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Steris plc: Q2 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 3 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9% to $1.6 billion: Revenue rose 9% as reported to $1,588.6 million from $1,460.3 million. Constant currency organic growth was 8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.19: Net income attributable to shareholders was $213.7 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, against $1.94. Adjusted EPS was $2.94 against $2.47. Source
  • Guidance update credited to tariff refunds: Management said the update reflects solid underlying performance and the benefit of tariff refunds. Consolidated revenue growth expectations were unchanged. Source
  • Life Sciences capital equipment up 53%: Life Sciences revenue rose 18% to $170.6 million, with constant currency organic growth also at 18%. Operating income was $75.8 million against $59.9 million. Source
  • AST capital equipment down 21%: AST revenue rose 5% to $295.6 million on service growth, while capital equipment revenue fell 21%. AST operating income was $132.1 million. Source
  • Second restructuring plan approved: A separate targeted plan was approved in the quarter, alongside the August 5, 2026 plan. It covers facility realignment, product rationalization and organizational changes, mainly in Healthcare. Source
  • Free cash flow lower on working capital: Six-month free cash flow was $492.5 million against $527.7 million, and operating cash flow was $656.1 million against $707.8 million. Management attributed the decline mainly to a much smaller working capital contribution. Source

“We are pleased with our second quarter performance,”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated revenue growth, as reported SourceFiscal 20277-8%Kept
Consolidated constant currency organic revenue growth SourceFiscal 20276-7%Kept
Adjusted EPS per diluted share SourceFiscal 2027$11.35 to $11.55Raised from $11.10 to $11.30
Tariff refund benefit included in adjusted EPS guidance SourceFiscal 2027, refunds received year to dateapproximately $0.18New
GAAP net income from continuing operations per diluted share SourceFiscal 2027$8.92 - $9.12Kept
Healthcare constant currency organic revenue growth SourceFiscal 20276-7%Kept
Applied Sterilization Technologies constant currency organic revenue growth SourceFiscal 20276-7%Lowered from 7-8%
Life Sciences constant currency organic revenue growth SourceFiscal 20279-10%Raised from 6-7%
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2027 (twelve months ending March 31, 2027)$800.0Kept
Capital expenditures (purchases of property, plant, equipment and intangibles) SourceFiscal 2027(450.0)Kept
Restructuring plan charges (additional plan) SourceTotal planapproximately $45 millionNew
Restructuring plan annualized savings (additional plan) SourceAnnualized, with part in fiscal 2028approximately $9 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2027 raised to $11.35-$11.55 from $11.10-$11.30. Source
  • Guidance raised: Life Sciences constant currency organic growth guidance raised to 9-10% from 6-7%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: AST constant currency organic growth guidance lowered to 6-7% from 7-8%. Source
  • New: A separate targeted restructuring plan was approved in the quarter, in addition to the plan announced August 5, 2026. Source
  • New: Proposed acquisition of Xodus Medical, Inc.; revised fiscal 2027 guidance will include it after closing. Source
  • Ended: Backlog disclosure to be discontinued beginning in fiscal 2028. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9% to $1.6 billion: Revenue rose 9% as reported to $1,588.6 million from $1,460.3 million. Constant currency organic growth was 8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.19: Net income attributable to shareholders was $213.7 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, against $1.94. Adjusted EPS was $2.94 against $2.47. Source
  • Guidance update credited to tariff refunds: Management said the update reflects solid underlying performance and the benefit of tariff refunds. Consolidated revenue growth expectations were unchanged. Source
  • Tariff refunds added pre-tax benefit: Tariff refunds added about $20 million pre-tax to reported results, while gross tariff costs were flat at $15 million for the quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Healthcare revenue up 9%: Healthcare revenue rose 9% to $1,122.4 million. Constant currency organic growth was 7%. Healthcare operating income rose to $269.2 million from $259.5 million. Source
  • Life Sciences capital equipment up 53%: Life Sciences revenue rose 18% to $170.6 million, with constant currency organic growth also at 18%. Operating income was $75.8 million against $59.9 million. Source
  • AST capital equipment down 21%: AST revenue rose 5% to $295.6 million on service growth, while capital equipment revenue fell 21%. AST operating income was $132.1 million. Source
  • United States share steady at 74%: United States revenue was $1,174.4 million, 74% of total, up from $1,075.2 million. International revenue was $388.2 million, 24% of total. Source

“Fiscal 2027 is shaping up to be another record year for STERIS, supported by solid underlying demand and excellent execution from our commercial teams.”

Dan Carestio, President and CEO of STERIS

Costs, margins and restructuring

  • Healthcare income offset by cost pressure: Healthcare operating income rose on volume and price, partly offset by inflation, lower productivity and investments. Source
  • AST income helped by price: AST operating income rose on improved price, partly offset by inflation and increased depreciation. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed: Corporate operating loss was $86.7 million, down from $109.9 million. Corporate costs include the benefit of tariff refunds under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Source
  • Second restructuring plan approved: A separate targeted plan was approved in the quarter, alongside the August 5, 2026 plan. It covers facility realignment, product rationalization and organizational changes, mainly in Healthcare. Source

Cash flow, balance sheet and returns

  • Free cash flow lower on working capital: Six-month free cash flow was $492.5 million against $527.7 million, and operating cash flow was $656.1 million against $707.8 million. Management attributed the decline mainly to a much smaller working capital contribution. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends paid rose: Six-month share repurchases were $215.9 million against $111.1 million. Cash dividends paid were $128.4 million against $118.1 million. Source
  • Long-term debt down, cash up: Cash rose to $531.1 million from $439.6 million at March 31, 2026. Long-term indebtedness fell to $1,650.3 million, while short-term indebtedness rose to $243.1 million. Source

Demand and backlog

  • Backlog disclosure to end: Management expects to stop disclosing backlog from fiscal 2028, calling it a less meaningful indicator of future revenue trends. Source
  • Healthcare backlog up, Life Sciences down: Healthcare backlog rose year on year, while Life Sciences backlog fell, both at the end of the quarter. Source
  • Life Sciences raised on confidence: Management said Life Sciences performance gave it confidence to raise the segment's full-year expectations. Source

Segment guidance changes

  • Segment guidance moved in both directions: Healthcare expectations were kept, AST expectations were lowered, and Life Sciences expectations were raised for fiscal 2027. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Revised guidance after Xodus closing: Management will issue revised fiscal 2027 guidance including the proposed Xodus Medical acquisition once it closes. No closing date is given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$548.9 million (prior year $541.3 million)
Healthcare backlog Source$455.5 million (prior year $427.5 million)
Life Sciences backlog Source$93.4 million (prior year $113.7 million)
Total recurring revenue Source$1,268.0 million (prior year $1,166.8 million)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Inflation, lower productivity and investments partly offset Healthcare operating income gains. Source
  • Financial: A much smaller working capital contribution lowered six-month operating and free cash flow. Source
  • Demand: AST capital equipment revenue fell 21% in the quarter, while service revenue grew 5%. Source
  • Regulatory: Gross tariff costs stayed at $15 million for the quarter, flat with the prior year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The additional restructuring plan sits alongside the August 5, 2026 plan. The documents give no progress update on the earlier plan. Source
  • Not stated: Elements of the prior fiscal 2027 guidance other than adjusted EPS are described as unchanged. 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.