Driven by double-digit sales gains in its healthcare informatics and solutions and services businesses, Philips Healthcare reported 3% growth in currency-adjusted revenues and an increase in profitability in its fourth quarter.
For the period (end-December 31), the vendor had sales of 3.27 billion euros ($3.55 billion U.S.), up 15% on a nominal basis and up 3% when adjusted for currency fluctuations from the 2.85 billion euros ($3.09 billion) recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Earnings in the healthcare business before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITA) reached 431 million euros ($467.4 million), compared with EBITA of 390 million euros ($422.9 million) in the same period last year.
The 2015 fourth-quarter EBITA figures included 95 million euros ($103 million) in charges related to devaluation of the Argentine peso as well as restructuring and acquisition-related charges, while the fourth quarter of 2014 included 63 million euros ($68.3 million) in various charges.
In addition to double-digit sales growth in healthcare informatics and solutions and services, Philips reported mid-single-digit growth in its imaging systems business for the fourth quarter. By geography, North America produced low-single-digit growth while other mature geographies yielded mid-single-digit growth. Western Europe, however, had a low-single-digit decline, Philips said.
Philips also pointed to a 15% increase in currency-comparable orders, including double-digit growth in imaging systems, healthcare informatics, and solutions and services. Strong order growth was experienced in North America and Western Europe, as well as low-single-digit growth in other mature geographies, according to the vendor. Growth geographies also turned in double-digit growth, led by double-digit growth in China, Philips said.
For the year, Philips Healthcare had sales of 10.912 billion euros ($11.83 billion) up 3.8% on a currency-comparable basis from the 9.19 billion euros ($9.96 billion) reported in 2014. The company had 2015 EBITA of 1.02 billion euros ($1.11 billion), compared with 616 million euros ($668.1 million) in 2014.
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnieeurope.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=100&q=70&w=100)
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnieeurope.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
