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Edwards Lifesciences Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed, 2 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales grew 10.5%, 11.2% constant currency: Third-quarter sales were $1.72 billion, up 10.5% as reported and 11.2% at constant currency. Nine-month sales were $5.11 billion, up 13.5%, or 12.2% at constant currency. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 19% to $0.80: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80 against $0.67 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.53, against $0.50. Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $2.35, against $1.98. Source
  • TAVR grew 8.0%, 8.8% constant currency: TAVR sales were $1.24 billion, up 8.0% and 8.8% at constant currency. Average selling prices were stable globally. Source
  • TMTT grew 44.0%, 45.6% constant currency: TMTT sales were $207 million as adjusted, up 44.0% and 45.6% at constant currency, driven by the repair and replacement portfolio. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin 78.7%, up from 77.9%: Gross margin was 78.5%, or 78.7% adjusted, against 77.9% adjusted a year earlier. Management said the effect of scaling newer therapies was more than offset by manufacturing efficiencies and foreign exchange. Source
  • $220.2 million impairment excluded from adjusted results: The company recorded a $220.2 million impairment of an acquired in-process R&D asset and fixed assets, excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Cash rose to $3.1 billion: Cash and equivalents were about $3.1 billion at September 30, up from about $2.9 billion at June 30. Total debt was about $600 million. Source

“As I reflect on 2026 so far, I am proud of what our teams have accomplished and how we are positioning Edwards for strong, sustainable growth over the long term.”

Bernard Zovighian, CEO of Edwards Lifesciences

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total company sales growth (constant currency) SourceFull year 2026approximately 11.5%Raised from 10% to 11%
TAVR product group sales growth SourceFull year 20269% to 9.5%Raised from 8% to 9%
TMTT product group sales SourceFull year 2026$780 to $790 millionRaised from $760 to $780 million
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$2.97 to $3.05Narrowed, low end up from $2.95 to $3.05
Total company sales SourceFourth quarter 2026$1.67 to $1.75 billionNew
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFourth quarter 2026$0.61 to $0.69New
Surgical sales growth SourceFull year 2026mid-single-digit growthKept
Adjusted gross profit margin SourceFull year 2026lower end of 78% to 79%Kept
R&D expense as percentage of sales SourceFull year 2026approximately 16.5%Lowered from approximately 17%
Operating profit margin SourceFull year 2026high end of original 28% to 29% rangeKept
Effective tax rate excluding special items SourceFull year 2026high end of 16% to 19% rangeKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year total sales growth guidance raised to about 11.5%, from 10% to 11%. Source
  • Guidance raised: TAVR sales growth guidance raised to 9% to 9.5%, from 8% to 9%. Source
  • Guidance raised: TMTT sales guidance raised to $780 to $790 million, from $760 to $780 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance low end raised to $2.97 from $2.95; top end unchanged at $3.05. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 sales and adjusted EPS projections given for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Surgical mid-single-digit growth guidance reaffirmed. Source
  • New: Final updated national coverage determination for TAVR released by CMS in the quarter; the prior release expected a decision in September. Source
  • New: FDA approved PASCAL Precision for tricuspid regurgitation in October; the prior release expected Q4 approval. Source
  • New: U.S. approval received for PASCAL Ace with Capture Clarity in degenerative mitral TEER procedures. Source
  • New: U.S. and European approvals received for EVOQUE for transjugular access. Source
  • New: European approval received for SAPIEN M3 with RESILIA tissue. Source
  • New: New dedicated reimbursement in Japan for the SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA platform. Source
  • New: FDA approved AUTUS, a surgical pulmonary valve for pediatric anatomy, during the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales grew 10.5%, 11.2% constant currency: Third-quarter sales were $1.72 billion, up 10.5% as reported and 11.2% at constant currency. Nine-month sales were $5.11 billion, up 13.5%, or 12.2% at constant currency. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 19% to $0.80: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80 against $0.67 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.53, against $0.50. Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $2.35, against $1.98. Source
  • Growth described as broad-based: Management described growth as broad-based across businesses and regions, and credited the focused structural heart strategy and disciplined execution. Source

TAVR and U.S. position

  • TAVR grew 8.0%, 8.8% constant currency: TAVR sales were $1.24 billion, up 8.0% and 8.8% at constant currency. Average selling prices were stable globally. Source
  • U.S. and outside U.S. grew similarly: TAVR growth rates were similar in the U.S. and outside the U.S. Procedure growth in the U.S. benefited from heightened focus on TAVR therapy. Source
  • U.S. share stable sequentially, modest annual gain: Management said the U.S. competitive position was stable sequentially and increased modestly year-over-year, supported by SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA adoption. Source
  • Procedure growth encouraging at quarter exit: Management said it saw encouraging signs of procedure growth exiting the quarter, after several quarters of modest share gains. Source
  • European guidelines support earlier treatment: Updated ESC and EACTS guidelines in Europe are helping shape discussions about earlier intervention, reinforcing TAVR across a broader patient population. Source
  • Japan sales grew 12.2% constant currency: Japan sales were $92.0 million, up 2.2% as reported and 12.2% at constant currency. Source

“Our focused structural heart strategy, coupled with disciplined execution, long-term investments in category-creating innovation, and commitment to science and technology advancements, enabled us to deliver significant progress for patients”

Bernard Zovighian, CEO of Edwards Lifesciences

TMTT and EVOQUE

  • TMTT grew 44.0%, 45.6% constant currency: TMTT sales were $207 million as adjusted, up 44.0% and 45.6% at constant currency, driven by the repair and replacement portfolio. Source
  • PASCAL adoption deepening: Management said PASCAL adoption continues to strengthen, supported by device design, clinical outcomes and the portfolio approach. Source
  • EVOQUE residual regurgitation improving: EVOQUE grew again. As physicians gain experience, more patients reach mild or less residual regurgitation, which management linked to better outcomes. Source
  • SAPIEN M3 demand for non-TEER patients: Management said demand for SAPIEN M3 continues for patients not suitable for mitral TEER, with early clinical outcomes described as excellent. Source

Surgical portfolio

  • Surgical grew 2.5%, 2.8% constant currency: Surgical sales were $264 million, up 2.5% and 2.8% at constant currency, driven by adoption of the RESILIA tissue therapies. Source
  • Surgical pipeline expanding to unmet needs: Management said the company continues to add surgical technologies for unmet needs in structural heart surgery. Source

“The underlying market dynamics in TAVR are strong and we saw positive procedure growth trends exiting the quarter.”

Edwards Lifesciences Corp., press release

Gross margin and operating expenses

  • Adjusted gross margin 78.7%, up from 77.9%: Gross margin was 78.5%, or 78.7% adjusted, against 77.9% adjusted a year earlier. Management said the effect of scaling newer therapies was more than offset by manufacturing efficiencies and foreign exchange. Source
  • SG&A held near one-third of sales: SG&A was $561 million, or 32.7% of sales, against 33.1% a year earlier, reflecting continued investment to support patient access and care. Source
  • R&D fell to 16.4% of sales: R&D was $281 million, or 16.4% of sales, against 18.1% a year earlier, reflecting investment in the structural heart portfolio. Source

Profit, impairment and tax items

  • Operating margin 17.4%, adjusted 30.3%: Operating profit margin was 17.4%, or 30.3% adjusted. Operating income, net was $299.1 million, against $307.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • $220.2 million impairment excluded from adjusted results: The company recorded a $220.2 million impairment of an acquired in-process R&D asset and fixed assets, excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Litigation swung to insurance recovery: Certain litigation was a net insurance recovery of $12.7 million in the quarter, against $90.4 million of expense a year earlier. Source
  • Tax rate 17.0% GAAP, 19.8% adjusted: Effective tax rate was 17.0% on a GAAP basis and 19.8% adjusted. The company recorded a $174.4 million valuation allowance in 2026 tied to California R&D credit changes. Source

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Cash rose to $3.1 billion: Cash and equivalents were about $3.1 billion at September 30, up from about $2.9 billion at June 30. Total debt was about $600 million. Source
  • About $700 million repurchased to date: Share repurchases of about $700 million were done through the third quarter, with about $1.3 billion left under the authorization, down from about $1.5 billion at June 30. Source

Clinical evidence and trials

  • PROGRESS published in NEJM: PROGRESS results were presented at TCT and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, which management called a turning point in managing moderate aortic stenosis. Source
  • CLASP IITR shows superiority in tricuspid: CLASP IITR showed PASCAL plus optimal medical therapy superior to medical therapy alone in severe or greater tricuspid regurgitation. Source
  • EARLY TAVR economics favour treatment: EARLY TAVR long-term economic data showed TAVR cost-effective versus surveillance in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis, even after potential reintervention. Source
  • ENCIRCLE supports transseptal TMVR: Two-year ENCIRCLE data on SAPIEN M3 supported transseptal TMVR as an option for selected patients with mitral regurgitation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Procedure volumes to drive later growth: Management assumes that fourth-quarter and later growth will come mainly from rising procedure volumes rather than share gains. Source
  • ECLIPTIS rollout advancing in U.S.: The company is advancing a measured U.S. rollout of ECLIPTIS, its surgical left atrial appendage system, with physician training. Source
  • PASCAL Ace rollout underway: A measured rollout of PASCAL Ace with Capture Clarity is underway following its U.S. approval for mitral TEER. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Mitral and tricuspid procedure volume growth Sourcedouble digits
TAVR average selling prices Sourcestable globally
TAVR procedure growth at quarter exit Sourcepositive

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Currency effects through the hedging program are cited as a driver of the adjusted gross margin range. Source
  • Regulatory: Tax rate expectation assumes Pillar Two side-by-side safe-harbor legislation does not take effect before year end. Source
  • Regulatory: Changes to California law limiting use of R&D credits affect the company's tax rate. Source
  • Regulatory: Intellectual property litigation, settlements and contingencies drive the litigation expense line, net of insurance recoveries. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release expected these Q4 approvals. The October tricuspid approval is reported; the release states a U.S. approval for PASCAL Ace with Capture Clarity but no European approval.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected the final decision memo in September. The current release reports the final NCD released during the quarter.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected CLASP IITR results at TCT. The current release reports the trial results as presented.
  • Not stated: The prior release said PROGRESS results would be presented at TCT later in the year. The current release reports they were presented.
  • Not stated: The prior release said a measured rollout was planned later this year. The current release says the rollout is being advanced.
  • On track: Management said the SG&A result was in line with its expectations. Source
  • Ahead: Management said third-quarter growth exceeded its expectations. 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.