Life sciences company Avantor (NYSE: AVTR) fell short of the markets revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, with sales falling 5.3% year on year to $1.62 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.22 per share was in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

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StockStory’s Take

Avantor’s third quarter results were met with a significant negative market reaction, reflecting investor concerns surrounding both the scale and persistence of operational headwinds. Management explicitly acknowledged disappointing performance, with CEO Emmanuel Ligner describing the period as marked by "self-inflicted" challenges in commercial and operational execution. Ligner attributed underwhelming revenue trends to complexity in the go-to-market model, weak customer activity in laboratory solutions, and ongoing production issues in bioprocessing. He also emphasized that recent share losses, particularly in the lab segment, were exacerbated by inadequate empowerment of frontline commercial teams and underinvestment in supply chain reliability.

Looking ahead, Avantor’s leadership is prioritizing a comprehensive turnaround through the "Avantor Revival" program, with the goal of simplifying operations, strengthening brands, and enhancing digital capabilities. Ligner stated, "We are focused on empowering our sales representatives and improving our manufacturing and supply chain organization." Plans include targeted investments in manufacturing upgrades and key leadership hires, such as a new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Digital Officer. While management remains confident in the company’s portfolio and long-term industry demand, they caution that improvement will require time and disciplined execution.

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

Management traced the latest quarter's underperformance to operational inefficiencies and market share losses in key segments, while outlining a multi-pronged strategy to address these issues and restore growth.

• Complexity hampered commercial execution: Ligner pointed to excessive centralization and lack of empowerment for frontline commercial teams as factors hindering customer service and responsiveness, particularly in the laboratory solutions business.
• Operational challenges in supply chain: Ongoing production disruptions, including equipment downtime and raw material constraints, limited Avantor’s ability to fulfill customer orders in bioprocessing, delaying revenue recognition and eroding margins.
• Brand strength underutilized: Management acknowledged that core brands like VWR and J.T.Baker, well-known in the industry, were not being leveraged effectively, leading to diminished market presence and customer engagement.
• Share losses stabilized but still impactful: While the company has stemmed further large contract losses in the lab segment since March, prior losses continue to weigh on results, and regaining share remains a gradual process.
• Launch of Avantor Revival program: The new transformation initiative is focused on decentralizing decision-making, investing in plant modernization, scrutinizing underperforming businesses, and recruiting leadership talent to drive operational improvements.

Drivers of Future Performance

Avantor expects near-term results to be shaped by ongoing operational improvements, portfolio focus, and investments in digital and manufacturing capabilities, with the goal of restoring growth and profitability.

• Operational improvement initiatives: Management is prioritizing upgrades to underperforming manufacturing sites and implementing process enhancements to increase on-time delivery and reduce backlogs, especially in bioprocessing. These changes are expected to gradually improve throughput and customer satisfaction.
• Digital and commercial transformation: The company is investing in digital commerce infrastructure and empowering local sales teams to better serve customer needs, aiming to reverse recent share losses and drive growth in laboratory solutions. The addition of a Chief Digital Officer is intended to accelerate this shift.
• Cost discipline and portfolio rationalization: Avantor is maintaining a cost transformation program targeting $400 million in run-rate savings by the end of 2027 and is reviewing its business portfolio to ensure focus on core, profitable segments. Management cautions that gains from these efforts may be offset in the near term by market softness and the need for further strategic investments.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In upcoming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) evidence of operational improvements in bioprocessing, particularly reduced backlogs and increased plant efficiency; (2) progress in digital platform enhancements and salesforce empowerment within laboratory solutions; and (3) the impact of leadership changes and new hires on execution and accountability. We will also watch for updates on the company’s cost transformation program and any portfolio adjustments aimed at sharpening focus and profitability.

Avantor currently trades at $11.70, down from $15.07 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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