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Cooper Companies, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 September 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 lowered, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 1% organically: Revenue was $1.066 billion, up 1% reported, in constant currency and organically. Acquisitions and divestitures had no effect on the comparison. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 4%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.15 against $1.10 a year earlier. Weighted diluted shares fell to 193.4 million from 200.0 million. Source
  • CooperVision revenue flat year-on-year: CVI revenue was $717.0 million, flat on a reported, constant-currency and organic basis. Management said a proactive cut in U.S. channel inventory weighed on results. Source
  • CooperSurgical revenue up 3% organically: CSI revenue was $349.2 million, up 2% reported and 3% organically. Acquisitions and divestitures added 1 point to the organic figure's comparison base. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin up 30bp: Non-GAAP operating margin rose 30 basis points to 26%, from expense management and productivity, partly offset by unfavorable foreign exchange. Non-GAAP operating income was $280.7 million. Source
  • Free cash flow rose 66%: Free cash flow was $273.0 million, from $341.7 million of operating cash flow less $68.7 million of capital expenditures. The prior-year figure was lower by 66%. Source
  • Strategic review completed: The company said it completed its strategic review and announced actions to enhance shareholder value. Details were given in a separate press release issued the same day. Source
  • Full-year revenue range lowered: Fiscal 2026 total revenue is now guided to $4.229 to $4.252 billion, with 2% to 3% organic growth. CVI organic growth range is 1% to 2%. Source

“This quarter included a number of notable developments including earnings exceeding expectations, record free cash flow, solid fertility growth at CooperSurgical, and a favorable completion of a significant tax matter.”

Al White, President and CEO of CooperCompanies

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFiscal fourth quarter 2026$1.057 - $1.080 billion (organic growth of 0% to 2%)New
CooperVision revenue SourceFiscal fourth quarter 2026$692 -$706 million (organic growth of -2% to 0%)New
CooperSurgical revenue SourceFiscal fourth quarter 2026$364 - $374 million (organic growth of 4% to 6%)New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFiscal fourth quarter 2026$1.05 -$1.09New
Total revenue SourceFiscal 2026$4.229 - $4.252 billion (organic growth of 2% to 3%)Lowered from $4.285 - $4.321 billion (organic growth of 3.5% to 4.5%)
CooperVision revenue SourceFiscal 2026$2.828 - $2.842 billion (organic growth of 1% to 2%)Lowered from $2.883 - $2.908 billion (organic growth of 3.5% to 4.5%)
CooperSurgical revenue SourceFiscal 2026$1.401 - $1.410 billion (organic growth of 4% to 5%)Lowered from $1.402 - $1.414 billion (organic growth of 4% to 5%)
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$4.51 - $4.55Lowered from $4.58 - $4.66
Free cash flow SourceFiscal years 2026 through 2028exceeding $2.2 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year total, CVI and CSI revenue ranges and the non-GAAP diluted EPS range were all lowered from the prior update. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth quarter 2026 revenue and non-GAAP EPS ranges were given for the first time in the documents provided. Source
  • Guidance kept: The long-term free cash flow objective for fiscal 2026 through 2028 was reaffirmed without change. Source
  • Ended: The strategic review was completed, and management announced actions to enhance shareholder value in a separate release the same day. Source
  • New: The Board approved expanding the share repurchase authorization from $2 billion to $3 billion. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 1% organically: Revenue was $1.066 billion, up 1% reported, in constant currency and organically. Acquisitions and divestitures had no effect on the comparison. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 4%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.15 against $1.10 a year earlier. Weighted diluted shares fell to 193.4 million from 200.0 million. Source
  • GAAP EPS lifted by tax benefit: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.24 against $0.49, mainly from a $307.2 million discrete tax benefit tied to completion of a U.K. tax examination. Source
  • GAAP operating margin rose to 21%: GAAP operating margin was 21% against 17%. Management attributed the change to lower operating expenses and to write-offs booked in the prior-year quarter. Source

CooperVision revenue and regions

  • CooperVision revenue flat year-on-year: CVI revenue was $717.0 million, flat on a reported, constant-currency and organic basis. Management said a proactive cut in U.S. channel inventory weighed on results. Source
  • Toric and multifocal grew, sphere fell: Toric and multifocal revenue was $363.8 million, up 2% organically. Sphere and other revenue was $353.2 million, down 1% organically. Source
  • EMEA up, Asia Pacific down: EMEA revenue was $309.4 million, up 5% organically. Americas was $281.6 million, down 2%, and Asia Pacific was $126.0 million, down 5% organically. Source

“At CooperVision, however, we proactively reduced U.S. channel inventory that weighed on our results and will continue to impact Q4,”

Al White, President and CEO of CooperCompanies

CooperSurgical revenue and fertility

  • CooperSurgical revenue up 3% organically: CSI revenue was $349.2 million, up 2% reported and 3% organically. Acquisitions and divestitures added 1 point to the organic figure's comparison base. Source
  • Fertility grew 5% organically: Fertility revenue was $141.2 million, up 3% reported and 5% organically. Office and surgical revenue was $208.0 million, up 2% reported and organically. Source
  • Office and surgical grew 2%: Office and surgical revenue was $208.0 million, up 2% reported and up 2% organically. Source

Margins, costs and currency

  • Non-GAAP gross margin down 60bp: Non-GAAP gross margin was 67%, down 60 basis points, reflecting higher manufacturing costs and unfavorable foreign exchange. GAAP gross margin rose to 67% from 65%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin up 30bp: Non-GAAP operating margin rose 30 basis points to 26%, from expense management and productivity, partly offset by unfavorable foreign exchange. Non-GAAP operating income was $280.7 million. Source
  • Interest expense fell: Interest expense was $21.5 million against $25.4 million, reflecting lower interest rates and lower average debt. Source

“Following the completion of the strategic review, we are focused on profitable growth, strong cash flow generation, disciplined capital allocation, and maximizing long-term shareholder value.”

Al White, President and CEO of CooperCompanies

Tax matter and GAAP earnings

  • UK tax examination closed favorably: The company recognized a $307.2 million discrete tax benefit after HMRC completed its examination of the fiscal 2021 transfer of CooperVision intellectual property to the U.K. Source
  • Non-GAAP excludes the tax reversal: Non-GAAP adjustments include reversal of the $307.2 million uncertain tax position, with no proposed adjustments by the tax authority. This is why GAAP and non-GAAP EPS differ. Source
  • Tax provision turned to a benefit: The quarter recorded a $231.0 million income tax benefit, against a $53.6 million provision in the prior-year quarter. Source

Cash flow, debt and buybacks

  • Free cash flow rose 66%: Free cash flow was $273.0 million, from $341.7 million of operating cash flow less $68.7 million of capital expenditures. The prior-year figure was lower by 66%. Source
  • Buybacks of $339.1 million: The company repurchased about 4.9 million shares for $339.1 million, at an average price of $69.16 per share, during the quarter. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised to $3 billion: The authorization was expanded from $2 billion to $3 billion, and about $1.5 billion remains available. The previous release showed $860.8 million remaining. Source
  • Short-term debt rose sharply: Short-term debt was $628.1 million at July 31, 2026, against $47.8 million at October 31, 2025. Long-term debt fell to $1,916.1 million from $2,457.5 million. Source
  • Litigation accrual still on balance sheet: Accrued litigation liability was $316.5 million at July 31, 2026, against $0.7 million at October 31, 2025. Cash and equivalents were $154.7 million. Source

Strategic review and guidance

  • Strategic review completed: The company said it completed its strategic review and announced actions to enhance shareholder value. Details were given in a separate press release issued the same day. Source
  • Full-year revenue range lowered: Fiscal 2026 total revenue is now guided to $4.229 to $4.252 billion, with 2% to 3% organic growth. CVI organic growth range is 1% to 2%. Source
  • Fourth quarter CVI range set: Fourth quarter CVI revenue is guided to $692 to $706 million, and CSI revenue to $364 to $374 million, both new in this release. Source
  • Full-year EPS range lowered: Fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS is now guided to $4.51 to $4.55, against $4.58 to $4.66 previously. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Reduction of U.S. channel inventory weighed on CooperVision results and management expects it to continue to affect the fourth quarter. Source
  • Operational: Higher manufacturing costs reduced non-GAAP gross margin by 60 basis points in the quarter. Source
  • External: Unfavorable foreign exchange reduced both non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Costs of complying with EU medical device regulations were excluded from non-GAAP results, at $2.6 million in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the free cash flow objective from its earlier communication. The documents do not state progress against it. 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.