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Henry Schein Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Sales grew 4.0% in the quarter: Net sales were $3.5 billion, up 4.0%: 3.1% internal growth, 0.7% from acquisitions and 0.2% from currency. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up 19.1% excluding items: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.56, up 13.0%. Excluding the tariff refund and the prior-year remeasurement gain, it was $1.37, up 19.1%. Source
  • FY2026 EPS guidance raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $5.50 to $5.56, up from $5.29 to $5.39, and includes the third-quarter tariff refund benefit. Source
  • U.S. dental merchandise up 8.6%: U.S. dental merchandise sales rose 8.6% to $660 million, which management attributed primarily to volume from market share gains. Source
  • Tariff refunds added $0.19 per share: Net tariff refunds recognized in the quarter added $0.19 per diluted share, net of tax, to non-GAAP EPS. The prior year had a $0.23 remeasurement gain. Source

“We delivered another strong quarter that increases our confidence in the momentum we are building at Henry Schein.”

Fred Lowery, Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFY2026$5.50 to $5.56Raised from $5.29 to $5.39
Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFY2026high-single-digitsRaised from mid to high-single-digits
Total sales growth SourceFY20264.5% to 5.5%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance rose to $5.50 to $5.56, and Adjusted EBITDA growth guidance moved to high-single-digits from mid to high-single-digits. Source
  • Guidance kept: Total sales growth guidance was unchanged at 4.5% to 5.5%. Source
  • New: FY2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance now includes the net benefit from tariff refunds recognized in the third quarter. Source
  • New: Guidance now includes targeted, limited growth investments in the fourth quarter, which the company expects to contribute to growth in 2027. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales grew 4.0% in the quarter: Net sales were $3.5 billion, up 4.0%: 3.1% internal growth, 0.7% from acquisitions and 0.2% from currency. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS rose 26.2%: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.06 against $0.84 a year earlier, including a net tariff refund benefit recognized in the quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up 19.1% excluding items: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.56, up 13.0%. Excluding the tariff refund and the prior-year remeasurement gain, it was $1.37, up 19.1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 40 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $321 million against $295 million, with margin growing 40 basis points to 9.24%. Source
  • Nine-month sales up 5.6%: Nine-month net sales were $10.3 billion, up 5.6%, with 3.4% internal growth, 0.7% from acquisitions and 1.5% from currency. Source

Guidance and assumptions

  • FY2026 EPS guidance raised: Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance is $5.50 to $5.56, up from $5.29 to $5.39, and includes the third-quarter tariff refund benefit. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA growth guidance raised: Management cites strong operating performance, net tariff refund benefits and targeted, limited growth investments as reasons for the Adjusted EBITDA growth range. Source
  • Sales growth range held: Total sales growth guidance was unchanged at 4.5% to 5.5%, the range set last quarter; the range before that was 3% to 5%. Source
  • Guidance excludes listed items: Guidance excludes restructuring and related costs, acquired intangible amortization, impairments, contingent consideration, select implementation costs and litigation settlements. Source
  • No further refunds or gains assumed: Guidance assumes no significant tariff refunds or remeasurement gains for the remainder of 2026. Source

“Our strategy is translating into stronger financial results.”

Fred Lowery, Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein

Segments and regions

  • U.S. dental merchandise up 8.6%: U.S. dental merchandise sales rose 8.6% to $660 million, which management attributed primarily to volume from market share gains. Source
  • Global dental merchandise up 7.0%: Global Dental Distribution merchandise sales rose 7.0% in total, including 5.1% internal growth, compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Medical distribution up 1.1%: Global Medical Distribution sales rose 1.1% in total, with 1.0% internal growth, compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Value-added services fell 4.8%: Global Value-Added Services sales decreased 4.8% on both a reported and an internal sales growth basis. Source
  • International sales up 4.8%: International Distribution and Value-Added Services sales rose 4.8% in total: 4.0% constant-currency growth and 0.8% from currency. Source

Products and equipment

  • Dental equipment up 2.3%: Global Dental Distribution equipment sales rose 2.3% in total, with 2.4% internal growth, compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Specialty Products grew 6.1%: Global Specialty Products sales rose 6.1%, with 3.4% internal growth and 2.6% from acquisitions. Source
  • Technology sales up 5.2%: Global Technology sales rose 5.2%, with 6.5% internal growth offset by a 1.3% reduction from a business disposal. Source

“I am very pleased with the U.S. dental merchandise sales growth of 8.6% driven primarily by volume in a stable market”

Fred Lowery, Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein

Costs, margins and tariff refunds

  • Gross profit rose to $1,105 million: Gross profit was $1,105 million against $1,026 million a year earlier, while cost of sales was $2,366 million against $2,313 million. Source
  • Tariff refunds added $0.19 per share: Net tariff refunds recognized in the quarter added $0.19 per diluted share, net of tax, to non-GAAP EPS. The prior year had a $0.23 remeasurement gain. Source
  • Value creation and advisory costs rose: Shareholder advisory and value creation consulting costs were $18 million pre-tax, against $10 million a year earlier, and are excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Operating income rose to $193 million: Operating income was $193 million against $164 million, while restructuring and related costs were $22 million against $34 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Third-quarter buybacks of $125 million: The company repurchased about 1.4 million shares at an average of $86.67 for $125 million in the quarter. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks reached $450 million: Year-to-date, the company repurchased about 5.7 million shares at an average of $79.50, for $450 million in total. Source
  • About $330 million authorization remains: Remaining repurchase authorization was about $330 million at quarter end, down from $455 million at the end of the second quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower year-to-date: Operating cash flow was $161 million in the quarter, against $174 million, and $306 million year-to-date, against $331 million. Source
  • Bank credit lines rose: Bank credit lines were $1,000 million at quarter end, up from $764 million at year-end 2025. Source

Strategy and value creation

  • Share gains cited as driver: Management attributes results to share gains in key businesses, a better portfolio mix and disciplined capital allocation. Source
  • Value creation benefits being realized: Management says the company is realizing benefits from its value creation initiatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Results slides to be posted: The company will post slides summarizing its third-quarter results on its investor website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers served Sourcemore than 1 million customers globally
Branded products in main distribution centers Sourcemore than 300,000

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: The company says it cannot estimate full-year restructuring and related costs without unreasonable effort, and that the unavailable information could be material. Source
  • External: Third-quarter non-GAAP EPS includes a tariff refund benefit, and guidance assumes no significant refunds for the rest of 2026. 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.