Sectra reports a profit after financial items of SEK 12.2 million (19.8) for the first quarter, corresponding to a profit margin of 12.7% (13.9). Earnings per share amounted to SEK 0.25 (0.43) and sales to SEK 96.0 million (143.9).
"We're reporting strong first quarter earnings and our sales to markets outside of Sweden continue to increase," says Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO of Sectra AB. "This is a result of our long-term focus on international expansion."
Sectra has traditionally experienced seasonal variations that have resulted in the fiscal year starting with slow sales and low earnings.
"Sales during the first quarter were lower than in the year-earlier period, primarily due to the fact that we completed more installations of digital radiology systems in Scandinavia last year than we normally do during the summer months. Among other projects during the first quarter of last year, we completed the digitizing of the radiology department at Södersjukhuset hospital in Stockholm, which is the single largest project in company history," says Jan-Olof Brüer.
Since the end of the quarter, installation of Sectra's new digital mammography system has commenced at Helsingborg Hospital in Sweden.
"Sectra MicroDose Mammography is being installed at Helsingborg Hospital. With our new system, women who undergo mammography exams at Helsingborg Hospital will benefit from the lowest radiation levels in the world," Jan-Olof Brüer concludes.
Sectra AB, Dr. Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO,
+46 13 23 52 09, job/a/sectra/d/se
Sectra has its roots in Linköping Technical University and is one of Sweden's fastest growing high-tech companies in the IT area. Since the mid-1980s, Sectra has successfully conducted development and sales of high-technology medical IT and telecommunications products. Today, the business includes products in medical systems, secure communication systems and wireless information systems.
Business is conducted in eight countries with a total of 280 employees. Sales for the fiscal year May 2002–April 2003 reached SEK 503 million. Since March 1999, Sectra’s shares have been quoted on the O list of the Stockholm Exchange.
E-mail: info/d/press/a/sectra/d/se