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Stryker reports first quarter 2026 operating results

Portage, Michigan, April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stryker (NYSE:SYK) reported operating results for the first quarter of 2026:

First Quarter Results

  • Reported net sales increased 2.6% to $6.0 billion
  • Organic net sales increased 2.4%
  • Reported operating income margin of 15.5%
  • Adjusted operating income margin(1) contracted 180 bps to 21.1%
  • Reported EPS increased 14.2% to $1.93
  • Adjusted EPS(1) decreased 8.5% to $2.60
  First Quarter Net Sales Growth Overview
  Reported   Foreign Currency Exchange   Constant Currency   Acquisitions / Divestitures   Organic
MedSurg and Neurotechnology         5.0         %           1.4         %           3.6         %           2.7         %           0.9         %
Orthopaedics         0.1                     1.9                     (1.8)                    (5.9)                    4.1          
Total         2.6         %           1.6         %           1.0         %           (1.4)            %           2.4         %

“I am pleased with our team’s ability to recover quickly from the cyber incident and continue delivering for our customers and their patients,” said Kevin A. Lobo, Chair and CEO. “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.”

In the first quarter 2026 Stryker announced a change in our organizational structure. Our new Ortho Tech business combines the orthopaedic instruments portfolio from our Instruments business with the Mako and enabling technologies portfolio from our Other Orthopaedics business. By bringing Mako, power tools, cutting accessories, enabling technologies and the teams behind these products together under one business, we are simplifying the customer experience and striving to increase our speed to market through focused innovation. Prior period segment information has been recast to reflect these changes and they will have no impact on our consolidated financial statements. On our Investor Relations website at investors.stryker.com, we have provided additional information on our segment quarterly revenues for 2023, 2024 and 2025 that reflects the change in our organizational structure and other changes as if they had been effective for the periods presented.

Sales Analysis

Consolidated net sales of $6.0 billion increased 2.6% in the quarter and 1.0% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 2.4% in the quarter including 2.1% from increased unit volume and 0.3% from higher prices.

MedSurg and Neurotechnology net sales of $3.2 billion increased 5.0% in the quarter and 3.6% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 0.9% in the quarter including 0.3% from increased unit volume and 0.6% from higher prices.

Orthopaedics net sales of $2.8 billion increased 0.1% in the quarter and decreased 1.8% in constant currency. Organic net sales increased 4.1% in the quarter from increased unit volume.

Earnings Analysis

Reported net earnings of $745 million increased 13.9% in the quarter. Reported net earnings per diluted share of $1.93 increased 14.2% in the quarter. Reported gross profit margin and reported operating income margin were 63.3% and 15.5% in the quarter. Reported net earnings include certain items, such as charges for acquisition and integration-related activities, the amortization of purchased intangible assets, structural optimization and other special charges, goodwill and other impairments, costs to comply with certain medical device regulations, recall-related matters, regulatory and legal matters and tax matters. Excluding the aforementioned items, adjusted gross profit margin(1) was 63.6% in the quarter, and adjusted operating income margin(1) was 21.1% in the quarter. Adjusted net earnings(1) of $1.0 billion decreased 8.5% in the quarter. Adjusted net earnings per diluted share(1) of $2.60 decreased 8.5% in the quarter.

2026 Outlook

We are maintaining our full year 2026 guidance of organic net sales growth(2) in the range of 8.0% to 9.5% and adjusted net earnings per diluted share(2) in the range of $14.90 to $15.10. Our sales guidance includes a modestly positive pricing impact. Additionally, foreign exchange is expected to have a slightly favorable impact on both sales and adjusted net earnings per diluted share(2) should rates hold near current levels.

(1) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures: adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating income margin, adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per diluted share, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures: gross profit margin, operating income and operating income margin, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, and other important information accompanies this press release.

(2) We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of our expected net sales growth to expected organic net sales growth as we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the impact and timing of acquisitions and divestitures and the impact of foreign currency exchange rates. We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of our expected net earnings per diluted share to expected adjusted net earnings per diluted share as we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the impact and timing of structural optimization and other special charges, acquisition-related expenses and the outcome of certain regulatory, legal and tax matters. The financial impact of these items is uncertain and is dependent on various factors, including timing, and could be material to our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Conference Call on Thursday, April 30, 2026

As previously announced, we will host a conference call on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss our operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 and provide an operational update.

Please register for this conference call at: https://stryker-1q2026-earnings.open-exchange.net. After registering, a confirmation will be sent via email, including dial-in details and unique conference call access codes required for call entry. Registration is open throughout the live call. To ensure you are connected prior to the beginning of the call, we suggest registering a minimum of 15 minutes before the start of the call.

A simultaneous webcast of the call will be accessible via the Investor Relations page of our website at www.stryker.com. For those not planning to ask a question of management, we recommend listening via the webcast. Please allow 15 minutes to register, download and install any necessary software.

Following the conference call, a replay will be available on our website up to one year from the time of the earnings call.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains information that includes or is based on forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law that are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: weakening of economic conditions, or the anticipation thereof, that could adversely affect the level of demand for our or Inari's products; geopolitical risks, including from tariffs and the potential for further changes in trade policies and international conflicts, which have led to and could continue to lead to, among other things, increased market volatility; pricing pressures generally, including cost-containment measures that have adversely affected and could in the future adversely affect the price of or demand for our or Inari’s products; changes in foreign currency exchange markets; legislative and regulatory actions; unanticipated issues arising in connection with clinical studies and otherwise that affect approval of new products, including Inari's products, by the United States Food and Drug Administration and foreign regulatory agencies; inflationary pressures; increased interest rates or interest rate volatility; supply chain disruptions; changes in labor markets; changes in coverage and reimbursement levels from third-party payors; changes in the competitive environment; breaches, failures or other disruptions of our or our vendors’ or customers’ information technology systems or products resulting from cyber-attack, data leakage, unauthorized access or theft, including the cybersecurity incident first reported on March 11, 2026; a significant increase in product liability claims; the ultimate total cost with respect to recall-related and other regulatory and quality matters; the impact of investigative and legal proceedings and compliance risks; resolution of tax audits; changes in tax laws and regulations; the impact of legislation to reform the healthcare system in the United States or other countries; costs to comply with medical device regulations; changes in financial markets; changes in our credit ratings; our ability to integrate and realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions in full or at all or within the expected timeframes, including our acquisition of Inari; our ability to realize any anticipated cost savings; risks relating to climate change or other environmental, social and governance and sustainability related matters; the impact on our operations and financial results of any public health emergency and any related policies and actions by governments or other third parties; unexpected liabilities, costs, charges or expenses in connection with the acquisition of Inari; and the effects of the Inari transaction on the parties’ relationships with employees, customers, other business partners or governmental entities. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by law.

Stryker is a global leader in medical technologies and, together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology and Orthopaedics that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside our customers around the world, we impact more than 150 million patients annually. More information is available at www.stryker.com.

For investor inquiries:

Jason Beach, Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations at 269-385-2600 or jason.beach@stryker.com

For media inquiries:
Kim Montagnino, Vice President, Chief Communications Officer at 269-385-2600 or kim.montagnino@stryker.com

STRYKER CORPORATION
For the Three Months March 31
(Unaudited - Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
           
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
           
  Three Months
    2026               2025             % Change
Net sales $         6,020             $         5,866                     2.6         %
Cost of sales           2,210                       2,122                     4.1          
Gross profit $         3,810             $         3,744                     1.8         %
% of sales           63.3         %             63.8         %    
Research, development and engineering expenses           413                       405                     2.0          
Selling, general and administrative expenses           2,281                       2,300                     (0.8)         
Amortization of intangible assets           180                       167                     7.8          
Goodwill and other impairments           —                       35             nm
Total operating expenses $         2,874             $         2,907                   (1.1)          %
Operating income $         936             $         837                     11.8         %
% of sales           15.5         %             14.3         %    
Other income (expense), net           (86)                      (73)                    17.8         %
Earnings before income taxes $         850             $         764                     11.3         %
Income taxes           105                       110                     (4.5)         
Net earnings $         745             $         654                     13.9         %
Net earnings per share of common stock:          
Basic $         1.95             $         1.71                     14.0         %
Diluted $         1.93             $         1.69                     14.2         %
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions):          
Basic   382.9       381.7      
Diluted   386.5       386.4      


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
  March 31   December 31
    2026             2025        
Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $         2,878           $         4,011        
Marketable securities           87                     89        
Accounts receivable, net           3,571                     4,039        
Inventories           5,419                     5,310        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets           1,383                     1,306        
Total current assets $         13,338           $         14,755        
Property, plant and equipment, net           3,887                     3,876        
Goodwill and other intangibles, net           24,704                     24,972        
Noncurrent deferred income tax assets           1,193                     1,098        
Other noncurrent assets           3,169                     3,143        
Total assets $         46,291           $         47,844        
Liabilities and shareholders' equity      
Current liabilities $         6,315           $         7,794        
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities           14,224                     14,859        
Income taxes           403                     402        
Other noncurrent liabilities           2,370                     2,369        
Shareholders' equity           22,979                     22,420        
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $         46,291           $         47,844        


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
  Three Months
    2026               2025          
Operating activities      
Net earnings $         745             $         654          
Depreciation           120                       105          
Amortization of intangible assets           180                       167          
Changes in operating assets, liabilities, income taxes payable and other, net           (464)                      (676)         
Net cash provided by operating activities $         581             $         250          
Investing activities      
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired $         (22)            $         (4,749)         
Proceeds/(Purchases) of short-term investments           —                       750          
Purchases of property, plant and equipment           (166)                     (123)         
Other investing, net           3                       (14)         
Net cash used in investing activities $         (185)           $         (4,136)         
Financing activities      
Borrowings (payments) of debt, net $         (1,000)          $         2,979          
Payments of dividends           (337)                    (320)         
Other financing, net           (173)                    (125)         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $         (1,510)          $         2,534          
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents           (19)                    20          
Change in cash and cash equivalents $         (1,133)          $         (1,332)         


STRYKER CORPORATION
For the Three Months March 31
(Unaudited - Millions of Dollars)


SALES GROWTH ANALYSIS
  Three Months
          Percentage Change
    2026             2025          As Reported Constant
Currency
Geographic:            
United States $         4,476           $         4,440                   0.8         %         0.8         %
International           1,544                     1,426                   8.3                   1.5          
Total $         6,020           $         5,866                   2.6         %         1.0         %
Segment:            
MedSurg and Neurotechnology $         3,207           $         3,056                   5.0         %         3.6         %
Orthopaedics           2,813                     2,810                   0.1                   (1.8)         
Total $         6,020           $         5,866                   2.6         %         1.0         %


SUPPLEMENTAL SALES GROWTH ANALYSIS
  Three Months
          Percentage Change
            United States   International
    2026             2025           As Reported Constant Currency   As Reported   As Reported Constant Currency
MedSurg and Neurotechnology:                      
Instruments $         920           $         838                   9.9         %         8.7         %           9.1         %           14.0         %         7.0         %
Endoscopy           868                     867                   0.1                   (1.0)                    (1.2)                    6.0                   —          
Medical           902                     945                   (4.6)                  (5.6)                    (6.9)                    8.3                   1.1          
Vascular           517                     406                   27.5                   24.0                     37.9                     17.0                   10.5          
  $         3,207           $         3,056                   5.0         %         3.6         %           3.2         %           11.7         %         5.1         %
Orthopaedics:                      
Knees $         670           $         639                   4.7         %         2.8         %           1.4         %           13.5         %         6.1         %
Hips           460                     443                   3.7                   1.2                     2.3                     6.0                   (0.3)         
Trauma and Extremities           1,035                     945                   9.5                   7.4                     7.6                     15.3                   6.8          
Ortho Tech           646                     617                   4.8                   3.2                     2.0                     12.9                   6.5          
  $         2,811           $         2,644                   6.3         %         4.3         %           4.0         %           12.2         %         4.9         %
Spinal Implants           2                     166                   (98.9)                  (99.0)                    (100.0)                    (96.2)                  (96.6)         
  $         2,813           $         2,810                   0.1         %         (1.8)         %           (2.0)        %           5.5         %         (1.3)         %
Total $         6,020           $         5,866                   2.6         %         1.0         %           0.8         %           8.3         %         1.5         %

Note: In the first quarter 2026 we announced a change in our organizational structure. Our new Ortho Tech business combines the orthopaedic instruments portfolio (Orthopaedic Instruments) from Instruments with Other Orthopaedics. In addition, Neuro Cranial and the spine enabling technologies portfolio (Enabling Technologies) from Other Orthopaedics was combined with the remaining Instruments business to align with our internal reporting structure. Ortho Tech includes sales related to Orthopaedic Instruments of $489 and $484 and Other Orthopaedics of $157 and $133. Instruments includes sales related to Neuro Cranial of $606 and $563 and Enabling Technologies of $26 and $29 for the three months 2026 and 2025. We have reflected these changes in all historical periods presented.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, including: percentage sales growth in constant currency; percentage organic sales growth; adjusted gross profit; adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses; adjusted research, development and engineering expenses; adjusted operating income; adjusted other income (expense), net; adjusted income taxes; adjusted effective income tax rate; adjusted net earnings; and adjusted net earnings per diluted share (Diluted EPS). We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful information to assist investors and shareholders in understanding our financial results and assessing our prospects for future performance. Management believes percentage sales growth in constant currency and the other adjusted measures described above are important indicators of our operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of or are unrelated to our core operating results and provide a baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for reviewing the operating results of reportable business segments and analyzing potential future business trends in connection with our budget process and bases certain management incentive compensation on these non-GAAP financial measures.

To measure percentage sales growth in constant currency, we remove the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates that affect the comparability and trend of sales. Percentage sales growth in constant currency is calculated by translating current and prior year results at the same foreign currency exchange rate. To measure percentage organic sales growth, we remove the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, acquisitions and divestitures, which affect the comparability and trend of sales. Percentage organic sales growth is calculated by translating current year and prior year results at the same foreign currency exchange rates excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestitures. To measure earnings performance on a consistent and comparable basis, we exclude certain items that affect the comparability of operating results and the trend of earnings. The income tax effect of each adjustment was determined based on the tax effect of the jurisdiction in which the related pre-tax adjustment was recorded. These adjustments are irregular in timing and may not be indicative of our past and future performance.

Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported sales growth, gross profit, selling, general and administrative expenses, research, development and engineering expenses, operating income, other income (expense), net, income taxes, effective income tax rate, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures below, provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors and shareholders to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

The following reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding used in the calculation of adjusted net earnings per diluted share are the same as those used in the calculation of reported net earnings per diluted share for the respective period.

STRYKER CORPORATION
For the Three Months March 31
(Unaudited - Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
                   
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to the Most Directly Comparable GAAP Financial Measures
Three Months 2026 Gross Profit Selling, General & Administrative Expenses Research, Development & Engineering Expenses Operating Income Other Income (Expense), Net Income Taxes Net Earnings Effective
Tax Rate
Diluted EPS
Reported $         3,810           $         2,281           $         413           $         936           $       (86)            $         105         $         745                   12.4         % $         1.93        
Reported percent net sales           63.3         %           37.9         %           6.9         %           15.5         %         (1.4)        % nm           12.4         %    
Acquisition and integration-related costs:                  
Inventory stepped-up to fair value           —                     —                     —                     —                     —                     —                   —                   —                     —        
Other acquisition and integration-related (a)           2                     (13)                    (4)                    19                     —                     4                   15                   0.1                     0.04        
Amortization of purchased intangible assets           —                     —                     —                     180                     —                     30                   150                   0.6                     0.38        
Structural optimization and other special charges (b)           14                     (104)                    —                     118                  (11)                     25                   82                   1.1                     0.21        
Goodwill and other impairments (c)           —                     —                     —                     —                     —                     —                   —                   —                     —        
Medical device regulations (d)           —                     —                     (5)                     5                     —                     1                   4                   —                     0.01        
Recall-related matters (e)           1                     (9)                     —                     10                     —                     2                   8                   0.1                     0.02        
Regulatory and legal matters (f)           —                     (3)                     —                     3                     —                     1                   2                   —                     0.01        
Tax matters (g)           —                     —                     —                     —                     —                     2                   (2)                  0.2                     —        
Adjusted $         3,827           $         2,152           $         404           $         1,271           $         (97)           $         170         $         1,004                   14.5         % $         2.60        
Adjusted percent net sales           63.6         %           35.8         %           6.7         %           21.1         %         (1.6)       % nm           16.7         %    


Three Months 2025 Gross Profit Selling, General & Administrative Expenses Research, Development & Engineering Expenses Operating Income Other Income (Expense), Net Income Taxes Net Earnings Effective
Tax Rate
Diluted EPS
Reported $         3,744           $         2,300           $         405           $         837           $      (73)            $         110           $         654                   14.4         % $         1.69        
Reported percent net sales           63.8         %           39.2         %           6.9         %           14.3         %         (1.2)        % nm           11.1         %    
Acquisition and integration-related costs:                  
Inventory stepped-up to fair value           34                     —                     —                     34                     —                     8                     26                   0.5                      0.07        
Other acquisition and integration-related (a)           13                     (171)                    (1)                     185                     —                     6                     179                (2.5)                     0.47        
Amortization of purchased intangible assets           —                     —                     —                     167                     —                     34                     133                   1.4                     0.35        
Structural optimization and other special charges (b)           22                     (19)                    —                     41                     —                     14                     27                   1.0                     0.07        
Goodwill and other impairments (c)           —                     —                     —                     35                     —                     9                     26                   0.7                     0.06        
Medical device regulations (d)           1                     —                     (11)                    12                     —                     3                     9                   0.1                     0.02        
Recall-related matters (e)           31                     (2)                    —                     33                     —                     8                     25                   0.5                     0.06        
Regulatory and legal matters (f)           —                     —                     —                     —                     —                     1                     (1)                   —                     —        
Tax matters (g)           —                     —                     —                     —                     —                     (19)                    19                (2.4)                    0.05        
Adjusted $         3,845           $         2,108           $         393           $         1,344           $         (73)          $         174           $         1,097                   13.7         % $         2.84        
Adjusted percent net sales           65.5         %           35.9         %           6.7         %           22.9         %         (1.2)      % nm           18.7         %    

nm - not meaningful

(a) Charges represent certain acquisition and integration-related costs associated with acquisitions, including:

  Three Months
    2026             2025          
Employee retention and workforce reductions $         3           $         16          
Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration           3                     (2)         
Manufacturing integration costs           5                     4          
Stock compensation payments upon a change in control           —                     139          
Other integration-related activities (e.g., deal costs and legal entity rationalization)           8                     28          
Adjustments to Operating Income $         19           $         185          
Other income taxes related to acquisition and integration-related costs           4                     6          
Adjustments to Income Taxes $         4           $         6          
Adjustments to Net Earnings $         15           $         179          

(b) Structural optimization and other special charges represent the costs associated with:

  Three Months
    2026               2025        
Employee retention and workforce reductions $         7             $         32        
Closure/transfer of manufacturing and other facilities (e.g., site closure, contract termination and redundant employee costs)           5                       5        
Product line exits           2                       3        
Termination of sales relationships in certain countries           81                       —        
Other charges           23                       1        
Adjustments to Operating Income $         118             $         41        
Adjustments to Other Income (Expense), Net $         (11)            $                 
Adjustments to Income Taxes $         25             $         14        
Adjustments to Net Earnings $         82             $         27        

(c) Goodwill and other impairments represent the costs associated with:

  Three Months
    2026            2025        
Certain long-lived and intangible asset write-offs and impairments $         —           $         34        
Product line exits (e.g., long-lived asset and specifically-identified intangible asset write-offs)           —                     1        
Adjustments to Operating Income $                    $         35        
Adjustments to Income Taxes $                    $         9        
Adjustments to Net Earnings $                    $         26        

(d) Charges represent the costs specific to updating our quality system, product labeling, asset write-offs and product remanufacturing to comply with the medical device reporting regulations and other requirements of the new medical device regulations in the European Union.
(e) Charges represent changes in our best estimate of the probable loss, or the minimum of the range of probable losses when a best estimate within a range is not known, to resolve certain recall-related matters.
(f) Charges represent changes in our best estimate of the probable loss, or the minimum of the range of probable losses when a best estimate within a range is not known, to resolve certain regulatory or other legal matters and the amount of favorable awards from settlements.
(g) Benefits / (charges) represent the accounting impact of certain significant and discrete tax items, including:

  Three Months
    2026         2025    
Adjustments related to the transfer of certain intellectual properties between tax jurisdictions $         (20)      $         (47)   
Other tax matters   22         28    
Adjustments to Income Taxes $         2       $         (19)   
Adjustments to Other Income (Expense), Net $                 $              
Adjustments to Net Earnings $         (2)      $         19    



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