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Stryker Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 2.6% to $6.0 billion: Net sales were $6,020 million against $5,866 million, up 2.6% reported and 1.0% in constant currency. Organic growth was 2.4%. Source
  • Reported EPS rose while adjusted EPS fell: Reported diluted EPS was $1.93, up 14.2%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.60, down 8.5% from $2.84, after excluded items such as amortization and special charges. Source
  • Orthopaedics organic growth of 4.1%: Sales were $2,813 million against $2,810 million, up 0.1% reported and down 1.8% in constant currency. Acquisitions and divestitures reduced reported growth by 5.9 points. Source
  • Structural charges of $118 million: Structural optimization and other special charges were $118 million in operating income, against $41 million. The largest item was $81 million for terminating sales relationships in certain countries. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin down 180 bps: Adjusted operating income margin was 21.1% against 22.9%, a contraction of 180 basis points. Reported operating income margin was 15.5% against 14.3%. Source
  • Net debt repayment of $1.0 billion: Net debt payments were $1,000 million, against $2,979 million of net borrowings a year earlier. Long-term debt was $14,224 million at March 31, against $14,859 million at December 31. Source
  • Ortho Tech combines instruments and Mako: Management says the change simplifies the customer experience and aims to increase speed to market through focused innovation. Source

“I am pleased with our team’s ability to recover quickly from the cyber incident and continue delivering for our customers and their patients,”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic net sales growth Sourcefull year 20268.0% to 9.5%Kept
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share Sourcefull year 2026$14.90 to $15.10Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A new Ortho Tech business combines orthopaedic instruments from Instruments with Mako and enabling technologies from Other Orthopaedics. Source
  • New: Neuro Cranial and spine enabling technologies were moved into the remaining Instruments business to match internal reporting. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 2.6% to $6.0 billion: Net sales were $6,020 million against $5,866 million, up 2.6% reported and 1.0% in constant currency. Organic growth was 2.4%. Source
  • Reported EPS rose while adjusted EPS fell: Reported diluted EPS was $1.93, up 14.2%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.60, down 8.5% from $2.84, after excluded items such as amortization and special charges. Source
  • Adjusted net earnings near $1.0 billion: Adjusted net earnings were $1,004 million against $1,097 million. Reported net earnings were $745 million, up 13.9% from $654 million. Source
  • Organic growth compared with prior quarter: Organic growth of 2.4% compares with 11.0% organic growth reported for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Segments and geographic mix

  • MedSurg and Neurotechnology sales up 5.0%: Sales were $3,207 million against $3,056 million, up 5.0% reported and 3.6% in constant currency. Organic growth was 0.9%, with price contributing 0.6 points. Source
  • Orthopaedics organic growth of 4.1%: Sales were $2,813 million against $2,810 million, up 0.1% reported and down 1.8% in constant currency. Acquisitions and divestitures reduced reported growth by 5.9 points. Source
  • United States flat, international up 8.3%: United States sales were $4,476 million, up 0.8%. International sales were $1,544 million, up 8.3% reported and 1.5% in constant currency, from $1,426 million. Source

“We remain committed to meeting our full year guidance for organic sales growth and adjusted earnings per share as our underlying business momentum remains strong.”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO

Product lines and customers

  • Vascular sales up 27.5%: Vascular sales were $517 million against $406 million. International Vascular sales rose 37.9% as reported. Source
  • Instruments sales up 9.9%: Instruments sales were $920 million against $838 million, up 9.9% reported and 8.7% in constant currency. Source
  • Medical sales declined 4.6%: Medical sales fell to $902 million from $945 million. Endoscopy was flat at $868 million against $867 million. Source
  • Trauma and Extremities up 9.5%: Trauma and Extremities sales rose to $1,035 million from $945 million. Knees rose 4.7% to $670 million and Hips 3.7% to $460 million. Source
  • Spinal Implants sales fell sharply: Spinal Implants sales were $2 million against $166 million, a decline of 98.9% reported. Source
  • Ortho Tech sales up 4.8%: Ortho Tech sales were $646 million against $617 million, made up of orthopaedic instruments of $489 million and other orthopaedics of $157 million. Source

Costs and special charges

  • Structural charges of $118 million: Structural optimization and other special charges were $118 million in operating income, against $41 million. The largest item was $81 million for terminating sales relationships in certain countries. Source
  • SG&A slightly lower year on year: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2,281 million, down 0.8% from $2,300 million. Adjusted SG&A was 35.8% of net sales, against 35.9%. Source
  • R&D and amortization both higher: Research, development and engineering expenses were $413 million, up 2.0%. Amortization of intangible assets was $180 million, up 7.8%. Source
  • Cost of sales up 4.1%: Cost of sales was $2,210 million against $2,122 million, up 4.1% on net sales of $6,020 million. Source

Margins, pricing and tax

  • Adjusted operating margin down 180 bps: Adjusted operating income margin was 21.1% against 22.9%, a contraction of 180 basis points. Reported operating income margin was 15.5% against 14.3%. Source
  • Gross margins lower on both bases: Adjusted gross profit margin was 63.6% against 65.5%. Reported gross profit margin was 63.3% against 63.8%. Source
  • Higher prices added 0.3 points: Price contributed 0.3 points to organic growth, including 0.6 points within MedSurg and Neurotechnology. Orthopaedics organic growth was attributed only to unit volume. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate rose to 14.5%: Adjusted effective tax rate was 14.5% against 13.7%. Reported effective tax rate was 12.4% against 14.4%. Source

Cash, debt and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $581 million: Net cash from operating activities was $581 million against $250 million. Changes in operating assets, liabilities and taxes absorbed $464 million, against $676 million. Source
  • Net debt repayment of $1.0 billion: Net debt payments were $1,000 million, against $2,979 million of net borrowings a year earlier. Long-term debt was $14,224 million at March 31, against $14,859 million at December 31. Source
  • Cash balance down $1.1 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,878 million at March 31, down from $4,011 million at December 31. Acquisitions used $22 million, against $4,749 million. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $166 million: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $166 million, against $123 million. Source
  • Dividends paid $337 million: Dividend payments were $337 million, against $320 million. Diluted weighted-average shares were 386.5 million, against 386.4 million. Source

Reorganization and operations

  • Ortho Tech combines instruments and Mako: Management says the change simplifies the customer experience and aims to increase speed to market through focused innovation. Source
  • Segment history published on website: Segment quarterly revenues for 2023, 2024 and 2025 are on the investor relations website, reflecting the new structure as if effective for those periods. Source
  • Recovery from cyber incident credited: Management credited the team with recovering quickly from the cyber incident while continuing to deliver for customers and patients. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Organic unit volume growth, consolidated Source2.1%
MedSurg and Neurotechnology organic unit volume growth Source0.3%
Orthopaedics organic unit volume growth Source4.1%

Risks management discussed

  • External: The expected favorable foreign exchange effect on sales and adjusted EPS depends on rates staying near current levels. Source
  • Financial: Management said the financial impact of structural, acquisition, regulatory, legal and tax items is uncertain and could be material. Source
  • Regulatory: Management lists costs to comply with medical device regulations, recall-related matters, and regulatory and legal matters among items that affect reported earnings. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to meeting the full-year 2026 organic sales growth and adjusted EPS guidance it maintained. 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.