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Becton Dickinson & Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 5.4% in the quarter: Revenue was $4,983 million, up from $4,726 million a year earlier. Currency-neutral growth was 4.4%, and reported growth was 5.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS reached $3.23: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $3.23 versus $3.08, up 4.9% as reported and 3.9% currency-neutral. Reported diluted EPS was $1.64 versus $1.57. Source
  • Cost of products sold up 7.1%: Cost of products sold was $2,668 million, up 7.1% against revenue growth of 5.4%. Selling and administrative expense rose 8.4% to $1,261 million. Source
  • Operating income down 10.3%: Operating income was $663 million, down 10.3% from $739 million. Interest expense fell 13.4% to $132 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS midpoint raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance is now $12.62 to $12.72, from $12.52 to $12.72. The low end rose and the high end was unchanged, so the midpoint moved up. Source
  • Free cash flow up 44.6%: Nine-month free cash flow was $1,728 million, up 44.6% from $1,195 million. Cash from continuing operations was $2,104 million, up 33.3%. Source

“with revenue, adjusted operating margin and adjusted EPS all ahead of our expectations”

Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president of BD

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFY2026$12.62 to $12.72Raised from $12.52 to $12.72
GAAP revenue growth SourceFY2026Low single-digit plusKept
Revenue growth, currency-neutral SourceFY2026Low single-digitKept
Illustrative FX impact on reported revenue growth SourceFY2026~+100 basis pointsLowered from ~+120 basis points
Adjusted diluted EPS growth against FY2025 SourceFY2026+6.1% to +6.9%Raised from +5.2% to +6.9%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Midpoint of full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance was raised, with the range now $12.62 to $12.72. Revenue growth was kept, with management expecting it toward the high end of the range. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Illustrative currency contribution to reported revenue growth was lowered from about 120 basis points to about 100 basis points. Source
  • New: Announced a collaboration with EMS, a Brazilian pharmaceutical company, to expand access to GLP-1 therapies. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 5.4% in the quarter: Revenue was $4,983 million, up from $4,726 million a year earlier. Currency-neutral growth was 4.4%, and reported growth was 5.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS reached $3.23: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $3.23 versus $3.08, up 4.9% as reported and 3.9% currency-neutral. Reported diluted EPS was $1.64 versus $1.57. Source
  • Discontinued operations drove net income decline: Net income was $377 million versus $574 million. Discontinued operations produced a $74 million loss against $123 million of income, and diluted EPS including it was $1.37 versus $2.00. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EPS slightly lower: Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $8.59 versus $8.65, down 0.7% as reported and 2.0% currency-neutral, while nine-month revenue rose 4.8% to $14,183 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Interventional revenue up 6.4%: Interventional revenue was $1,414 million, up 6.4% as reported and 5.5% currency-neutral, with Peripheral Intervention, Urology and Critical Care, and Surgery each reported in the segment table. Source
  • Medical Essentials and Connected Care grew: Medical Essentials revenue was $1,675 million, up 4.5% (3.2% currency-neutral). Connected Care revenue was $1,224 million, up 4.9% (4.4% currency-neutral). Source
  • BioPharma Systems up 6.6%: BioPharma Systems revenue was $670 million, up 6.6% as reported and 5.2% currency-neutral. U.S. revenue rose 14.2% and international revenue rose 3.6% as reported. Source
  • U.S. growth ahead of international: U.S. revenue was $3,081 million, up 6.9%. International revenue was $1,902 million, up 3.2% as reported and 0.6% currency-neutral. Source
  • International urology and critical care down: International Urology and Critical Care revenue was $82 million versus $88 million, down 6.7% as reported and 6.9% currency-neutral. Source

“Our first full quarter as New BD demonstrates the early benefits of a more focused MedTech company”

Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president of BD

Products and customers

  • Specimen Management up 8.7%: Specimen Management revenue was $511 million, up 8.7% (7.0% currency-neutral). U.S. specimen revenue rose 14.0%. Source
  • Advanced Patient Monitoring up 10.9%: Advanced Patient Monitoring revenue was $309 million, up 10.9% (11.2% currency-neutral). International revenue in this unit rose 17.1%. Source
  • Medication Delivery Solutions up 2.8%: Medication Delivery Solutions revenue was $1,164 million, up 2.8% (1.6% currency-neutral). U.S. revenue rose 5.9% while international revenue fell 1.8%. Source
  • Vizient contract for CentroVena One: The CentroVena One Insertion System was awarded a Vizient Innovative Technology contract, which the release describes as validating it as a breakthrough innovation. Source
  • Elyra laser system launched: The Elyra Thulium Fiber Laser System launched, expanding BD's kidney stone care portfolio with a system designed to help urology teams enhance efficiency. Source

Costs, margins and EPS adjustments

  • Cost of products sold up 7.1%: Cost of products sold was $2,668 million, up 7.1% against revenue growth of 5.4%. Selling and administrative expense rose 8.4% to $1,261 million. Source
  • Research and development spending up 12.0%: Research and development expense was $258 million, up 12.0%. Integration, restructuring and transaction expense was $89 million, down 6.9%. Source
  • Operating income down 10.3%: Operating income was $663 million, down 10.3% from $739 million. Interest expense fell 13.4% to $132 million. Source
  • Purchase accounting drove adjustments: Adjusted EPS excluded $363 million of pre-tax purchase accounting adjustments, or $1.32 per share. Restructuring, integration and separation costs were also excluded. Source
  • Nine-month operating income down 12.8%: Nine-month operating income was $1,225 million versus $1,405 million. Nine-month integration, restructuring and transaction expense was $729 million, up 162.9%. Source

“We remain focused on disciplined execution, advancing our key growth platforms, expanding margins and allocating capital strategically to drive sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value.”

Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president of BD

Full-year guidance update

  • Adjusted EPS midpoint raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance is now $12.62 to $12.72, from $12.52 to $12.72. The low end rose and the high end was unchanged, so the midpoint moved up. Source
  • Revenue growth range kept: Revenue growth ranges were unchanged at low single-digit, with management expecting reported revenue growth toward the high end of its range. Source
  • Excluded items from adjusted EPS: Adjusted EPS guidance excludes potential charges or gains such as amortization, acquisition-related charges, separation costs and certain tax matters. No GAAP reconciliation of the guidance is provided. Source
  • Adjusted EPS growth range raised: Adjusted EPS growth against FY2025 is guided at +6.1% to +6.9%, up from +5.2% to +6.9% at the low end. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow up 44.6%: Nine-month free cash flow was $1,728 million, up 44.6% from $1,195 million. Cash from continuing operations was $2,104 million, up 33.3%. Source
  • Share repurchases rose to $2.25 billion: Nine-month share repurchases were $2,250 million versus $750 million. The cash flow statement shows a $3,857 million net distribution from the spin-off entity and dividends paid of $875 million. Source
  • Long-term debt reduced to $13.5 billion: Long-term debt was $13,511 million at June 30, 2026, down from $17,620 million at September 30, 2025. Current debt obligations rose to $3,297 million from $1,559 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures slightly lower: Nine-month capital expenditures were $376 million versus $383 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Third-quarter average diluted shares were 275,158 thousand, versus 287,223 thousand a year earlier. Source

Strategy, separation and recognition

  • Separation reshaped reported results: On February 9, 2026, BD completed the spin-off of its former Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business and its combination with Waters. Prior periods are recast to continuing operations. Source
  • Life Sciences segment eliminated: Following the separation, the Life Sciences segment was eliminated, and BD reports four separately managed segments. Source
  • BD Excellence progress cited: Management cited continued innovation and further progress through BD Excellence as part of the quarter's results. Source
  • TIME named among America's Best Companies: BD was named to TIME's 2026 List of America's Best Companies. Source
  • Sustainability report issued: BD issued its Fiscal Year 2025 Together We Advance Corporate Sustainability Report. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Products delivered annually Sourcebillions of products

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Charges or gains excluded from adjusted EPS guidance could have a material effect on GAAP results, management said. Source
  • External: Full-year guidance reflects numerous assumptions that could affect the business, based on information management had reviewed as of the release date. Source
  • Regulatory: Third-quarter product, litigation and other items totaled $53 million pre-tax, including estimate changes for product remediation costs and legal matters. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Nine-month restructuring costs included $450 million of non-cash asset impairment charges tied to the company's commitment to exit certain operational activities. 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.