Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), are made throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: projections of revenues, expenses, earnings, margins, tax rates, tax provisions, cash flows, pension and benefit obligations and funding requirements, and our liquidity position; cost reductions, restructuring activities, new product and service developments, competitive strengths or market position, acquisitions or divestitures; growth, declines and other trends in markets we sell into; new or modified laws, regulations and accounting pronouncements; outstanding claims, legal proceedings, tax audits and assessments and other contingent liabilities; foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; general economic and capital markets conditions; the timing of any of the foregoing; assumptions underlying any of the foregoing; and any other statements that address events or developments that Thermo Fisher intends or believes will or may occur in the future. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements are accompanied by such words. While the company may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if the company’s estimates change, and readers should not rely on those forward-looking statements as representing the company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of the filing of this report.
A number of important factors could cause the results of the company to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including those detailed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (which is on file with the SEC). Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to: the COVID-19 pandemic; the need to develop new products and adapt to significant technological change; implementation of strategies for improving growth; general economic conditions and related uncertainties; dependence on customers’ capital spending policies and government funding policies; the effect of economic and political conditions and exchange rate fluctuations on international operations; use and protection of intellectual property; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; any natural disaster, public health crisis or other catastrophic event; and the effect of laws and regulations governing government contracts, as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected.
The company refers to various amounts or measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP measures). These non-GAAP measures are further described and reconciled to their most directly comparable amount or measure under the section “ Non-GAAP Measures ” later in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Certain amounts and percentages reported within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are presented and calculated based on underlying unrounded amounts. As a result, the sum of components may not equal corresponding totals due to rounding.
Overview
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. enables customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer by helping them accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, increase laboratory productivity, and improve patient health through diagnostics and the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies. Markets served include pharmaceutical and biotech, academic and government, industrial and applied, as well as healthcare and diagnostics. The company’s operations fall into four segments (Note 11): Life Sciences Solutions, Analytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics and Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services.
Consolidated Results
Three months ended
March 29, March 30,
(Dollars in millions except per share amounts) 2025 2024 Change
Revenues
$ 10,364 $ 10,345 0 %
GAAP operating income 1,716 1,663 3 %
GAAP operating income margin 16.6 % 16.1 % 0.5 pt
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP measure)
2,269 2,278 0 %
Adjusted operating income margin (non-GAAP measure)
21.9 % 22.0 % (0.1) pt
GAAP diluted earnings per share attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 3.98 3.46 15 %
Adjusted earnings per share (non-GAAP measure)
5.15 5.11 1 %
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Organic Revenue Growth
Three months ended
March 29, 2025
Revenue growth 0 %
Impact of acquisitions 0 %
Impact of currency translation (1) %
Organic revenue growth (non-GAAP measure)
1 %
During the first quarter of 2025, revenues grew slightly in the pharma and biotech market due to increased demand from customers, partially offset by reduced demand for COVID-19 vaccine and therapy related products and services. Revenues in the academic and government market declined driven by the macro conditions in the U.S. and China. Revenue to customers in the industrial and applied market and the diagnostics and healthcare market grew. During the first quarter of 2025, sales grew in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Sales were flat in North America. The first quarter of 2025 was also impacted by two fewer selling days than the first quarter of 2024. Contributions to organic revenue during the first quarter of 2025 from the Analytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics, and Life Sciences Solutions segments were partially offset by declines in the Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services segment.
The company continues to execute its proven growth strategy which consists of three pillars:
• High-impact innovation,
• Our trusted partner status with customers, and
• Our unparalleled commercial engine.
GAAP operating income margin and adjusted operating income margin decreased in the first quarter of 2025 due primarily to unfavorable business mix, strategic investments, and the impacts of foreign exchange, largely offset by very strong productivity improvements. The aforementioned decrease in GAAP operating margin in the first quarter of 2025 was more than offset by lower levels of amortization expense, partially offset by higher levels of restructuring and other charges incurred for headcount reductions and facility consolidations in an effort to streamline operations (Note 6).
The company’s references to strategic investments generally refer to targeted spending for enhancing commercial capabilities, including expansion of geographic sales reach and e-commerce platforms, marketing initiatives, expanded service and operational infrastructure, research and development projects and other expenditures to enhance the customer experience, as well as incentive compensation and recognition for employees. The company’s references throughout this discussion to productivity improvements generally refer to improved cost efficiencies from its Practical Process Improvement (PPI) business system to address inflation, including reduced costs resulting from implementing continuous improvement methodologies, global sourcing initiatives, a lower cost structure following restructuring actions including headcount reductions and consolidation of facilities, and low cost region manufacturing.
Notable Recent Acquisitions
On July 10, 2024, the company acquired, within the Life Sciences Solutions segment, Olink Holding AB (publ), a Swedish-based provider of next-generation proteomics solutions. The acquisition enhances the segment’s capabilities in the high-growth proteomics market with the addition of highly differentiated solutions. It also complements the existing life sciences and mass spectrometry offerings, accelerating protein biomarker discovery and providing strong synergy opportunities.
Segment Results
The company’s management evaluates segment operating performance using operating income before certain charges/credits as defined in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024. Accordingly, the following segment data are reported on this basis.
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Three months ended
March 29, March 30,
(Dollars in millions) 2025 2024
Revenues
Life Sciences Solutions
$ 2,341 $ 2,285
Analytical Instruments
1,718 1,687
Specialty Diagnostics
1,148 1,109
Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services
5,640 5,723
Eliminations
(482) (460)
Consolidated revenues
$ 10,364 $ 10,345
Life Sciences Solutions
Three months ended Organic (non-GAAP measure)
(Dollars in millions) March 29,
2025 March 30,
2024 Total
Change Acquisitions/ Divestitures Currency
Translation
Revenues $ 2,341 $ 2,285 2 % 2 % (1) % 2 %
Segment income 834 840 (1) %
Segment income margin 35.6 % 36.8 % (1.2) pt
The increase in organic revenues in the first quarter of 2025 was driven by the bioproduction business. On a reported basis, revenue grew by $56 million. Bioproduction grew $81 million, driven by higher demand from pharma and biotech customers, and genetic sciences grew $41 million, driven by the 2024 acquisition of Olink. Biosciences revenue was $66 million lower due to lower demand from academic and government customers. The decrease in segment income margin resulted primarily from unfavorable business mix and the impact of the Olink acquisition, partially offset by very strong productivity improvements.
Analytical Instruments
Three months ended Organic (non-GAAP measure)
(Dollars in millions) March 29,
2025 March 30,
2024 Total
Change Acquisitions/ Divestitures Currency
Translation
Revenues $ 1,718 $ 1,687 2 % 0 % (1) % 3 %
Segment income 399 400 0 %
Segment income margin 23.2 % 23.7 % (0.5) pt
The increase in organic revenues in the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to growth in the electron microscopy business. On a reported basis revenue grew $30 million, driven by strong demand for electron microscopy which grew $80 million, partially offset by lower demand, largely in China, for chemical analysis products, which had $34 million lower revenue. The decrease in segment income margin resulted primarily from strategic investments and the impact of foreign exchange, partially offset by strong productivity improvements.
Specialty Diagnostics
Three months ended Organic (non-GAAP measure)
(Dollars in millions) March 29,
2025 March 30,
2024 Total
Change Acquisitions/ Divestitures Currency
Translation
Revenues $ 1,148 $ 1,109 3 % 0 % (1) % 4 %
Segment income 304 294 3 %
Segment income margin 26.5 % 26.5 % 0.0 pt
The increase in organic revenues in the first quarter of 2025 was led by the healthcare market channel, as well as the immunodiagnostics and transplant diagnostics businesses. On a reported basis, the healthcare market channel grew $36 million, which contributed 3 percentage points of reported revenue growth in the segment. Segment income margin was flat in the first quarter of 2025.
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Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services
Three months ended Organic (non-GAAP measure)
(Dollars in millions) March 29,
2025 March 30,
2024 Total
Change Acquisitions/ Divestitures Currency
Translation
Revenues $ 5,640 $ 5,723 (1) % 0 % (1) % (1) %
Segment income 731 744 (2) %
Segment income margin 13.0 % 13.0 % 0.0 pt
The decrease in organic revenues in the first quarter of 2025 was primarily due to moderation in COVID-19 related revenue, which was largely offset by strong growth in the pharma services business and the research and safety market channel. On a reported basis, the clinical research business declined $95 million, or 2 percentage points of negative reported growth in the segment. Segment income margin was flat in the first quarter of 2025, with very strong productivity offset by unfavorable mix and strategic investments.
Non-operating Items
Three months ended
March 29, March 30,
(Dollars and shares in millions) 2025 2024
Net interest expense
$ 100 $ 84
GAAP other income/(expense) 3 10
Adjusted other income/(expense) (non-GAAP measure)
2 (1)
GAAP tax rate 5.8 % 17.7 %
Adjusted tax rate (non-GAAP measure)
10.0 % 10.5 %
Weighted average diluted shares 379 384
Net interest expense (interest expense less interest income) in the first quarter of 2025 increased due primarily to lower cash, and cash equivalents and short-term investments balances, as well as lower interest rates on these balances when compared to the first quarter of 2024. In the first quarter of 2025 and 2024, the company’s net interest expense was reduced by approximately $67 million and $65 million, respectively, as a result of its interest rate swap and cross-currency interest rate swap arrangements (Note 10).
GAAP other income/(expense) and adjusted other income/(expense) includes currency transaction gains/losses on non-operating monetary assets and liabilities, and net periodic pension benefit cost/income, excluding the service cost component. GAAP other income/(expense) in the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 also includes $1 million and $10 million, respectively, of net gains on investments.
The company’s GAAP and adjusted tax rates decreased in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024, due to a $125 million deferred tax benefit resulting from the recognition of a tax attribute related to a domestication transaction. The company’s GAAP and adjusted tax rates in the first quarter of 2024 were also impacted by $102 million of tax benefits resulting from capital losses generated as part of intra-entity transactions. The company’s GAAP tax rate in the first quarter of 2024 was also impacted by $176 million of expense, net, for a provision associated with a tax audit. (Note 7).
The effective tax rates in the first quarter of both 2025 and 2024 were also affected by relatively significant earnings in lower tax jurisdictions. Due primarily to the non-deductibility of intangible asset amortization for tax purposes, the company’s cash payments for income taxes are higher than its income tax expense for financial reporting purposes and are expected to total approximately $1.80 billion in 2025.
The company expects its GAAP effective tax rate in 2025 will be between 6% and 8% based on currently forecasted rates of profitability in the countries in which the company conducts business and expected generation of foreign tax credits. The effective tax rate can vary significantly from period to period as a result of discrete income tax factors and events. The company expects its adjusted tax rate will be approximately 10.5% in 2025.
The company has operations and a taxable presence in approximately 70 countries outside the U.S. Some of these countries have lower tax rates than the U.S. The company’s ability to obtain a benefit from lower tax rates outside the U.S. is dependent on its relative levels of income in countries outside the U.S. and on the statutory tax rates in those countries. Based on the dispersion of the company’s non-U.S. income tax provision among many countries, the company believes that a change in the statutory tax rate in any individual country is not likely to materially affect the company’s income tax provision or net income.
Weighted average diluted shares decreased in 2025 compared to 2024 due to share repurchases, net of option dilution.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The company’s proven growth strategy has enabled it to generate free cash flow as well as access the capital markets. The company deploys its capital primarily via mergers and acquisitions and secondarily via share buybacks and dividends.
(In millions) March 29, 2025 December 31, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,134 $ 4,009
Short-term investments 1,813 1,561
Total debt 34,189 31,275
Approximately half of the company’s cash balances and cash flows from operations are from outside the U.S. The company uses its non-U.S. cash for needs outside of the U.S. including acquisitions, capacity expansion, and repayment of third-party foreign debt by foreign subsidiaries. In addition, the company also transfers cash to the U.S. using non-taxable intercompany transactions, including loans and returns of capital, as well as dividends where the related U.S. dividend received deduction or foreign tax credit equals any tax cost arising from the dividends. As a result of using such means of transferring cash to the U.S., the company does not expect any material adverse liquidity effects from its significant non-U.S. cash balances for the foreseeable future.
The company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents and its future cash flow from operations together with available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit agreement will be sufficient to meet the cash requirements of its existing businesses for the foreseeable future, including at least the next 24 months.
As of March 29, 2025, the company’s short-term obligations and current maturities of long-term obligations totaled $2.82 billion. The company has a revolving credit facility with a bank group that provides up to $5.00 billion of unsecured multi-currency revolving credit (Note 3). If the company borrows under this facility, it intends to leave undrawn an amount equivalent to outstanding commercial paper to provide a source of funds in the event that commercial paper markets are not available. As of March 29, 2025, no borrowings were outstanding under the company’s revolving credit facility, although available capacity was reduced by immaterial outstanding letters of credit.
Three months ended
(In millions) March 29, 2025 March 30, 2024
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 723 $ 1,251
Net cash used in investing activities
(527) (2,030)
Net cash used in financing activities
(102) (1,821)
Free cash flow (non-GAAP measure)
373 908
Operating Activities
During the first three months of 2025, cash provided by income was offset in part by investments in working capital. Changes in other assets and liabilities used cash of $1.19 billion primarily due to the timing of payments for compensation and income taxes. Cash payments for income taxes were $0.65 billion during the first three months of 2025.
During the first three months of 2024, cash provided by income was offset in part by investments in working capital. Changes in other assets and other liabilities used cash of $0.57 billion primarily due to the timing of payments for compensation and income taxes. Cash payments for income taxes were $0.65 billion during the first three months of 2024.
Investing Activities
During the first three months of 2025 the company’s investing activities included purchases of $0.36 billion for the purchase of property, plant and equipment for capacity and capability investments.
During the first three months of 2024, purchases of short-term investments used cash of $1.76 billion. The company’s investing activities also included purchases of $0.35 billion of property, plant and equipment for capacity and capability investments.
The company expects that for all of 2025, expenditures for property, plant and equipment, net of disposals, will be between $1.4 billion and $1.7 billion.
Financing Activities
During the first three months of 2025, issuance of debt provided $2.84 billion of cash. Repayment of senior notes used cash of $0.84 billion. The company’s financing activities also included the repurchase of $2.00 billion of the company’s common stock (3.6 million shares) and the payment of $0.15 billion in cash dividends. On November 15, 2024, the Board of Directors announced that it replaced the existing authorization to repurchase the company’s common stock, of which $1.00 billion was remaining, with a new authorization to repurchase up to $4.00 billion of the company’s common stock. All of the shares of
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common stock repurchased by the company during the first quarter of 2025 were under this program. At May 2, 2025, authorization remained for $1.00 billion of future repurchases of the company’s common stock.
During the first three months of 2024, issuance of debt provided $1.20 billion of cash. The company’s financing activities also included the repurchase of $3.00 billion of the company’s common stock (5.5 million shares) and the payment of $0.14 billion in cash dividends.
The company’s commitments for purchases of property, plant and equipment, contractual obligations and other commercial commitments, did not change materially subsequent to December 31, 2024, except for the agreement to acquire Solventum Corporation’s Purification & Filtration business (Note 12).
Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures such as organic revenue growth, which is reported revenue growth, excluding the impacts of revenues from acquired/divested businesses and the effects of currency translation. We report organic revenue growth because Thermo Fisher management believes that in order to understand the company’s short-term and long-term financial trends, investors may wish to consider the impact of acquisitions/divestitures and foreign currency translation on revenues. Thermo Fisher management uses organic revenue growth to forecast and evaluate the operational performance of the company as well as to compare revenues of current periods to prior periods.
We report adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted other income/(expense), adjusted tax rate, and adjusted EPS. We believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, helps investors to gain a better understanding of our core operating results and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the company’s core operating performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods, forecasts, and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by management in their financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes. To calculate these measures we exclude, as applicable:
• Certain acquisition-related costs, including charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition, significant transaction/acquisition-related costs, including changes in estimates of contingent acquisition-related consideration, and other costs associated with obtaining short-term financing commitments for pending/recent acquisitions. We exclude these costs because we do not believe they are indicative of our normal operating costs.
• Costs/income associated with restructuring activities and large-scale abandonments of product lines, such as reducing overhead and consolidating facilities. We exclude these costs because we believe that the costs related to restructuring activities and large-scale abandonment of product lines are not indicative of our normal operating costs.
• Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities; impairments of long-lived assets; and certain other gains and losses that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability, including gains/losses on investments, the sale of businesses, product lines, and real estate, significant litigation-related matters, curtailments/settlements of pension plans, and the early retirement of debt. We exclude these items because they are outside of our normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods.
• The expense associated with the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets because a significant portion of the purchase price for acquisitions may be allocated to intangible assets that have lives of up to 20 years. Exclusion of the amortization expense allows comparisons of operating results that are consistent over time for both our newly acquired and long-held businesses and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer companies.
• The noncontrolling interest and tax impacts of the above items and the impact of significant tax audits or events (such as changes in deferred taxes from enacted tax rate/law changes), the latter of which we exclude because they are outside of our normal operations and difficult to forecast accurately for future periods.
We report free cash flow, which is operating cash flow excluding net capital expenditures, to provide a view of the continuing operations’ ability to generate cash for use in acquisitions and other investing and financing activities. The company also uses this measure as an indication of the strength of the company. Free cash flow is not a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures since we have certain non-discretionary obligations such as debt service that are not deducted from the measure.
The non-GAAP financial measures of the company’s results of operations and cash flows included in this Form 10-Q are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for the company’s results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth within the “Consolidated Results” and “Segment Results” sections and below.
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THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC.
Three months ended
March 29, March 30,
(Dollars in millions except per share amounts) 2025 2024
Reconciliation of adjusted operating income
GAAP operating income
$ 1,716 $ 1,663
Cost of revenues adjustments (a)
11 15
Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b)
14 19
Restructuring and other costs (c)
98 29
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 429 551
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP measure)
$ 2,269 $ 2,278
Reconciliation of adjusted operating income margin
GAAP operating income margin 16.6 % 16.1 %
Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 0.1 % 0.1 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) 0.1 % 0.2 %
Restructuring and other costs (c) 1.0 % 0.3 %
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 4.1 % 5.3 %
Adjusted operating income margin ( non-GAAP measure)
21.9 % 22.0 %
Reconciliation of adjusted other income/(expense)
GAAP other income/(expense) $ 3 $ 10
Adjustments (d) (1) (11)
Adjusted other income/(expense) (non-GAAP measure)
$ 2 $ (1)
Reconciliation of adjusted tax rate
GAAP tax rate 5.8 % 17.7 %
Adjustments (e) 4.2 % (7.2) %
Adjusted tax rate (non-GAAP measure)
10.0 % 10.5 %
Reconciliation of adjusted earnings per share
GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 3.98 $ 3.46
Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 0.03 0.04
Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) 0.04 0.05
Restructuring and other costs (c) 0.26 0.08
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 1.13 1.44
Other income/expense adjustments (d) 0.00 (0.03)
Income taxes adjustments (e) (0.32) 0.13
Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities 0.04 (0.06)
Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP measure)
$ 5.15 $ 5.11
Reconciliation of free cash flow
GAAP net cash provided by operating activities $ 723 $ 1,251
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (362) (347)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 12 4
Free cash flow (non-GAAP measure)
$ 373 $ 908
(a) Adjusted results exclude accelerated depreciation on manufacturing assets to be abandoned due to facility consolidations. Adjusted results in 2025 exclude $5 million of charges for the sale of inventory revalued at the date of acquisition. Adjusted results in 2024 also exclude $12 million of charges for inventory write-downs associated with large-scale abandonment of product lines.
(b) Adjusted results exclude certain third-party expenses, principally transaction/integration costs related to recent acquisitions and charges/credits for changes in estimates of contingent acquisition consideration.
(c) Adjusted results exclude restructuring and other costs consisting principally of severance, impairments of long-lived assets, net charges/credits for pre-acquisition litigation and other matters, and abandoned facility and other expenses of headcount reductions and real estate consolidations.
(d) Adjusted results exclude net gains/losses on investments.
(e) Adjusted results exclude incremental tax impacts for the reconciling items between GAAP and adjusted net income, incremental tax impacts as a result of tax rate/law changes, and the tax impacts from audit settlements.
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THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024 describe the significant accounting estimates and policies used in preparation of the consolidated financial statements. There have been no significant changes in the company’s critical accounting policies during the first three months of 2025.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting standards is included under the heading “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” in Note 1.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The company’s exposure to market risk from changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates has not changed materially from its exposure discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
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