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Stryker Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 9.4%: Reported net sales were $6.6 billion, up 9.4%. Constant currency growth was 9.0%, and organic growth was also 9.0%, with no contribution from acquisitions or divestitures. Source
  • Reported diluted EPS rose 44.1%: Reported diluted EPS was $3.30, up 44.1%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.69, up 17.9%. Source
  • MedSurg and Neuro grew 9.7%: MedSurg and Neurotechnology sales were $3.6 billion, up 9.7% reported and 9.2% in constant currency, with organic growth of 9.2%. Source
  • Orthopaedics grew 9.1%: Orthopaedics sales were $3.0 billion, up 9.1% reported and 8.7% in constant currency, with organic growth of 8.6%. Source
  • Tariff reversal of $158 million: A $158 million reversal of 2025 tariffs raised reported gross profit and operating income. It is removed from adjusted results, with a $25 million tax effect. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 27.4%: Adjusted operating margin was 27.4%, up from 25.7%. Adjusted gross margin was 66.0%, up from 65.4%. Source
  • 2026 ranges narrowed: Organic sales growth is now expected at 8.3% to 9.3%, from 8.0% to 9.5%. Adjusted EPS is now expected at $14.95 to $15.10, from $14.90 to $15.10. Source

“We made significant progress in our recovery from the cyber incident, delivering strong growth in sales, earnings per share and operating cash flow in the second quarter,”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic net sales growth SourceFull year 20268.3% to 9.3%
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share SourceFull year 2026$14.95 to $15.10Raised from $14.90 to $15.10

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year ranges narrowed. The EPS floor rose from $14.90 to $14.95, the organic sales floor rose from 8.0% to 8.3%, and the sales ceiling fell from 9.5% to 9.3%. Source
  • New: A $158 million reversal of 2025 tariffs appears as an adjusting item this quarter. The first-quarter release did not include this item. Source
  • New: Nick Mead, Vice President, Investor Relations, is now listed as the investor contact. The first-quarter release named Jason Beach. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 9.4%: Reported net sales were $6.6 billion, up 9.4%. Constant currency growth was 9.0%, and organic growth was also 9.0%, with no contribution from acquisitions or divestitures. Source
  • Reported diluted EPS rose 44.1%: Reported diluted EPS was $3.30, up 44.1%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.69, up 17.9%. Source
  • First-half sales rose 6.1%: Six-month reported net sales were $12.6 billion, up 6.1%, and constant currency growth was 5.0%. Six-month reported diluted EPS was $5.23, up 31.4%. Source
  • Cyber incident recovery referenced: The first-quarter release said management was pleased with the team’s recovery from the cyber incident and its ability to keep delivering for customers.

Segments and regions

  • MedSurg and Neuro grew 9.7%: MedSurg and Neurotechnology sales were $3.6 billion, up 9.7% reported and 9.2% in constant currency, with organic growth of 9.2%. Source
  • Orthopaedics grew 9.1%: Orthopaedics sales were $3.0 billion, up 9.1% reported and 8.7% in constant currency, with organic growth of 8.6%. Source
  • International sales rose 11.0%: International sales were $1.6 billion, up 11.0% reported and 9.2% in constant currency. United States sales were $5.0 billion, up 8.9%. Source

“As we have seen in the past, the resilience of our teams when faced with challenges was once again on display.”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO

Products and business lines

  • Medical sales rose 13.4%: Medical sales were $1.1 billion, up 13.4% reported. Endoscopy sales were $1.0 billion, up 11.7%, and Instruments sales were $1.0 billion, up 9.3%. Source
  • Trauma and Extremities up 11.9%: Trauma and Extremities sales were $1.1 billion, up 11.9%. Ortho Tech sales were $717 million, up 10.3%. Knees rose 8.4% and Hips rose 2.9%. Source
  • Vascular sales slightly lower: Vascular sales were $496 million, down 0.7% reported and 1.8% in constant currency. United States Vascular fell 6.7%, while international Vascular rose 6.3%. Source
  • Spinal Implants sales fell 36.7%: Spinal Implants sales were $3 million, down 36.7% reported. Six-month sales were $5 million, against $171 million a year earlier. Source
  • Neuro Cranial sits within Instruments: Instruments includes Neuro Cranial sales of $681 million against $616 million, following the realignment that combined Neuro Cranial with the remaining Instruments business. Source

Margins, costs and charges

  • Reported gross margin was 68.3%: Reported gross margin was 68.3%, against 63.8% a year earlier. Reported operating margin was 25.2%, against 18.5%. Source
  • Tariff reversal of $158 million: A $158 million reversal of 2025 tariffs raised reported gross profit and operating income. It is removed from adjusted results, with a $25 million tax effect. Source
  • Special charges rose to $95 million: Structural optimization and other special charges reduced operating income by $95 million, against $11 million a year earlier. Other charges within that total were $70 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 27.4%: Adjusted operating margin was 27.4%, up from 25.7%. Adjusted gross margin was 66.0%, up from 65.4%. Source
  • Selling and G&A expenses rose 7.2%: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.2 billion, up 7.2%. Research, development and engineering expenses were $434 million, up 6.6%. Source
  • Reported tax rate rose to 18.4%: Reported effective tax rate was 18.4%, against 13.0% in the prior-year quarter. Source

“With our steady cadence of innovation and disciplined operational execution, we enter the second half of 2026 with regained momentum and remain confident in our ability to grow at the high end of MedTech.”

Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Six-month operating cash flow $1.8 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,842 million for the six months, against $1,361 million a year earlier. The release gives no separate quarterly cash flow total. Source
  • Cash and long-term debt both lower: Cash and cash equivalents were $3,391 million at June 30, against $4,011 million at December 31. Long-term debt excluding current maturities was $14,192 million, against $14,859 million. Source
  • Net debt repaid in six months: Net debt payments were $750 million for the six months, compared with $2,331 million of net borrowings a year earlier. Source
  • Shareholders' equity rose: Shareholders' equity was $23,988 million at June 30, up from $22,420 million at December 31. Source

Capital spending and shareholder returns

  • Capital spending rose to $368 million: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $368 million for the six months, against $306 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition spending much smaller: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $459 million for the six months, against $4,814 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividend payments rose: Dividend payments were $674 million for the six months, against $641 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count little changed: Diluted weighted-average shares were 386.0 million in the quarter, against 386.4 million a year earlier. The release gives no share repurchase figures. Source

Full-year guidance

  • 2026 ranges narrowed: Organic sales growth is now expected at 8.3% to 9.3%, from 8.0% to 9.5%. Adjusted EPS is now expected at $14.95 to $15.10, from $14.90 to $15.10. Source
  • Pricing expected modestly positive: Management said the sales guidance includes a modestly positive pricing impact. Source
  • Currency expected slightly favorable: Foreign exchange is expected to have a slightly favorable impact on sales and adjusted EPS if rates hold near current levels. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
MedSurg and Neurotechnology organic growth from unit volume Source9.1%
Orthopaedics organic growth from unit volume Source8.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Costs to update quality systems, labeling and remanufacturing for new EU medical device regulations were $5 million in the quarter and $10 million for six months. Source
  • Regulatory: Recall-related and regulatory or legal amounts are based on changing best estimates. The quarter included $2 million of recall-related and $3 million of regulatory and legal operating adjustments. Source
  • Financial: Tax items from transferring certain intellectual properties between tax jurisdictions were a $55 million charge in the quarter, against $45 million a year earlier, and are excluded from adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release committed to meeting the guidance. The second-quarter release narrowed the ranges and does not state whether the commitment is met.
  • Met: Management states the Ortho Tech changes are reflected in all historical periods presented, as the first-quarter release said prior periods would be recast. 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.