What could Hurricane Helene mean for BAX?

Investing.com -- Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) has provided updates following the impact of Hurricane Helene on its North Cove, North Carolina facility.

The company's largest manufacturing site, responsible for intravenous (IV) solutions and peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions, has been affected by flooding, leading to a complete production halt.

According to a press release, the company is working with various federal and local agencies to assess damage and restore operations as quickly as possible.

In a note Monday, BofA analysts estimated that the North Cove facility accounts for 60% of the U.S. IV solutions market, which could translate to a $2.5 million per day revenue impact for Baxter's Infusion Therapies and Technologies business.

They project a potential $100-150 million revenue loss, depending on how long the shutdown lasts. However, they note that Baxter has inventory in place and is exploring ways to leverage its global manufacturing network to mitigate supply disruptions.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) analysts compare the situation to the 2017 hurricane in Puerto Rico, which caused damage to another Baxter facility. They suggest the North Cove facility's size could lead to a $140-190 million sales impact for Q4 2024, though the situation remains fluid and exact damages are hard to estimate.

While the financial hit is likely short-lived, the event could shave roughly 3.5% off BAX's organic sales growth for Q4, according to BofA.

Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) notes that while production is halted, Baxter has implemented a shipment hold for 48 hours and is working on allocating inventory to minimize patient care disruptions.

They emphasize that while the facility damage is significant, it is unlikely to have a lasting impact on Baxter's mid-term financial outlook.