CC
COOPER COMPANIES, INC. (COO)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 delivered mixed results: revenue rose 6% y/y to $1.060B but came in below expectations; non-GAAP EPS grew 15% y/y to $1.10 on margin expansion, while GAAP EPS dipped to $0.49 .
- Management raised full‑year non‑GAAP EPS guidance to $4.08–$4.12 (from $4.05–$4.11 in Q2) despite lowering revenue guidance, citing strong operational execution and free cash flow .
- Key swing factors: softer Clarity orders and weakness in APAC pure-play e‑commerce offsetting strong MyDay momentum and EMEA performance; Q4 guide embeds caution on the pace of conversion from fitting to revenue .
- Street context: COO beat consensus EPS and slightly missed revenue in Q3; EBITDA tracked below consensus. The company highlighted tariff mitigation and a three‑year ~$2B free cash flow target as medium‑term catalysts .
- Near‑term stock reaction catalysts: raised EPS guidance and robust FCF in Q3 ($165M), plus MyDay fitting momentum and >30 new private-label MyDay wins set up FY26 trajectory .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- MyDay regained momentum; multifocal grew ~20% and premium MyDay variants (toric, multifocal, Energys) posted double‑digit growth as fitting sets and trial lens activity accelerated globally .
- EMEA became CVI’s largest region, growing 14% reported (6% organic) with strong MyDay fitting activity and share gains; CSI gained share in EMEA fertility consumables/genomics .
- Operational execution drove margin expansion and EPS outperformance; non‑GAAP gross margin rose 70 bps to 67% and operating margin reached 26%, enabling a full‑year EPS guidance raise .
- “We delivered strong margins, double-digit earnings growth, and robust free cash flow… revenues were below expectations but we're raising earnings guidance… expect improving revenue in Q4 and fiscal 2026 driven by MyDay®” — Al White, CEO .
What Went Wrong
- Clarity softness: customers paused Clarity orders to prioritize MyDay fittings, notably in Japan/Asia-Pac; this unexpectedly pressured near-term revenue .
- APAC pure‑play e‑commerce weakness (especially China) persisted with pricing aggression from competitors; impact to profitability minimal due to low margins in that channel .
- CSI fertility cycles in Asia‑Pac remained soft; clinics delayed capital purchases, pressuring CSI growth; PARAGARD volumes declined y/y (offset by pricing) with Q3 a softer quarter .
- GAAP gross margin and operating margin declined y/y (65% vs 66%, and 17% vs 19%) due to a product line exit at CSI .
Financial Results
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic focus: “We expect operating margin expansion as we lever prior investment activity” — CEO .
- Product positioning: “MyDay Multifocal grew 20%… full family has considerable upside as we expand availability and deepen penetration” — CEO .
- Near‑term caution: “We’re guiding to 2%–4% organic growth [CVI] to avoid being overly optimistic about the ramp of MyDay” — CEO .
- Capital allocation: “We expect to generate approximately $2,000,000,000 in free cash flow over the next three fiscal years” — CFO .
- Tariffs: “We’ve begun implementing mitigation strategies… impact approximately $24,000,000 lower than previously anticipated… more than offset through disciplined operating expense management” — CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- Clarity vs. MyDay cannibalization: In several APAC markets (e.g., Japan) accounts paused Clarity to prioritize MyDay fittings; Clarity margins are slightly better than MyDay .
- APAC e‑commerce: Ongoing competitive pricing pressure, especially China; low margin impact but revenue headwind .
- Guidance conservatism: Q4 modeled similar to Q3 to avoid over‑optimism about fitting conversion; interest expense ~$21M; tax rate 14–15% .
- Free cash flow trajectory: Stair‑step improvements with CapEx normalization post MyDay capacity build; ~$2B over three years .
- CSI dynamics: Fertility soft in APAC; clinics delaying equipment; PARAGARD volume declines offset by pricing; competitive product still not launched .
Estimates Context
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Interpretation: Q3 EPS beat; revenue slight miss; EBITDA below consensus. Management cited margin execution and cost discipline for EPS strength amid near‑term revenue headwinds .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Non‑GAAP EPS beat and FY EPS guidance raised despite revenue headwinds — margin discipline and lower interest/tax support earnings resilience .
- MyDay capacity constraints are resolved; fitting/trial activity and >30 private‑label wins should convert into revenue over coming quarters; Q4 guide prudently cautious on timing .
- Clarity softness and APAC e‑commerce pricing remain near‑term drags; impact to profitability limited; watch Japan/China normalization .
- EMEA momentum is notable with CVI leadership and robust MyDay adoption; supports share gains into FY26 .
- CSI fertility cycles soft; clinics delaying capex; long‑term secular drivers intact; near‑term growth modest (Q4 CSI guide 2–4% organic) .
- Free cash flow inflecting: Q3 $165M; three‑year ~$2B target implies deleveraging and buyback capacity, supporting equity value .
- Tariff headwind managed via mitigation and OpEx efficiency; potential incremental industry pricing actions could provide offset .