Patterson has reported consolidated sales of $915.9 million for its 2013 fiscal third quarter (end-January 26), an increase of 2.3% compared with $895 million in the same period a year ago.
The company noted that its third quarter was affected by two fewer days in the selling period, due to the company's fiscal calendar and the timing of holidays. Nevertheless, third-quarter sales for Patterson Dental, Patterson's largest business, was $626.5 million, an increase of 3.5% compared with the same quarter last year.
Sales of consumable dental supplies, adjusted to exclude the impact of the fewer selling days in the period, were up 1.2% (down 0.9%, as reported). Sales of dental equipment and software rose nearly 10% from the same period a year ago, driven by strong performances in technology categories, particularly digital imaging, the company noted.
Strong sales in the company's dental business were led by sales of Cerec systems and digital radiography products, according to President and CEO Scott P. Anderson. Sales of the Cerec Omnicam system had been constrained last quarter due to product availability issues. Sales for the third quarter improved, as the manufacturer, Sirona Dental Systems, fulfilled its delivery commitments, the company noted.
Sales of other services and products, consisting primarily of technical service, parts and labor, software support services, and artificial teeth, were up 2.3% from last year's third quarter.
