--Siemens Healthineers issued guidance for fiscal 2021, expecting comparable revenue growth of between 5% and 8% from fiscal 2020

--The outlook is based on evidence that demand for therapies for chronic diseases is high, but also conditional on no further measures against Covid-19

--The German medical-equipment maker's profit and revenue declined in its fourth quarter

By Cecilia Butini

Siemens Healthineers AG said Monday that it expects growth in fiscal 2021 as routine testing is seen getting back to normal levels after declining due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The German medical-equipment maker issued guidance for fiscal 2021, saying it expects comparable revenue growth of between 5% and 8%. The company reported revenue of 14.46 billion euros ($16.84 billion) for its year ended Sept. 30.

Adjusted basic earnings per share are set to be between EUR1.58 and EUR1.72, compared with fiscal 2020 comparable EPS of EUR1.61.

Siemens Healthineers said the outlook is based on the assumption that measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus won't affect demand.

During a call with reporters, management said the company is optimistic in their outlook for fiscal 2021, with drivers such as demand for therapies for chronic diseases still strong.

The company also proposed a dividend of EUR0.80 per share, corresponding to a pay-out ratio of 60% of net income.

In its fourth quarter, the company reported a decline in earnings and revenue, posting net income of 432 million euros ($503.1 million) for the period, down from EUR507 million a year earlier.

Revenue came in at EUR3.88 billion for the quarter, compared with EUR4.14 billion the previous year.

A consensus estimate provided by Vara Research had quarterly net profit at EUR402 million and quarterly revenue at EUR3.90 billion.

Adjusted basic earnings per share were EUR0.48 in the quarter down from EUR0.54 the year prior.

The company's equipment book-to-bill ratio--or the ratio of orders to revenue--was 1.15 in the fourth quarter, supported by major long-term contracts in the U.S., it said.

Write to Cecilia Butini at cecilia.butini@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

11-02-20 0624ET