Alcon Inc. (ALC) Earnings
Alcon Inc. is expected to report next earnings on August 18, 2026 (in NaN days), with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.79. ALC has beaten EPS estimates in 8 of its last 12 reported quarters (average surprise +3.1% over the last four).
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2026 | $0.80 | $0.85 | +6.2% | $2.7B | +0.4% |
| Feb 25, 2026 | $0.79 | $0.76 | -3.5% | $2.6B | -3.2% |
| Nov 11, 2025 | $0.77 | $0.79 | +2.6% | $2.6B | -3.6% |
| Aug 19, 2025 | $0.71 | $0.76 | +7.0% | $2.6B | -2.1% |
| Feb 25, 2025 | $0.70 | $0.72 | +2.9% | $2.5B | +1.4% |
| Aug 20, 2024 | $0.74 | $0.74 | +0.0% | $2.5B | -0.4% |
| Feb 27, 2024 | $0.68 | $0.69 | +1.5% | $2.5B | +2.4% |
| Nov 14, 2023 | $0.67 | $0.66 | -1.5% | $2.3B | +1.8% |
| Aug 15, 2023 | $0.62 | $0.69 | +11.3% | $2.4B | +4.2% |
| Feb 27, 2023 | $0.42 | $0.42 | +0.0% | $2.2B | -0.8% |
| Nov 15, 2022 | $0.48 | $0.50 | +4.2% | $2.1B | +2.5% |
| Feb 15, 2022 | $0.49 | $0.56 | +14.3% | $2.1B | +1.9% |
Source: company filings + earnings calendar. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Earnings call summary
Q1 FY2026 · May 6, 2026
AI summary of management’s prepared remarks and analyst Q&A. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Management highlights
• New product launches like Unity VCS, PanOptix Pro, True Plus, Valeda, contact lens reusables, and dry eye products showed strong market acceptance and share gains. • Unity platform saw momentum with VCS and CS launches, expanding installed base. • Valeda for dry AMD had encouraging early adoption with reimbursement progress. • Contact lens reusable portfolio innovations drove share gains. • Ocular health products like Tryptyr and SustainPro strengthened leadership in dry eye category. • AI being used to enhance R&D, operations, and commercial insights for better performance.
Guidance
• Expect constant currency sales growth between 5% and 7%. • Core operating margin expansion of 70-170 basis points, with majority in second half. • Core diluted EPS growth between 10% and 13%. • Board approved $1.5 billion share repurchase program over 3 years. • Dividend of $0.28 teams per share approved to be paid on or around May 7.
Segment performance
Surgical franchise revenue was up 6% year-over-year to $1.5 billion in Q1. Implantable sales were $438 million, up 1%, with PanOptix Pro growth continuing well. Consumables sales were $769 million, up 4%. Equipment sales were $253 million, up 23% driven by Unity. Vision Care sales were $1.2 billion, up 6%, with contact lens sales up 4% and ocular health sales up 10% led by dry eye portfolio. Contact lens reusable portfolio drove share gains. Ocular health over-the-counter artificial tears had high single-digit growth, and Pharmaceuticals' Tryptyr performed well with share capture.
Analyst Q&A
Q: About implantable category growth, how much surgical glaucoma and China VBP affected?
A: Glaucoma implantables had reimbursement change and supply issue, China had inventory comp effect. Core growth in US was good, PanOptix Pro doing well globally.
Q: Thoughts on market momentum for surgical side and contact lenses?
A: Surgical market had weather/strike effects but confident in 3%-4% range. Contact lenses gaining share in reusables but DAILIES legacy business mixed.
Q: Effect of Unity renewals on monofocal IOL growth?
A: Unity presence in OR helps sell more products, gaining share in monofocal globally.
Q: AT-IOL well penetration in Europe and surgical market demand translation?
A: Europe PC AT-IOL penetration up, surgical market demand translation needs practice pattern adaptation like office-based surgery.
Q: Contact lens growth drivers and geographic performance?
A: Drivers include new products and mix shift. US IOL share stabilized by PanOptix Pro, international products to follow.
Q: Operating margin guidance and segment growth post Q1?
A: 70-170 basis point improvement expected, Q2 light due to SG&A investment, growth to improve in back half with new product acceleration.
Q: Tryptyr contribution and TruePlus launch impact?
A: Tryptyr refill rates good, expanding coverage. TruePlus a good monofocal option to recapture share.
Q: Implantables growth and competitive launches?
A: Excited about PanOptix Pro in Europe, competitive launches baked into growth numbers but confident in performance.
Q: China IOL market and Orion update?
A: China IOLs ~5% of business, VBP to be watched. Orion Phase III data midyear, launch in Japan.
Q: Unity equipment growth and M&A?
A: Unity expected to continue growth, controlled launch of DX. M&A still focused on single product tuck-ins in 50-500 range.