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Stryker Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales grew in both quarter and year: Consolidated net sales were $7.2 billion for the quarter, up 11.4%, and $25.1 billion for the full year, up 11.2%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 11.8% for year: Adjusted diluted EPS was $4.47 in the quarter, up 11.5%, and $13.63 for the year, up 11.8%. Source
  • MedSurg and Neurotech sales grew 17.5%: MedSurg and Neurotechnology sales were $4.6 billion in the quarter, up 17.5%, and $15.6 billion for the year, up 15.7%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 100 bps: Adjusted operating income margin was 30.2% in the quarter and 26.3% for the year, both up 100 bps; adjusted gross margin was 65.2% and 65.3%. Source
  • Management cites momentum and procedure volumes: Management cited momentum exiting 2025, healthy procedural volumes and demand for capital products as the basis for 2026 expectations. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for the year: Net cash provided by operating activities was $5,044 million for the year, against $4,242 million a year earlier. Source

“We had an outstanding finish to 2025, driving double-digit sales and adjusted earnings per share growth for the fourth quarter and full year while delivering adjusted operating margin expansion of at least 100 basis points for the second consecutive year”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO, Stryker

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic net sales growth Source2026 full year8.0% to 9.5%New
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share Source2026 full year$14.90 to $15.10New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company issued 2026 guidance: organic net sales growth of 8.0% to 9.5% and adjusted diluted EPS of $14.90 to $15.10. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales grew in both quarter and year: Consolidated net sales were $7.2 billion for the quarter, up 11.4%, and $25.1 billion for the full year, up 11.2%. Source
  • Organic growth of 11% in quarter: Organic net sales grew 11.0% in the quarter and 10.3% for the full year. Source
  • Reported net earnings rose in quarter: Reported net earnings were $0.8 billion in the quarter, up 55.5%, and $3.2 billion for the year, up 8.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 11.8% for year: Adjusted diluted EPS was $4.47 in the quarter, up 11.5%, and $13.63 for the year, up 11.8%. Source

Segments and regions

  • MedSurg and Neurotech sales grew 17.5%: MedSurg and Neurotechnology sales were $4.6 billion in the quarter, up 17.5%, and $15.6 billion for the year, up 15.7%. Source
  • Acquisitions added to MedSurg growth: In the quarter, acquisitions added 4.0 points to MedSurg and Neurotechnology growth, and organic growth was 12.6%. Source
  • Orthopaedics sales rose 2.2% in quarter: Orthopaedics sales were $2.6 billion in the quarter, up 2.2%, and $9.5 billion for the year, up 4.3%. Source
  • Orthopaedics organic growth 8.4% in quarter: Orthopaedics organic net sales rose 8.4% in the quarter and 9.5% for the year, with prices 0.1% lower in both periods. Source
  • United States sales grew 11.7% in quarter: United States sales were $5.4 billion in the quarter, up 11.7%, and $19.0 billion for the year, up 12.2%. Source
  • International sales rose 10.6% in quarter: International sales were $1.7 billion in the quarter, up 10.6% (6.3% constant currency), and $6.1 billion for the year, up 8.1%. Source

“Having surpassed $25 billion in revenue, we enter 2026 with significant momentum and are poised to continue delivering growth at the high end of MedTech.”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO, Stryker

Products and customers

  • Vascular grew fastest for the year: Vascular sales were $1,968 million for the year, up 50.6%, the highest growth rate among the product lines reported. Source
  • Endoscopy and Medical both grew: Endoscopy sales were $3,807 million for the year, up 12.3%, and Medical sales were $4,204 million, up 9.1%. Source
  • Neuro Cranial sales rose 16.3%: Neuro Cranial sales were $2,485 million for the year, up 16.3%. Source
  • Trauma and Extremities sales rose 12.6%: Trauma and Extremities sales were $3,948 million for the year, up 12.6%. Source
  • Spinal Implants sales fell 73.9%: Spinal Implants sales were $185 million for the year against $707 million, down 73.9%. Source

Margins, costs and reported earnings

  • Adjusted operating margin up 100 bps: Adjusted operating income margin was 30.2% in the quarter and 26.3% for the year, both up 100 bps; adjusted gross margin was 65.2% and 65.3%. Source
  • Reported gross and operating margins: Reported gross margin was 64.5% in the quarter and 64.0% for the year; reported operating margin was 25.2% and 19.5%. Source
  • Impairments fell from prior-year levels: Goodwill and other impairments were $7 million in the quarter against $956 million a year earlier, and $170 million for the year against $977 million. Source
  • Special charges excluded from adjusted results: Structural optimization and other special charges totalled $98 million in operating income in the quarter and were excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Reported diluted EPS rose 56% in quarter: Reported diluted EPS was $2.20 in the quarter, up 56.0%, and $8.40 for the year, up 8.2%. Source

Demand, currency and acquisition effects

  • Quarter currency and acquisition bridge: Currency added 1.0 point to reported quarterly sales growth, and acquisitions and divestitures subtracted 0.6 point. Source
  • Year currency and acquisition bridge: For the year, currency added 0.5 point and acquisitions and divestitures added 0.4 point to reported sales growth. Source
  • Management cites momentum and procedure volumes: Management cited momentum exiting 2025, healthy procedural volumes and demand for capital products as the basis for 2026 expectations. Source

Cash flow and capital deployment

  • Operating cash flow rose for the year: Net cash provided by operating activities was $5,044 million for the year, against $4,242 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition cash spending rose: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $4,960 million for the year against $1,628 million. Source
  • Capital spending on equipment: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $761 million for the year against $755 million. Source
  • Net debt borrowings increased: Net borrowings of debt were $1,579 million for the year against $940 million. Source
  • Dividend payments rose to $1.28 billion: Dividend payments were $1,284 million for the year against $1,219 million. Source

Balance sheet and share count

  • Cash rose; short-term investments nil: Cash and cash equivalents were $4,011 million at year-end, against $3,652 million, and short-term investments were nil against $750 million. Source
  • Inventories rose to $5.3 billion: Inventories were $5,310 million at year-end, against $4,774 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles rose to $25 billion: Goodwill and other intangibles, net, were $24,972 million, against $20,250 million. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $14.9 billion: Long-term debt, excluding current maturities, was $14,859 million, against $12,188 million. Source
  • Diluted share count edged higher: Diluted weighted-average shares were 386.5 million for the quarter, against 386.1 million, and 386.5 million for the year, against 385.6 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Unit volume growth within organic net sales (quarter / full year) Source10.9% / 9.9%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Costs to comply with medical device regulations totalled $38 million in operating income for the year. Source
  • Regulatory: Recall-related matters totalled $58 million in full-year operating income, of which $54 million sat in gross profit. Source
  • Financial: Fourth-quarter tax matters charges of $589 million included $565 million from transfers of certain intellectual property between tax jurisdictions. Source
  • Operational: Acquisition and integration charges for the year included $140 million of stock compensation payments upon a change in control. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management described delivering at least 100 basis points of adjusted operating margin expansion for a second straight year. 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.