Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC), based in Melville, New York, is a global leader in healthcare product distribution, serving the dental, medical, and veterinary industries. With a market cap of $9.1 billion, it operates in over 120 countries, providing integrated solutions to optimize healthcare practices and improve patient care. The healthcare solutions giant is expected to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings for 2024 before the market opens on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Ahead of the event, analysts expect HSIC to report a profit of $1.22 per share on a diluted basis, up 84.9% from $0.66 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company beat the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on another occasion. 

For the full year, analysts expect HSIC to report EPS of $4.78, up 6.2% from $4.50 in fiscal 2023. Its EPS is expected to rise 8.8% year over year to $5.20 in fiscal 2025. 

Shares of HSIC have soared marginally over the past year, lagging the S&P 500’s ($SPX) 38.5% gains, but have matched the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLV) marginal gains over the same time frame.

On Nov. 5, shares of HSIC dropped 4.6% after its Q3 earnings release, impacted by a decline in its distribution business and lower sales of personal protective equipment, including reduced glove pricing and a slower-than-expected recovery from last year’s cyber incident. While the company’s adjusted EPS of $1.22 beat consensus estimates by 5.2%, revenue of $3.17 billion fell short of consensus expectations by 2.2%.

Analysts’ consensus opinion on HSIC stock is reasonably bullish, with a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Out of 13 analysts covering the stock, six advise a “Strong Buy” rating, six give a “Hold” rating, and one suggests a “Strong Sell” rating. 

HSIC’s average analyst price target is $76, indicating a potential upside of 3.8% from the current levels.