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Solventum Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales fell on advance-order reversal: Net sales were $1.9 billion, down 7.0% reported and 2.8% organic. Management tied the organic decline to a 630 bps reversal of Q2 advance orders placed ahead of the ERP cutover. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell in quarter, rose nine months: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.45, down 3.6%; nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $5.48, up 20.9%. GAAP diluted EPS was $(0.07), against $7.22 a year earlier. Source
  • Dental sales and margin fell: Dental Solutions sales were $317 million, down 6.7% reported and 7.4% organic. Segment operating margin was 20.1%, against 25.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin fell 70 bps: Adjusted operating income margin was 19.9%, against 20.6%. GAAP operating margin was 3.5%, against 80.6%, which included the prior year's gain on sale. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive in quarter: Operating cash flow was $177 million, against $75 million, and free cash flow was $97 million, against $(22) million a year earlier. Management cited an IEEPA tariff refund. Source

“Solventum delivered third quarter results ahead of our expectations, with every segment contributing, even as we completed our largest ERP cutover”

Bryan Hanson, chief executive officer of Solventum

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic sales growth SourceFull year 2026toward the high end of +2.5% to +3.0%Raised from +2.5% to +3.0%
Organic sales growth excluding SKU exit impact SourceFull year 2026toward the high end of +3.5% to +4.0% excluding ~100 bps of SKU exit impactRaised from +3.5% to +4.0%
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$7.20 to $7.30Raised from $7.10 to $7.20
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$200 million to $300 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to $7.20 to $7.30, from $7.10 to $7.20. Source
  • Guidance raised: Organic sales growth guidance moved toward the high end of the +2.5% to +3.0% range, which the company labelled an increase. Source
  • Guidance kept: Free cash flow guidance kept at $200 million to $300 million, the range set in the second quarter. Source
  • New: FDA 510(k) clearance received for combined use of Restrata and V.A.C. Therapy. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales fell on advance-order reversal: Net sales were $1.9 billion, down 7.0% reported and 2.8% organic. Management tied the organic decline to a 630 bps reversal of Q2 advance orders placed ahead of the ERP cutover. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell in quarter, rose nine months: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.45, down 3.6%; nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $5.48, up 20.9%. GAAP diluted EPS was $(0.07), against $7.22 a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month sales declined 2.6% reported: Nine-month net sales were $6,165 million, down 2.6% reported and up 2.9% organic; divestitures reduced reported growth by 6.8 points. Source

Segment results

  • Advanced Wound Care sales rose 8.9%: Advanced Wound Care sales were $528 million, up 8.9% reported and 1.5% organic. Acquisitions contributed 7.2 points, including Acera. Source
  • Infection prevention sales declined: Infection Prevention and Surgical Solutions sales were $683 million, down 5.3% reported and 5.7% organic. MedSurg in total was $1,211 million, down 2.8% organic. Source
  • Dental sales and margin fell: Dental Solutions sales were $317 million, down 6.7% reported and 7.4% organic. Segment operating margin was 20.1%, against 25.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Health Information Systems sales grew: Health Information Systems sales were $356 million, up 3.3% reported and 4.4% organic. Segment operating margin was 41.7%, against 38.8%. Source

“With separation now more than 90% complete and our growth drivers gaining momentum, we are well positioned to accelerate sales growth and expand margins.”

Bryan Hanson, chief executive officer of Solventum

Products and customers

  • Dental warmer won design award: The Filtek Composite Warmer earned a 2026 Red Dot Award for Product Design, cited for its compact form and simplified user interface. Source
  • Bair Hugger named Minnesota product: The Bair Hugger warming system was named 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota, an annual recognition from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Source
  • Software and rentals sales rose: Net sales of software and rentals were $518 million, against $502 million; product net sales were $1,431 million, against $1,594 million. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose on savings: GAAP gross margin was 54.5% and adjusted gross margin was 57.1%, against 54.2% and 55.8% a year earlier. Management cited portfolio optimization, mix and savings programs. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin fell 70 bps: Adjusted operating income margin was 19.9%, against 20.6%. GAAP operating margin was 3.5%, against 80.6%, which included the prior year's gain on sale. Source
  • SG&A rose on restructuring: GAAP SG&A was $813 million, up 4.2%. Adjusted SG&A was $595 million, unchanged from a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring of $50 million excluded: Restructuring costs of $50 million were excluded from adjusted operating income in the quarter. Source

Capital, cash and share repurchases

  • Free cash flow turned positive in quarter: Operating cash flow was $177 million, against $75 million, and free cash flow was $97 million, against $(22) million a year earlier. Management cited an IEEPA tariff refund. Source
  • Cash and short-term debt balances: Cash and cash equivalents were $451 million at September 30, down from $878 million at December 31. Short-term borrowings and current debt were $507 million. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $403 million: Treasury stock purchases were $403 million for the nine months, and 5,346,853 treasury shares were held at September 30. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow fell: Nine-month operating cash flow was $215 million, down 21.5%. Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $247 million, against $316 million. Source

Strategy and portfolio

  • Restructuring tied to Transform program: Restructuring in 2026 primarily relates to the Transform for the Future program, including $6 million of employee termination costs and $44 million of other costs. Source
  • ERP cutovers and 3M agreement exits: About 90% of 3M transition service agreements have been exited, and the ERP system cutovers are described as complete. Source
  • Acera integration into wound care: Management reported continued progress integrating Acera Surgical’s technology into Advanced Wound Care, following the December 2025 acquisition of Acera. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Planned Health Information Systems separation: Management referred to the planned separation of Health Information Systems; the documents give no timing, structure or completion date. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said cash flow came in ahead of its expectations, citing the IEEPA tariff refund. 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.