Boston Scientific cuts 2026 profit forecast as Q3 sales rise 1.5%

Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) said on Oct. 28 it now expects 2026 adjusted EPS of $3.16 to $3.18, down from the $3.28 to $3.32 it forecast in July, after third-quarter net sales rose 1.5% to $5.138 billion.

Shares fell 2.9% in premarket trading as of 6:37 a.m. ET, from a regular-session close of $45.06.

Here's how the company did:

• Adjusted EPS: 73 cents vs. 75 cents a year earlier, 72 cents expected, according to Finnhub
• GAAP EPS: 40 cents vs. 51 cents a year earlier
• Revenue: $5.138 billion vs. $5.065 billion a year earlier, in line with the $5.1 billion expected, according to Finnhub

Adjusted EPS of 73 cents was above the 72-cent consensus estimate compiled by Finnhub. Revenue of $5.138 billion was in line with the $5.1 billion consensus estimate compiled by Finnhub.

Net sales grew 1.5% on reported, operational and organic bases, the company said in a press release furnished with an 8-K filed on Oct. 28.

GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders was $582 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with $755 million, or 51 cents, a year earlier.

Chairman and chief executive officer Mike Mahoney said: “This has been a challenging year for Boston Scientific and I’m proud of how our global teams have responded, particularly to the cybersecurity incident, working with urgency and resilience to restore operations and continue supporting customers and patients.”

The release refers to a cybersecurity incident first reported on Aug. 26, 2026.

2026 guidance

The company now estimates full-year 2026 net sales growth of about 4.25% on a reported basis and about 3.75% on an organic basis. Its July 29 release had forecast 5.5% to 6.5% reported growth and 5% to 6% organic growth.

Adjusted EPS guidance is $3.16 to $3.18, against $3.28 to $3.32 in July.

For the fourth quarter, the company expects net sales to decline 3.0% to 1.0% on both reported and organic bases, and adjusted EPS of 77 cents to 79 cents.

The July forecast for the third quarter was sales growth of 3% to 5% and adjusted EPS of 80 cents to 82 cents. Third-quarter sales growth came in at 1.5%, and adjusted EPS at 73 cents.

The company has not reconciled its adjusted EPS guidance to GAAP guidance. It cited the difficulty of predicting intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition-related charges, restructuring and litigation-related charges.

Segment and regional sales

Cardiovascular sales rose 1.9% to $3.406 billion, and MedSurg sales rose 0.6% to $1.733 billion. Neuromodulation grew 13.1% to $331 million, while Urology fell 3.2% to $661 million and Endoscopy fell 0.8% to $741 million.

U.S. sales rose 0.5% to $3.309 billion. Sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa rose 4.4% reported and 6.1% operational. Asia-Pacific fell 0.6% reported, and Latin America and Canada rose 16.0% reported and 10.5% operational.

Costs and charges

Operating income was $828 million, down from $1.048 billion a year earlier. Litigation-related net charges were $81 million, against none a year earlier.

Restructuring net charges were $63 million, compared with an $8 million credit in the year-earlier quarter. Intangible asset impairment charges were $39 million, against none.

For the first nine months, net sales were $15.784 billion, against $14.788 billion, and adjusted EPS was $2.39, against $2.26.

Product and clinical updates

The company began enrolling patients in the Elite AF clinical trial of its next-generation WATCHMAN Elite left atrial appendage closure device, in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

The FDA cleared two technologies within the StoneSmart Solutions ecosystem, the Navigator Flex Ureteral Access Sheath Set and the LithoVue Elite Single-Use Digital Flexible Ureteroscope with temperature sensing. It also cleared an expanded size offering of the SEISMIQ Intravascular Lithotripsy Peripheral Catheter.

The American Medical Association assigned Category I CPT codes to renal denervation devices, such as the investigational TIVUS Renal Denervation System, and to implantable tibial nerve stimulation devices, including the eCoin ITNS System. The codes are effective January 2028.

The company entered a strategic collaboration with Heartflow, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTFL) to advance AI-powered, CT-guided planning for percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. It will also explore integrating Heartflow's PCI Navigator with the AVVIGO+ Multi-Modality Guidance System.