Sales of Patterson Dental Supply, Patterson's largest business, were $542.7 million in the first quarter of 2011 (end-July 31), up 6% from $511 million in the same quarter a year ago.
Sales of dental equipment and software increased 5% from the year-earlier level, while equipment sales, net of Cerec systems, were up 13%, according to the company. Sales of consumable dental supplies and printed office products rose 7% from last year's first quarter.
Overall sales for Patterson were $850 million, an increase of 8% from $789.6 million in the first quarter of 2010. Net income was $53.9 million, compared with $45.1 million for the same quarter last year.
"We are generally pleased with Patterson's first-quarter results, considering the ongoing effect of sluggish economic conditions within our served markets," said Scott P. Anderson, president and CEO, in a press release. "Within Patterson Dental, we were encouraged by the strong sales growth of basic dental equipment, reflecting our ability to capture a significant share of the equipment business that has been deferred for the past two years. We believe this rebound in basic equipment sales is an indication that the dental market is starting to gradually strengthen."
Sales of cone-beam and panoramic imaging systems were "robust," Anderson noted.
"The sales performance of our Cerec line reflected the strong comparable level in last year's first quarter, due to the high level of interest in our initial trade-up program following the introduction of the Cerec AC early in calendar 2009," he said.
