Alcon posts quarterly sales of $2.717 billion, raises 2026 growth outlook to about 6%
Key Facts
Alcon said on Nov. 10 that net sales were $2.717 billion in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, up 5% from $2.589 billion in the same period of 2025. Sales for the first nine months reached $8.184 billion, compared with $7.617 billion in the same period a year earlier, an increase of 7%. The results came as the company expanded product launches and recorded growth in eye care, consumables and surgical equipment. The company also reported diluted earnings per share of $0.54, compared with $0.48 a year earlier, while core diluted earnings per share rose to $0.91 from $0.79. CEO David J. Endicott said the company remained on track to meet its 2026 targets.
The company said growth in surgical consumables was linked to higher procedure volume, pricing increases and sales of Valeda consumables. It added that equipment growth was led by launches of the Unity and Valeda platforms, reflecting the contribution of new products to the surgical business. In eye care, Alcon attributed growth to dry eye products, including Tryptyr and Systane. These factors show that quarterly growth came from a mix of procedure-related demand, pricing and product launches, alongside eye care products. Endicott said year-to-date sales rose 6% on a constant-currency basis and core earnings per share posted double-digit growth, despite competitive pressures in some areas.
In an outlook update, Alcon narrowed its expected 2026 sales growth range to about 6% on a constant-currency basis, from a previous range of 5% to 7%. The revision places the new outlook at the midpoint of the previous range, while year-to-date sales growth remains at 6% on a constant-currency basis, as the CEO reported. The outlook comes as the company said it faces competitive pressures in some areas but remains committed to its annual targets. In November, it also announced an expansion of its efficiency measures, estimating their total cost at about $230 million. The company raised its estimate of annual savings from about $100 million before the expansion to about $130 million afterward.
Alcon shares closed at $75.14 in EL7 data on Nov. 9, 2026. That was before the official earnings announcement on Nov. 10, so the closing price predates the quarterly figures and does not represent a subsequent move. For the period since the start of the year, the company said sales grew 6% on a constant-currency basis and core earnings per share posted double-digit growth. The revised sales growth outlook for the year remains about 6% on a constant-currency basis, according to the company’s update. The expanded efficiency measures carry estimated annual savings of about $130 million, against expected total costs of about $230 million.