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Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Third quarter sales grew 3.1% reported: Net sales were $2,062.9 million, up 3.1% reported and 3.7% constant currency from $2,001.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell; adjusted EPS flat: Diluted EPS was $1.00, down 13.8% from $1.16. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.90, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Net earnings attributable were $191.6 million. Source
  • Hips, S.E.T. and T&D grew: Hips rose 6.0% reported and 7.0% constant currency. S.E.T. rose 6.8%. Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical rose 11.9%, or 13.0% constant currency. Source
  • Knees sales declined in quarter: Knees sales were $767.5 million, down 3.1% reported and 2.6% constant currency. International Knees fell 4.5% reported; United States Knees fell 2.0%. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin fell to 71.7%: Adjusted gross margin was 71.7% against 72.6%. GAAP gross margin was 63.1% against 63.2%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 25.1%: Adjusted operating profit was $518.8 million, a 25.1% margin, against $531.0 million and 26.5%. GAAP operating profit was $307.6 million. Source
  • Restructuring and manufacturing plans began: Global restructuring programs and manufacturing network optimization plans were initiated in September 2026, covering reorganization of key businesses and cost reduction. Source

“This broad-based performance gives us confidence to raise our full-year organic constant-currency sales growth and adjusted EPS guidance.”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
2026 reported revenue change Sourceyear ending December 31, 20264.4% - 4.9%Narrowed, low end up from 3.9% - 4.9%
Foreign currency exchange impact Sourceyear ending December 31, 2026+0.25%Lowered from +0.5%
2026 constant currency revenue change Sourceyear ending December 31, 20264.1% - 4.6%Raised from 3.4% - 4.4%
2026 organic constant currency revenue change Sourceyear ending December 31, 2026, excluding Paragon 28 through its April 2026 anniversary3.0% - 3.5%Raised from 2.25% - 3.25%
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourceyear ending December 31, 2026$8.50- $8.60Raised from $8.47 - $8.59

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Organic constant currency revenue change, constant currency revenue change and adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised; reported revenue change low end raised. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Foreign currency exchange impact assumption reduced to +0.25% from +0.5%. Source
  • New: Three executives promoted to accelerate U.S. commercial transformation. Source
  • New: Extension of a multi-year limited exclusive distribution and supply agreement with THINK Surgical, supporting the robotics portfolio. Source
  • New: Global restructuring and manufacturing network optimization programs initiated in September 2026. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Third quarter sales grew 3.1% reported: Net sales were $2,062.9 million, up 3.1% reported and 3.7% constant currency from $2,001.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell; adjusted EPS flat: Diluted EPS was $1.00, down 13.8% from $1.16. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.90, unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Net earnings attributable were $191.6 million. Source
  • Quarter operating and free cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $560.0 million and free cash flow $372.4 million, against $418.7 million and $277.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month net sales up 5.7%: Nine-month net sales were $6,326.6 million, up 5.7% reported, 5.0% constant currency and 3.5% organic constant currency, which excludes Paragon 28. Source

Geographic sales

  • United States sales up 3.6%: United States net sales were $1,205.6 million, up 3.6% on both reported and constant currency bases. Source
  • International sales up 2.4% reported: International net sales were $857.2 million, up 2.4% reported and 3.9% constant currency. Source
  • Nine-month geographic growth figures: Nine-month United States sales rose 5.9% reported and 3.8% organic constant currency. International rose 5.3% reported and 3.2% organic constant currency. Source

“Our Hips, S.E.T. and Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical franchises - representing two-thirds of our book of business - grew at upper single digit or double-digit rates”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Franchise and product results

  • Hips, S.E.T. and T&D grew: Hips rose 6.0% reported and 7.0% constant currency. S.E.T. rose 6.8%. Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical rose 11.9%, or 13.0% constant currency. Source
  • Knees sales declined in quarter: Knees sales were $767.5 million, down 3.1% reported and 2.6% constant currency. International Knees fell 4.5% reported; United States Knees fell 2.0%. Source
  • Nine-month S.E.T. and T&D growth: Nine-month S.E.T. sales rose 10.5% reported and 4.1% on an organic constant currency basis. Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical rose 16.0% reported. Source
  • Nine-month Knees roughly flat: Nine-month Knees sales were $2,425.0 million, up 0.6% reported and down 0.2% constant currency. Hips rose 5.5% reported over the nine months. Source

Margins, costs and tax

  • Adjusted gross margin fell to 71.7%: Adjusted gross margin was 71.7% against 72.6%. GAAP gross margin was 63.1% against 63.2%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 25.1%: Adjusted operating profit was $518.8 million, a 25.1% margin, against $531.0 million and 26.5%. GAAP operating profit was $307.6 million. Source
  • SG&A rose; R&D fell: SG&A was $855.0 million against $811.4 million. Research and development was $105.9 million against $115.9 million. Restructuring charges were $14.4 million against $21.4 million. Source
  • Acquisition line turned to expense: Acquisition, integration, divestiture and related was an expense of $19.6 million, against $34.4 million of income in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Effective tax rate lower: Effective tax rate was 16.2% against 17.2%. Adjusted effective tax rate was 17.6% against 17.8%. Source

“We are very pleased with our solid third quarter results, growing net sales 3.7% on a constant-currency basis”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Cash flow, debt and buybacks

  • Nine-month free cash flow $926.5 million: Nine-month free cash flow was $926.5 million against $803.8 million, after additions to instruments of $274.4 million and other property, plant and equipment of $166.3 million. Source
  • Share repurchases rose in nine months: Repurchases of common stock were $579.3 million in the nine months, against $237.0 million. Dividends paid were $139.2 million, against $142.8 million. Source
  • Net debt higher than at year-end: Net debt was $7,104.3 million at September 30, 2026, against $6,927.2 million at December 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents were $399.9 million. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average shares were 191.4 million in the quarter, against 198.8 million. Basic shares were 190.5 million, against 198.1 million. Source
  • Additions to instruments and PP&E rose: Quarter additions to instruments were $111.8 million, against $86.0 million. Additions to other property, plant and equipment were $75.8 million, against $55.1 million. Source

Strategy, robotics and portfolio

  • THINK Surgical agreement extended: Management extended a multi-year limited exclusive distribution and supply agreement with THINK Surgical, citing the most comprehensive robotics portfolio. Source
  • Restructuring and manufacturing plans began: Global restructuring programs and manufacturing network optimization plans were initiated in September 2026, covering reorganization of key businesses and cost reduction. Source
  • Foot and ankle launches: The foot and ankle portfolio was expanded with the Megalodon Dynamic Compression System and the SmartShot Marrow Access Device. Source
  • Charlotte training facility opened: A new Zimmer Biomet Institute facility opened in Charlotte, N.C., to expand medical education and training for surgeons across the eastern U.S. Source

Leadership and recognition

  • Three executives promoted: Gary Campbell, Brian Hatcher and Bradley Kessler were promoted to accelerate the U.S. commercial transformation. Source
  • Named to TIME's 2026 list: The company was named to TIME's 2026 World's Best Companies, after also being recognized on TIME's 2026 list of America's Best Companies. Source
  • Comeback Club formed: The Comeback Club was formed with the Arthritis Foundation to celebrate life after joint replacement and share patient success stories. Source

Non-GAAP items and tax

  • Swiss tax reform benefits in quarter: Swiss tax reform benefits were $5.9 million in the quarter, against $8.0 million a year earlier. Nine-month benefits were $31.2 million. Source
  • Litigation charges excluded from adjusted results: Litigation charges of $1.8 million were excluded from adjusted results in the quarter. Nine-month litigation charges excluded were $14.1 million. Source
  • Intangible amortization excluded from adjusted EPS: Intangible asset amortization of $166.0 million was excluded from adjusted results, adding $0.69 per diluted share in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Continued momentum and mission focus: Management said it believes the company will continue to build on this momentum while advancing its Mission. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Inventory and manufacturing-related charges include excess and obsolete inventory charges on product lines to be discontinued by 2032. These are excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Financial: Changes in estimated fair values of contingent consideration from updated net sales forecasts for certain acquisitions affected the acquisition line in both periods. Source
  • Regulatory: The transition period for legacy medical devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation was conditionally extended to December 2027 or 2028, depending on risk class. Source
  • External: Currency reduced reported growth by 0.6 points overall in the quarter, and by 1.5 points for International sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it does not expect significant incremental compliance costs under the regulation from January 1, 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 related to accelerated vesting agreed in the Paragon 28 merger agreement. 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.