IDEXX forecasts 2026 revenue, profit above estimates on strong demand for pet diagnostics

Feb 2 (Reuters) - Animal diagnostics maker IDEXX Laboratories IDXX.O on Monday forecast 2026 revenue and profit above Wall Street estimates, betting that resilient demand at veterinary clinics and higher testing per visit will offset uneven clinic-visit trends.

IDEXX sells blood and urine analyzers, imaging systems and practice software, and runs reference laboratories for more complex tests. It competes in veterinary diagnostics with large lab networks and animal-health companies, including Mars' Antech business and Zoetis' diagnostics and reference lab offerings.

Michael Ryskin, analyst at Bank of America, had noted that the biggest swing factor for the animal health sector this earnings season is IDEXX's initial 2026 outlook, with investors watching whether the company assumes continued softness in clinic visits or leans more on pricing and higher testing per visit to support growth.

The company said it placed more than 1,900 inVue Dx instruments in the fourth quarter, contributing to a quarterly record for instrument placements and a 12% year-over-year expansion of IDEXX's global premium instrument installed base.

The inVue Dx is an in-clinic diagnostic analyzer platform that helps veterinarians run tests on-site.

IDEXX posted revenue of $1.09 billion for the quarter ended December 31, up 14% from a year earlier and above analysts' estimate of $1.07 billion, according to LSEG.

The company earned $3.08 per share for the quarter, compared with estimates of $2.93, LSEG data showed

The Westbrook, Maine-based company forecast 2026 revenue of $4.63 billion to $4.72 billion and earnings per share of $14.29 to $14.80. The midpoints of the ranges were slightly above analysts' average estimates of about $4.66 billion in revenue and $14.50 per share.