Alcon, the eye care company, reported third-quarter sales of $2.7 billion, up 5% on a reported and constant currency basis against the same quarter of 2025. Diluted earnings per share rose 13% to $0.54, while core diluted earnings per share rose 15% to $0.91, ahead of the $0.89 forecast reported by StockInvest.us. The results were published on 10 November 2026, with a conference call scheduled for 11 November.

Surgical sales rose 4% to $1.48 billion. Within that division, consumables rose 6% to $789 million and equipment sales rose 11% to $269 million, helped by equipment launches including the Unity platform. Implantables fell 2% to $422 million, which Alcon linked to competitive pressure on intraocular lenses in the United States. Vision Care sales rose 6% to $1.24 billion, with contact lenses up 4% to $737 million and ocular health up 8% to $500 million, led by dry eye products.

Outlook tightened despite the beat

Alcon narrowed its full-year guidance for 2026. It now expects net sales growth of about 6% on a constant currency basis, against a previous range of 5% to 7%, and core diluted earnings per share growth of 12% to 14%, against a previous range of 12% to 15%. Core operating margin is now expected to improve by 100 to 150 basis points, against a previous range of 90 to 190 basis points.

For the first nine months of 2026, sales were $8.2 billion, up 7%, while core diluted earnings per share rose 14% to $2.60. Reported diluted earnings per share for the nine months fell 40% to $0.92, mainly because of a post-tax charge of about $287 million linked to discontinuing the PowerVision programmes. Free cash flow for the nine months was $1.3 billion, against $1.2 billion a year earlier.

Shareholder returns and efficiency savings

Alcon returned $210 million to shareholders in the third quarter through share repurchases, and $748 million in total so far this year through dividends and repurchases. About $1.0 billion remains under its previously announced $1.5 billion repurchase authorisation. The company also expanded its efficiency measures in November, with total costs now estimated at about $230 million and expected run-rate savings raised to about $130 million, from about $100 million.

Chief Executive David J. Endicott said: "We remain on track for our 2026 objectives with year-to-date sales growth of six percent and double-digit core EPS growth, despite some specific areas of competitive pressure." Read the Alcon third-quarter results on Business Wire and the Seeking Alpha report on the results.