EL
Edwards Lifesciences Corp (EW)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 delivered double-digit growth: revenue $1.553B (+14.7% reported; +12.6% adjusted) with strength across TAVR, TMTT, and Surgical; adjusted EPS $0.67; GAAP EPS $0.50 .
- Results beat Street consensus: revenue $1.553B vs $1.497B* and adjusted EPS $0.67 vs $0.5959*; EBITDA also ahead of consensus (actual $464.3M vs $422.3M*) .
- Guidance raised: FY TAVR growth to 7–8% (from 6–7%), adjusted EPS to $2.56–$2.62 (from prior high-end $2.45–$2.55); total company FY sales growth targeted at the high end of 9–10% .
- Near-term catalysts: robust TAVR durability evidence (PARTNER 3 seven-year, PARTNER 2 ten-year), updated ESC/EACTS guidelines including asymptomatic severe AS, and strong tricuspid/mitral data; CFO succession announced (transition by mid-2026) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- TAVR strength: $1.15B sales (+12.4% reported; +10.6% CC), with comparable CC growth in U.S. and OUS; Europe benefited modestly from a competitor exit; Japan improved as market recovers .
- TMTT momentum: $145.2M sales (+59.3% YoY; +53.2% adjusted) driven by PASCAL and EVOQUE; early SAPIEN M3 results in Europe positive; new guidelines support broader use .
- Adjusted operating margin outperformed expectations at 27.5% (helped by stronger sales and deferred spending); Q4 guidance provided for revenue ($1.51–$1.59B) and adjusted EPS ($0.58–$0.64) .
What Went Wrong
- Gross margin contraction: adjusted GM 77.9% vs 80.7% last year, primarily FX-driven; FX lifted reported sales by ~210 bps ($24M) but pressured margins by ~110 bps .
- Elevated non-GAAP adjustments: litigation expense $90.4M and a $40.0M intangible impairment affected GAAP results; adjusted EPS held at $0.67 YoY despite strong top-line growth .
- SG&A intensity rose to 33.1% of sales (vs 31.1% YoY) on investments to support transcatheter therapy growth; management flagged higher second-half OpEx and mid-20s Q4 operating margin .
Financial Results
Revenue and EPS vs prior periods and estimates
Note: Consensus values marked with * are values retrieved from S&P Global.
Margins and OpEx
Segment sales by quarter
Regional sales by quarter
KPIs
Q3 YoY comparison
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our strong results represent another quarter of double-digit sales growth… Based on our better-than-expected performance… we are raising our 2025 sales and EPS guidance.” — Bernard Zovighian, CEO .
- “Third-quarter adjusted operating profit margin of 27.5% benefited from our better-than-expected sales performance and the deferral of certain spending to the fourth quarter… we continue to anticipate full-year 2025 operating margin of 27% to 28%.” — Scott Ullem, CFO .
- On guidelines: “These guidelines… enable a proactive approach to disease management… intervention should be considered for asymptomatic patients… a meaningful step forward from the prior practice of watchful waiting.” .
- On durability: “SAPIEN 3… performance is now proven at 7 years… supported by the 10-year results of the PARTNER 2 trials… sets the stage for continued long-term adoption.” .
- CFO transition: “Scott Ullem… will transition from his role by midyear 2026… will continue in an advisory role.” .
Q&A Highlights
- TAVR strength drivers: unusual lack of typical summer seasonality, renewed clinical focus, extensive new evidence; management does not view Q3 as the “new normal” for TAVR growth trajectory .
- Asymptomatic severe AS: evidence and indication are catalysts; growth in Q3 not yet driven by asymptomatic treatments given coverage constraints; opportunity ahead .
- SAPIEN M3: U.S. approval expected early 2026; controlled launch in Europe focusing on high-quality outcomes and physician training .
- Capacity/efficiency: active programs (Benchmark), AI partnerships for echo screening and workflow to expand cath lab capacity and referrals .
- Pipeline and succession: Alliance/X4 trial completed enrollment end-2024; follow-up ongoing; CFO succession process underway; transition planned by mid-2026 .
Estimates Context
- Revenue and EPS beat Street in Q1–Q3; EBITDA also ahead of consensus in Q3.
Note: Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Where estimates may need to adjust:
- FY adjusted EPS and TAVR growth likely revised upward to reflect raised guidance ($2.56–$2.62 and 7–8% TAVR), and Q4 revenue/EPS guardrails ($1.51–$1.59B; $0.58–$0.64) .
- Margins: expect step-down in Q4 operating margin (mid-20s) given timing of investments; Street models should reflect higher SG&A and FX pressure on GM .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Durable TAVR evidence plus guideline updates are reinforcing demand; Q3 outperformance broad-based across regions with modest Europe tailwind from competitor exit .
- Guidance raised across EPS and TAVR growth; Q4 brackets help frame year-end cadence—watch operating margin step-down from deferred spending .
- TMTT growing >50% YoY with EVOQUE real-world outcomes and early M3 traction; toolbox strategy is compounding adoption across mitral/tricuspid .
- FX remains a margin headwind even as it aids reported sales; hedging/programs mitigate EPS impact vs initial guidance .
- Capacity/AI initiatives (Benchmark, echo screening/workflow partnerships) are tangible levers to sustain procedure growth and referral activation .
- Governance: CFO transition planned by mid-2026 with advisory continuity; share repurchase authorization increased to ~$2.1B supporting capital return flexibility .
- Near-term events: Dec 4 investor conference (2026 outlook), potential U.S. approval for M3 in early 2026; monitor asymptomatic coverage/NCD developments for incremental U.S. TAVR catalysts .