains a work in progress, and we are staying disciplined in how we evaluate growth quality, commercial productivity, and returns. We delivered 5% pro forma constant currency net sales growth over prior year and saw encouraging trends across several areas of the portfolio, including double-digit growth in Global Limb Reconstruction and Spine Fixation, sequential momentum in Biologics, and the restoration of Medicare reimbursement for bone growth stimulators, which removes a meaningful headwind for our Therapeutic Solutions business as we enter the second half of the year. While we recognize that transformations are rarely linear and not every part of the portfolio will improve at the same pace, we believe Orthofix today is operating from a stronger position than it was a year ago. Our approach remains disciplined and focused. We believe the underlying drivers of our performance are becoming more constructive, supported by clearer execution priorities and better visibility in key parts of the business. With that context, let me walk through our business performance in Q2, starting with Spine. In Spine, Global Spine Fixation net sales grew 10% on a constant currency basis, with U.S. Spine Fixation net sales up 3% in the quarter. Our top 30 distributors, who represent approximately 80% of our Spine Fixation sales, continued to perform well. At the same time, we saw a steeper decline across the remaining smaller distributors, where productivity has been below our expectation for several quarters. We are actively evaluating where we can generate the best long-term returns among this group. As part of the process, we are being disciplined about where we invest resources and where we make choices to consolidate or exit relationships that are not delivering sustainable growth. This approach reflects our focus on profitable growth and strong returns. We expect these challenges with our smaller distributors to continue through the balance of the year. Longer term, our objective is to build a higher quality, more productive distributor network that can support sustainable growth, stronger adoption of new products, and better returns on future commercial investment. We are also preparing to bring new innovation into the channel. We completed our first clinical cases with our VIRATA minimally invasive system in Q2 and are continuing to prepare for the full market launch of our VIRATA Spinal Implant System later in the fourth quarter. Importantly, the initial surgeon feedback has been encouraging and supports our continued focus on building an integrated procedural platform that combines VIRATA with our interbody solution, surgical access technology, and 7D Enabling Technologies portfolio. Beyond spine, we believe early signs indicate that our focused execution is contributing to better performance in areas that have been under pressure. In Biologics, we saw encouraging signs that the business is moving in the right direction. Net sales were approximately flat year-over-year, representing a marked improvement from the contraction we experienced through 2025. This was the second consecutive quarter of improved year-over-year performance, moving from double-digit declines last year to approximately flat performance in Q2. While we are encouraged by this progress, we believe more consistency is needed before declaring a sustained return to growth. Our priority now is converting this more constructive trajectory into durable growth, supported by stronger account engagement, higher utilization, and targeted commercial focus around key products such as OsteoCove bioactive synthetic bone graft. To further support the long-term growth potential of the business, we are pairing improved commercial execution with targeted investment in clinical evidence generation for OsteoCove and Virtuos and product registry for Strand Plus. This investment is intended to support a more durable recovery. We saw a different but equally important dynamic in Therapeutic Solutions, where underlying demand remained resilient despite the reimbursement pressure that affected part of the quarter. Therapeutic Solutions, formerly Bone Growth Therapies, delivered 3% year-over-year net sales growth despite the impact from the Medicare reimbursement decrease that was in effect for a portion of the second quarter. That performance reinforces the durability of the franchise, which continued to benefit from steady demand, a strong margin profile, and favorable cash generation characteristics. We were also pleased that CMS restored Medicare reimbursement for bone growth stimulators to its prior level following stakeholder feedback, including concerns we raised. This decision removes a meaningful headwind and supports improved second half visibility, with utilization and prescribing trends during the quarter remaining constructive. As we return to a more supportive reimbursement environment, we plan to continue investing in elevating the patient and physician experience within the Therapeutic Solutions franchise. During the quarter, we launched AccelStim 2.0. This award-winning bone growth therapy device was redesigned with a streamlined form factor to provide enhanced ease of use. It is now compatible with our STIM onTrack mobile app and STIM MD physician platform, giving patients and physicians greater visibility into device utilization and therapy progression, further strengthening the value proposition of the franchise. We view Therapeutic Solutions as more than a highly profitable franchise. Its established physician and patient reach provides a valuable channel for evaluating adjacent growth opportunities where we see clear clinical relevance and attractive returns. Global Limb Reconstruction demonstrated solid performance during the quarter, supported by strong international momentum and sustained demand across key product families. Net sales grew 11% on a constant currency basis, led by the TrueLok Elevate, and FITBONE. In the U.S., growth was below our expectation, but the primary dynamic was not a lack of clinical interest. Rather, we are still building the commercial infrastructure required to more consistently convert this interest into revenue in what remains an emerging limb reconstruction market. Our focus is on improving distributor productivity, expanding market development activities, and increasing commercial consistency. As those capabilities mature, we expect U.S. performance to become more consistent over time. We also see opportunities to extend our limb reconstruction expertise into adjacent areas of unmet clinical need. One example is diabetic foot ulcers, a large and underserved market where we believe our core technologies may have broader clinical applications. Our near-term focus is on generating the clinical evidence needed to support a potential expanded indication while maintaining a disciplined approach to investment and development. We view this as an important pipeline opportunity that could expand the reach of our Limb Reconstruction portfolio and support durable long-term growth. To recap, Q2 showed tangible progress in several areas of the business, while also reinforcing where continued execution is required. Our focus remains on improving quality of revenue, strengthening commercial productivity, and building a more consistent path to profitability and cash generation. Just as importantly, we believe the combination of focused innovation, a more productive commercial organization, and disciplined capital allocation positions us to create sustainable long-term value for shareholders. With that, I'll turn the call over to Julie Andrews to review our financial results and guidance.
Thank you, Massimo, and good morning. For purposes of consistency, the growth rates I'll reference today are on a pro forma constant currency basis and exclude the impact from discontinued M6 product lines. From a financial perspective, Q2 results reflected improving revenue trends across several areas of the portfolio, while profitability was impacted by geographic mix and continued investment in priority growth initiatives. Let me briefly review performance by business segment. Global Spinal Implants, Biologics and Enabling Technologies generated $109 million in net sales, an increase of 4% versus the prior year period. Growth was led by Spine Fixation, which benefited from continued international momentum and timing of international distributor orders. Therapeutic Solutions generated $64.2 million in net sales, up 3% year-over-year. The business grew despite temporary reimbursement pressure, reinforcing our view that underlying demand remains resilient. With Medicare reimbursement restored, we expect Therapeutic Solutions to contribute more favorably in the second half. Global Limb Reconstruction delivered net sales of $37.7 million in the second quarter, an increase of 11%. Growth was driven by strong international demand and continued adoption of key product families, including TrueLok Elevate and FITBONE. While growth in the U.S. was more modest during the quarter, our second half assumptions reflect greater commercial productivity, the lapping of sunsetting product lines, and continued prioritization of our highest return growth opportunities. Moving down the P&L. Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin was 71.7%, reflecting an unfavorable geography mix during the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $20.1 million. While net sales trends improved during the quarter, profitability was impacted by geographic mix, credit losses in certain international markets, and continued investment in key launches, partially offset by ongoing cost optimization initiatives. We remain confident that the resource alignment and cost actions underway will support our full year profitability outlook. We ended the quarter with $104.4 million in total cash, including restricted cash, providing us with flexibility to support both our operating priorities and strategic investments. Before turning to guidance, I want to provide context around our European MDR strategy for spine that is reflected in our updated net sales outlook and is important to understand and model appropriately. As background, SeaSpine made the decision in 2022 to exit the European spine market and focus resources on the U.S., and that strategy remains in place following the merger. Accordingly, we had not been pursuing MDR compliance for the Spine portfolio. More recently, one of our largest European distributors expressed strong interest in continuing to sell some of our spine products in its territory. We entered into a strategic contractual arrangement under which the distributor is funding our MDR certification-related work required to support continued market access for these spine products. This allows us to preserve a targeted opportunity in Europe, while maintaining our disciplined investment priorities. To support this arrangement, the distributor intends to purchase sufficient inventory in 2026 to maintain continuity of supply and ensure continued market access while MDR certification and related country-specific market access requirements are completed. These purchases are included in our updated 2026 net sales outlook. The key takeaway is that we expect this arrangement to contribute approximately $15 million of incremental net sales in 2026, with the majority expected to be recognized in Q4. We are calling this out explicitly because it would be a discrete timing benefit and to be distinguished from the underlying run rate performance of the business. As a result, the arrangement is also expected to create an approximately $22 million net sales headwind in 2027, while MDR requirements are completed. Let me now turn to our updated full year outlook. Again, all measures are provided on a non-GAAP pro forma basis, are based on current foreign currency exchange rates, and do not contemplate any additional exchange rate changes during the remainder of the year. We now expect full year 2026 net sales in the range of $845 million to $855 million, representing approximately 5% pro forma constant currency growth at the midpoint and an increase of approximately $7 million from the outlook we provided in May. The updated outlook reflects underlying business trends plus several discrete factors that are shaping our expectations for the balance of the year. First, Medicare reimbursement for bone growth stimulators has been restored to its prior level retroactive to May 18, 2026. Second, our strategic arrangement with our European distributor contributes revenue associated with inventory purchases tied to the MDR transition. Third, we are seeing encouraging trends across several areas of the business, including stabilization in Biologics and continued strength in portions of Limb Reconstruction. And fourth, those positives are offset by ongoing softness among smaller U.S. spine distributors whose performance remains below our expectations and is reflected in our outlook for the balance of the year. We are increasing our adjusted EBITDA guidance range to $95 million to $98 million. While the MDR-related distributor revenue carries a different margin and timing profile than our core revenue, the restoration of Medicare reimbursement, ongoing cost actions, and continued operational progress returns our profitability outlook to the level we expected before the Medicare reimbursement reduction was introduced in May. Our focus remains on balancing net sales growth, profitability, and cash generation as we execute against our long-term value creation priorities. As you think about the second half, we expect third quarter net sales to generally be consistent with Q2 as reimbursement restoration and improving trends in several businesses are expected to be largely offset by ongoing softness among smaller U.S. spine distributors. Looking to the fourth quarter, sequential growth is expected to be driven by the timing of inventory purchases associated with the European distributor arrangement and normal seasonality. We currently expect the majority of the approximately $15 million 2026 net sales benefit to be recognized in Q4. I also want to note that the European distributor arrangement creates a temporary free cash flow timing headwind in 2026, as some cash receipts are projected to occur in 2027, while inventory-related cash outflows occur this year. Importantly, this timing dynamic does not change our view of the underlying cash-generating potential of the business or the quality of earnings reflected in our outlook. Taken together, we believe our updated outlook reflects more favorable performance indicators in key areas of the business, balanced by the timing of the MDR-related net sales benefit and the continued softness among smaller U.S. spine distributors. We remain focused on improving growth quality, expanding profitability, and strengthening cash generation. Now let me turn it back to Massimo for closing remarks.
Thank you, Julie. Q2 was an important proof point in our transformation. We made progress in several parts of the business, but we remain focused on consistent execution, disciplined investment, and improving the quality of our growth. We believe Orthofix is entering the second half with greater clarity, more favorable trends across several businesses, and a focused approach to driving profitable growth and cash generation. Our priorities remain clear: improving commercial productivity, advancing differentiated innovation, and generating the clinical evidence needed to support future growth opportunities. Our objective is not growth at any cost. It is durable, profitable growth, supported by better commercial productivity, disciplined investment, and stronger business fundamentals. Before we take your questions, I want to thank our team members and commercial partners around the world for their continued commitment and execution. With that, let's open the call for questions.
Questions and answers
And your first question comes from the line of Caitlin Roberts with Canaccord Genuity.
Just to start on guidance. You increased the guidance again, but not as much as prior to the CMS changes. Maybe some more color on what's changed since that time, whether that's the partial quarter impact of the pricing change or if there's more in there from possibly the small spine distributor challenges? Any color on that would be great.
Thanks, Caitlin. The updated outlook reflects a combination of underlying business trends and several discrete factors that are shaping our expectations for the balance of the year. On the positive side, we have the restoration of the Medicare reimbursement, which is approximately a $12 million benefit, as well as the European distributor arrangement, which is expected to contribute approximately $15 million of incremental net sales in 2026. We're also seeing stabilization and encouraging trends across several areas of the business, including Biologics and portions of our Limb Reconstruction business. At the same time, those factors are being offset by the ongoing softness among our smaller U.S. spine distributors where performance remains below our expectations, and that's reflected in our outlook for the balance of the year. We believe it was important to be transparent about both the progress we're seeing and the execution risk that remains. Those are the factors that are influencing our reset of our guidance.
As with any transformation, it is not always linear, and we did not change our main thesis to be very disciplined on prioritizing quality revenue. The softness among the roughly 20% of our smaller distributors is not related to demand; it's really related to the spine channel dynamics. We did not change how we operate in the business. At the same time, it is important to highlight that we are maintaining our EBITDA target while doubling down on innovation. You heard about our investment in Biologics. Biologics is recovering well. We strongly believe in our products and are investing in clinical evidence for OsteoCove and Virtuos, and starting a registry for Strand Plus. In orthopedics, we see a great opportunity with diabetic foot ulcers, and we just submitted our IDE to the FDA and are awaiting their feedback. All of this could open up a very promising and potentially very lucrative opportunity for the organization.
Understood. And then just any thoughts on reinstating an LRP now with the pricing decision reversed and the guidance for this year increased?
We're still assessing where we are and evaluating our actions, particularly related to the smaller spine distributors and how that may impact our long-range planning over the next year or so.
And your next question comes from the line of Tom Stephan with Stifel.
I want to start on the Europe MDR distributor order dynamic and core growth. As we think about apples-to-apples guidance on revenue compared to your previous outlook, should we treat the $15 million of sales as incremental? Is that correct?
Yes.
Got it. If we take out the $15 million tailwind in the back half, by my math that would imply core growth on revenue of 1% to 2% in the second half. Why would growth slow to those levels in the core business, given first half and Q2 were in that mid-single-digit range on a pro forma constant currency basis?
I think you're in the range of a 2% to 3% core growth rate. If you look at our smaller U.S. spine distributors, we're seeing a decrease or weakening beyond what was our expectation, and that's what's really driving it in the back half of the year. We are likely to be more discretionary about how we work with those distributors and may consolidate or exit weaker distributors that are not delivering sustainable growth.
As I said before, we are intentionally prioritizing commercial channel quality. We never changed our thesis. We want productivity and long-term value creation over growth at all costs. This is where we are today.
Can you elaborate on why the declines from the smaller distributors are tracking weaker than expected? And as we think beyond this year, why won't this be a continued headwind? What specifically resolves this issue?
Right now, approximately 80% of our total revenue is concentrated in the hands of our top 30 distributors. The exercise for us for the remainder of the year is, within the remaining 20%, to pick and choose the partners we want to invest in. Previously, we divided our overall commercial strategy into three parts: focusing on distributors that were already at scale; existing distributors that can create scale; and identifying smaller distributors in key areas of interest for us to invest in. That's the approach we will continue. The headwind we're seeing is mostly based on asset utilization. We are very disciplined about how we allocate assets to produce revenue. If assets are not turning, it's not a good investment to continue feeding a smaller distributor because that would require changing our investment thesis and increasing cash spending for low-return revenue. Therefore, you'll see our work restore growth over time concentrated with our top partners, similar to what we did in Biologics. We were disciplined despite headwinds last year and are now starting to see the results of that strategy. I'm not expecting this to change in spine.
One more quick one: any way you can help quantify where 2026 free cash flow may land? Any sort of range would be helpful.
We're not providing an updated outlook on free cash flow for the year and have not reinstated our guidance there. The value of the European distributor order is $15 million. You can estimate and look at our previous free cash flow guidance and take those factors into consideration.
There are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call back over to Julie Dewey for closing remarks.
Thank you, everyone, for your questions and for joining us today. We appreciate your time and interest. If you need any additional information, please reach out. We look forward to updating you next quarter. This concludes our call today.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect.