Research archive for ILMN

Last week, the maker of DNA sequencing machines Illumina reported underwhelming numbers. Revenue was slightly better than expectations, but profits were a miss. The bigger issue is the forecast growth of only 7 to 10% for the year ahead. For the leader in an emerging industry, we'd expect to see significantly faster top line growth.

Illumina reported its third-quarter numbers last week, showing anaemic sales growth. The gene-sequencing operator made things worse by lowering its guidance for the 2022 fiscal year, estimating sales to be flat or rise by a rather pedestrian 1% as compared to 2021. The stock price sank on the news.

Illumina is one of our 'future hero' investments. The company accounts for about 80% of the emerging DNA sequencing market. The Human Genome Project was responsible for the first sequencing of human DNA - it took 13 years, 1990 to 2003, and cost $2.7 billion. Since then technology has improved so much that it now takes less than a day and only costs $600.

Last year Illumina bought the cancer-screening company Grail for $6 billion. The deal was heavily criticised because that's a lot of money to spend for a company that does not make a profit yet.

Illumina is a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies. They make the machines and consumables that are used to investigate genetic material to fight disease, especially cancer. It's headquartered in San Diego.

Last week genetic testing company Illumina released results that narrowly beat market expectations. Compared to the same quarter last year though, their profits have halved. Their numbers this year include a contribution from newly-acquired Grail - a company working on tests for early detection of cancer. Grail had revenues of $10 million for the quarter but spent $85 million on research and development. Clearly, making medical breakthroughs is expensive.

Last week Illumina released fourth-quarter results which fell under the radar. The company had a really good quarter but it is a slightly complicated read because it includes the Grail acquisition. Revenues grew by 26% for the quarter. For the full year, revenues increased by 40%. Gross margins in the quarter had increased from 66.1% to 68.12%. Good companies can push price increases onto their clients in an inflationary environment.

Yesterday Business Insider released a piece titled The 6 most mind-blowing human health discoveries of 2021. One of those is a blood test that spots 50 types of cancer. This incredible product is developed by our very own Illumina.

The first genome sequence cost $1 billion. The project to map the entire three-billion letter human genome was launched in 1990 and cost the US government more than $3.8 billion.

Illumina reported its third-quarter numbers last week, showing that sales exceeded expectations. The gene-sequencing company has now raised its growth guidance three times this year, with the latest one estimating sales to rise by 36% for the whole of 2021.

Which companies will be the world's biggest in 2030? That's an important question for the team here at Vestact, because we need to make sure that our clients own those shares.

As you know, we are very excited about genetic sequencing here at Vestact. That is why we recommend owning shares in Illumina, the leader in sequencing devices. As it turns out, it's not just healthcare where this technology is useful.

Last week Illumina was caught up in the flurry of companies releasing numbers. If you haven't heard of them before, that's okay, most people haven't. Illumina is one of the companies leading the development and sale of DNA sequencing machines.

I mentioned last week that the Illumina share price had shown some life after a few Covid research tailwinds. The company came out with fourth quarter results on Friday which really pleased the market. The share price popped 12% on the day to close at a record high of $504 a share.

I was supposed to write about Illumina's third quarter results a few weeks ago, and I am only getting around to it now. This company makes machines and consumables to analyse genetic material. Their clients are mostly research facilities, pathologists and hospitals, and services that offer DNA analysis to retail customers who want to know their heritage and propensity to contract certain illnesses.