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Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 9.3% reported: Net sales were $2.087 billion, up 9.3% reported and 2.9% on an organic constant currency basis, against $1.909 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 34.1%: Reported diluted EPS was $1.22 against $0.91. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.09 against $1.81. Net earnings were $238.1 million against $182.0 million. Source
  • Goodwill impairment assessment still open: Management's initial assessment was that no goodwill impairment charge would be recorded in the first quarter. The fair value assessment is still being finalized, so the determination is not complete. Source
  • S.E.T. grew 19.5% reported: S.E.T. net sales were $562.2 million, up 19.5% reported and 17.4% constant currency. Organic growth was 1.6%. S.E.T. covers sports medicine, extremities, trauma, craniomaxillofacial and thoracic products. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 64.6%: Gross margin was 64.6% against 63.3%. Adjusted gross margin was 73.0% against 71.5%, excluding $13.3 million of inventory and manufacturing-related charges. Source
  • Free cash flow was $245.9 million: Operating cash flow was $359.4 million against $382.8 million, and free cash flow was $245.9 million against $278.5 million. Source
  • Share repurchases of $250 million: The company completed $250 million of share repurchases in the quarter. Cash paid for repurchases was $250.1 million against $229.8 million a year earlier. Source

“We are off to a solid start to the year - strategically, operationally and financially,”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported revenue change SourceYear ending December 31, 20262.5% - 4.5%Kept
Foreign currency exchange impact SourceYear ending December 31, 2026+0.5%Kept
Constant currency revenue change SourceYear ending December 31, 20262.0% - 4.0%Kept
Organic constant currency revenue change SourceYear ending December 31, 20261.0% - 3.0%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$8.40 - $8.55Raised from $8.30 - $8.45

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to $8.40 to $8.55 from $8.30 to $8.45. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow expectations for 2026 raised, with no numeric figure given in the release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Reported, constant currency and organic constant currency revenue change ranges were left unchanged from the previous guidance. Source
  • New: Dr. Jonathan M. Vigdorchik named Chief Science, Technology and Medical Affairs Officer. Source
  • New: Paragon 28 subsidiary launched the Phantom Curved TTC Nail System for hindfoot fusion procedures. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 9.3% reported: Net sales were $2.087 billion, up 9.3% reported and 2.9% on an organic constant currency basis, against $1.909 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 34.1%: Reported diluted EPS was $1.22 against $0.91. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.09 against $1.81. Net earnings were $238.1 million against $182.0 million. Source
  • Operating profit and margin increased: Operating profit was $373.2 million, a 17.9% margin, against $292.3 million and 15.3%. Adjusted operating profit was $570.5 million, a 27.3% margin against 26.2%. Source
  • Goodwill impairment assessment still open: Management's initial assessment was that no goodwill impairment charge would be recorded in the first quarter. The fair value assessment is still being finalized, so the determination is not complete. Source

Segments and regions

  • US sales grew 8.6%: United States net sales were $1,209.4 million, up 8.6% reported. Paragon 28 contributed 5.4 points and organic constant currency growth was 3.2%. Source
  • International sales grew 10.3% reported: International net sales were $877.4 million, up 10.3% reported and 4.2% constant currency. Organic constant currency growth was 2.5%. Source
  • Currency and Paragon 28 added growth: Foreign exchange added 2.5 points and the Paragon 28 acquisition added 3.9 points to total net sales growth of 9.3%. Source

“Our first quarter results reflect healthy end markets, continued momentum from our recently launched products and disciplined execution across the business.”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Product categories

  • S.E.T. grew 19.5% reported: S.E.T. net sales were $562.2 million, up 19.5% reported and 17.4% constant currency. Organic growth was 1.6%. S.E.T. covers sports medicine, extremities, trauma, craniomaxillofacial and thoracic products. Source
  • Knees grew 4.5% reported: Knees net sales were $828.6 million, up 4.5% reported and 1.8% organic. US knees grew 2.2%; international knees grew 7.6% reported and 1.3% organic. Source
  • Hips grew 5.7% reported: Hips net sales were $524.1 million, up 5.7% reported and 3.2% organic. US hips grew 5.0% and international hips grew 6.5% reported. Source
  • Technology and data category grew: Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical net sales were $171.8 million, up 14.6% reported and 11.7% on an organic constant currency basis. Source

Product launches and innovation

  • ROSA Knee full launch announced: At the 2026 AAOS annual meeting, the company released new data and showed its portfolio, including the full commercial launch of ROSA Knee with OptimiZe. Source
  • First G7 acetabular case completed: The company completed the first case with the G7 Acetabular System, which received FDA 510(k) clearance in February 2026, for primary and revision hip replacement. Source
  • Phantom Curved TTC nail launched: The Paragon 28 subsidiary launched the Phantom Curved TTC Nail System to support hindfoot fusion procedures. Source
  • MBôs enrollment in India completed: Enrollment finished in the India multi-center study of mBôs, a surgeon-guided autonomous robotic total knee system acquired from Monogram Technologies. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin rose to 64.6%: Gross margin was 64.6% against 63.3%. Adjusted gross margin was 73.0% against 71.5%, excluding $13.3 million of inventory and manufacturing-related charges. Source
  • SG&A expense increased: Selling, general and administrative expense was $849.9 million against $758.8 million. Research and development fell to $103.4 million from $110.6 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges fell sharply: Restructuring and other cost reduction initiatives were $6.3 million against $36.0 million in the prior-year quarter. Acquisition-related costs were $15.6 million against $10.6 million. Source
  • Swiss tax reform benefits recorded: The effective tax rate was 20.9% against 20.3%; the adjusted rate was 18.0% against 18.2%. The adjusted figures exclude Swiss tax reform benefits of $12.1 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow was $245.9 million: Operating cash flow was $359.4 million against $382.8 million, and free cash flow was $245.9 million against $278.5 million. Source
  • Share repurchases of $250 million: The company completed $250 million of share repurchases in the quarter. Cash paid for repurchases was $250.1 million against $229.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt rose to $7.05 billion: Total debt was $7,471.0 million and cash was $424.2 million, giving net debt of $7,046.8 million against $6,927.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Current debt portion increased: The current portion of long-term debt was $1,175.9 million against $587.1 million at year end. Long-term debt was $6,295.1 million against $6,932.0 million. Source

Leadership, investment and sales transformation

  • Chief science and technology officer named: The new officer will oversee strategy, delivery and management of the global technology portfolio, including AI, robotics, smart implants and data. Source
  • Recognized for innovation and ethics: The company was named to FORTUNE's 2026 list of America's Most Innovative Companies and to Ethisphere's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the second straight year. Source
  • Sales transformation proceeding as planned: Management said the go-to-market transformation is proceeding as planned and is part of the basis for the raised EPS and free cash flow expectations. Source
  • Instrument additions rose: Additions to instruments were $77.2 million against $59.7 million. Additions to other property, plant and equipment were $36.3 million against $44.6 million. Source
  • Intangible asset acquisitions increased: Acquisition of intangible assets was $39.0 million against $2.4 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 April 2026

  • Goodwill impairment determination pending: The final impairment determination and any charge will be included in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Source
  • No significant new EU regulation costs expected: Management said it does not expect significant incremental costs from the EU Medical Device Regulation starting January 1, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Inventory charges arise on product lines the company intends to discontinue by 2032; these charges were $1.2 million in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Legacy devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation have a conditional transition period extended to December 2027 or 2028, depending on risk class. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said completing enrollment in the India study helps keep future regulatory and commercialization pathways on track. Source
  • On track: Management said the go-to-market transformation is proceeding as planned, which it described as in line with its plan. 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.