Align Technology Inc, San Jose, Calif, announced its Q4 2018 financial results, for the year ending December 31, 2018.

According to a press release from the company, Q4’18 Invisalign volume was 333.8 thousand cases, up 30.9% year-over-year. For the Americas and international regions, Q4’18 Invisalign volume was up 21.7% and 45.3% year-over-year, respectively. Q4’18 Invisalign volume for teenage patients was 87.1 thousand cases, up 37.3% year-over-year. Q4’18 total revenues were $534.0 million, up 26.7% year-over-year, and Q4’18 scanner and services revenues were $88.4 million, up 54.8% year-over-year. Q4’18 operating income of $120.5 million was up 9.9% year-over-year resulting in an operating margin of 22.6%. Q4’18 net profit was $97.4 million, or $1.20 per diluted share.

For 2018, Invisalign revenues were $1.7 billion, up 29.4% year-over-year with Invisalign case shipments of 1.2 million, up 31.9% year-over-year. 2018 iTero revenues were $275.0 million, up 67.5% year-over-year with record volume, up 77.2% year-over-year. 2018 Invisalign cases for teenage patients were 333.1 thousand, up 40.3% year-over-year. For 2018, total revenues were $2.0 billion, up 33.5% year-over-year, and net profit was $400.2 million, or $4.92 per diluted share.

Commenting on Align’s Q4 and 2018 results, Align Technology president and CEO Joe Hogan said, “Our fourth quarter was a strong finish to a great year. Q4 revenues were better than expected reflecting higher Invisalign ASPs and volume growth of 31% year-over-year, as well as another record quarter for our iTero scanners with revenue up 55% year-over-year.  Q4 sequential growth was driven by a strong quarter for EMEA with record growth from teens, as well as continued traction with Invisalign Lite and Invisalign Go. Q4 operating margin of 22.6% reflects higher doctor training and manufacturing costs, as well as higher legal fees than anticipated, partially offset by a sequential improvement in Invisalign ASPs.”

Hogan continued, “We achieved record revenues of nearly $2.0 billion for the year and had over 1.2 million people start treatment with Invisalign clear aligners the first time, resulting in our 6th millionth Invisalign patient—a teenager from China. These results reflect record revenues and volumes for both Invisalign and iTero across customer channels and country markets, and continued strength from teens, which grew 40.3%. The total number of teenagers treated with Invisalign this year was over 333 thousand representing 27.1% of our volume.  Finally, in 2018, we trained a record number of new Invisalign doctors—nearly 20 thousand worldwide—and more than half of them were international doctors.”

With regard to its Q1 2019 business outlook, the company reported net revenues in the range of $525.0 million to $535.0 million, up approximately 20% to 22% over the same period a year ago. Invisalign case shipments are reportedly in the range of 340 thousand to 345 thousand, up approximately 25% to 27% over the same period a year ago. The company says its operating margin is in the range of 15.1% to 16.1% and diluted EPS in the range of $0.78 to $0.84.