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Baxter International Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 5% on both bases: Worldwide sales were about $2.98 billion, up 5% reported and organic. The company said growth came in all segments and divisions. Source
  • GAAP net income and diluted EPS: GAAP net income was $298 million, or $0.57 per diluted share. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.58, down 16% from $0.69 a year earlier. Source
  • Medical Products & Therapies up 6%: Medical Products & Therapies sales were about $2.1 billion, up 6% on both reported and organic bases, with Advanced Surgery also contributing. Source
  • Higher tax rate reduced adjusted EPS: Adjusted net income decreased 16% due to a higher effective tax rate. The adjusted effective tax rate was 18.3%, compared with 5.1%. Source
  • Free cash flow of $448 million: Free cash flow was $448 million in the quarter and $705 million year-to-date. Source
  • Raise covers three measures: The full-year reported sales growth range, organic sales growth range and adjusted diluted EPS range were all raised in this release. Source
  • Stabilization and balance sheet focus: Management described steady progress on stabilizing the business and strengthening the balance sheet. Source

“We continue to make steady progress stabilizing the business, strengthening the balance sheet and driving continuous improvement.”

Andrew Hider, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported sales growth, continuing operations SourceFull-year 20264% to 5%Raised from 3% to 4%
Organic sales growth, continuing operations SourceFull-year 20263% to 4%Raised from 2% to 3%
Adjusted diluted EPS, continuing operations SourceFull-year 2026$2.05 to $2.15Raised from $1.95 to $2.15
Kidney Care MSA effect on sales growth SourceFull-year 2026~30 bpsKept
Foreign exchange effect on sales growth SourceFull-year 2026(~100 bps)Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised on reported sales growth, organic sales growth and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • New: Company completed a $600 million cash tender offer in the third quarter, retiring $864 million of debt. Source

Sales and earnings results

  • Sales rose 5% on both bases: Worldwide sales were about $2.98 billion, up 5% reported and organic. The company said growth came in all segments and divisions. Source
  • GAAP net income and diluted EPS: GAAP net income was $298 million, or $0.57 per diluted share. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.58, down 16% from $0.69 a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP operating income rose 31%: GAAP operating income was $225 million, up 31%, or 7.6% of net sales versus 6.1%. Adjusted operating income was $432 million, up 2%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Medical Products & Therapies up 6%: Medical Products & Therapies sales were about $2.1 billion, up 6% on both reported and organic bases, with Advanced Surgery also contributing. Source
  • Healthcare Systems & Technologies up 4%: Healthcare Systems & Technologies sales were about $806 million, up 4% on both bases, driven by Care & Connectivity Solutions and Front Line Care. Source
  • U.S. and international sales both grew: U.S. sales were about $1.6 billion, up 3% reported and 5% organic. International sales were about $1.4 billion, up 7% reported and 6% organic. Source
  • Medical Products segment margin steady: Medical Products & Therapies segment operating income was $439 million, 20.9% of segment sales, against $411 million and 20.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Segment reporting recast from Q2: Segment reporting was restructured from Q2 2026 to match the operating model. Prior results were recast, and the former Pharmaceuticals segment now sits in Infusion Therapies & Platforms. Source

“Our results reinforce our confidence in this direction as we build a stronger foundation for sustainable growth and long-term value creation.”

Andrew Hider, president and CEO

Products and divisions

  • Infusion Therapies & Platforms up 5%: Infusion Therapies & Platforms sales were $1.76 billion, up 5% reported and 4% organic. Growth was led by Infusion Systems, Drug Compounding and IV Solutions. Source
  • Injectables sales declined: Injectables sales were reduced in the quarter, partly offsetting growth in the Infusion Therapies & Platforms division. Source
  • Advanced Surgery grew 12%: Advanced Surgery sales were $342 million, up 12% reported and organic. Management cited continued global demand for these products. Source
  • Care & Connectivity Solutions up 5%: Care & Connectivity Solutions sales were $498 million, up 5% on both bases, with growth in Global Surgical Solutions and Patient Support Systems. Source
  • Front Line Care grew 3%: Front Line Care sales were $308 million, up 3% on both reported and organic bases. Source
  • Vantive-related sales down 20%: Other sales, which are sales to Vantive, were $68 million, down 20% reported and flat on an organic basis. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin held near 33%: Gross margin was $994 million, or 33.4% of net sales, against 33.5%. SG&A was 24.5% of sales against 25.0%; R&D was 4.2%. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin fell: Adjusted gross margin was 38.3% of net sales, versus 39.4%. Adjusted SG&A was 21.4% of sales, versus 22.2%. Source
  • Higher tax rate reduced adjusted EPS: Adjusted net income decreased 16% due to a higher effective tax rate. The adjusted effective tax rate was 18.3%, compared with 5.1%. Source
  • Debt gain sits in other income: Other (income) expense was $253 million of income, from a gain on early debt extinguishment, which is excluded from adjusted results. Source

Cash flow and share count

  • Free cash flow of $448 million: Free cash flow was $448 million in the quarter and $705 million year-to-date. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capital spending: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $558 million in the quarter, with capital expenditures of $110 million. Source
  • Diluted share count increased: Diluted weighted-average shares were 520 million, against 514 million a year earlier. Source

Full-year guidance raised

  • Raise covers three measures: The full-year reported sales growth range, organic sales growth range and adjusted diluted EPS range were all raised in this release. Source
  • Sales growth bridge unchanged: The bridge from U.S. GAAP sales growth includes a Kidney Care MSA effect of about 30 bps and a foreign exchange effect of about 100 bps, both the same as the prior quarter. Source

Stabilization and segment focus

  • Growth across every segment: The company reported growth in all segments and divisions in the third quarter. Source
  • Stabilization and balance sheet focus: Management described steady progress on stabilizing the business and strengthening the balance sheet. Source
  • Confidence in the direction: The CEO said the results reinforce confidence as the company builds a stronger foundation for sustainable growth. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.