Medtronic plc (MDT) Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY25 revenue $8.93B (+5.4% organic) and non-GAAP EPS $1.62, both ahead of Street; consensus was $8.83B and $1.58, respectively, while EBITDA missed versus consensus ($2.22B vs $2.76B)* .
- Growth led by Cardiovascular (+7.8% organic), with Cardiac Ablation Solutions nearly +30% and TAVR Evolut strength; Diabetes posted its 6th straight double-digit quarter (+12% organic) .
- FY26 guide: ~5% organic revenue growth, ~4% EPS growth ex-tariffs; EPS $5.50–$5.60 including tariffs (COGS headwind $200–$350mm, back-half weighted). Q1 FY26 EPS guided to $1.22–$1.24 .
- Strategic catalyst: announced separation of Diabetes via IPO/split-off within 18 months; expected to lift Medtronic margins (~+50bps gross, ~+100bps operating) and be EPS accretive immediately upon completion .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Cardiovascular acceleration: CAS nearly +30% on PFA adoption; CV portfolio +7.8% organic with double-digit Structural Heart and strong CRM (Micra +17%, 3830 lead +19%) .
- Neuroscience momentum: Neuromodulation +10% with U.S. Pain Stim mid-teens growth and BrainSense Adaptive DBS FDA approval/launch; CST U.S. +6.7% on AiBLE ecosystem pull-through .
- Earnings leverage: adjusted operating margin 27.8% (+90bps YoY; +200bps cc) and non-GAAP EPS +11% YoY, supported by pricing and COGS efficiencies (labor, insourcing, scrap reduction) .
Management quote: “We had a strong finish to our fiscal year, growing 5.4%… translated our revenue growth into leveraged earnings with high single-digit operating profit and low double-digit EPS growth” .
What Went Wrong
- Gross margin mix headwinds (~80bps) from CAS capital mix and Diabetes ramp; adjusted gross margin 65.1% (−70bps YoY) .
- Specialty Therapies declined low-single digits in Q4, and CPV was roughly flat (−0.1% reported; +1.0% organic) .
- Tariffs risk: FY26 COGS headwind $200–$350mm, weighted to Q3/Q4 (~30%/~60% of full-year impact), though mitigation plans underway .
Financial Results
Versus S&P Global consensus (Q4 FY25):
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Segment breakdown (Q4 FY25 vs Q4 FY24):
Selected KPIs (quarterly trajectory):
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Cardiac Ablation Solutions growth accelerated as forecasted to nearly 30%… our Sphere‑9 focal catheter is the most desired PFA catheter on the market, and we’re seeing large centers switch to Medtronic” — Geoffrey Martha .
- “We intend to separate the Diabetes business… upon full separation, we’re expecting our adjusted gross and operating margins to improve by approximately 50 and 100 basis points, respectively” — Thierry Piéton .
- “Our adjusted operating margin was 27.8%, an increase of 90 basis points… savings from our COGS efficiency programs more than offset the impact of inflation” — Thierry Piéton .
- “CMS has indicated that they will finalize the NCD on or before October 11… Many large health care systems are establishing outpatient Symplicity service lines today” — Geoffrey Martha .
Q&A Highlights
- Guidance construction: Operating profit growth ~7% ex‑tariffs, with below‑line headwinds (tax to ~18%, higher interest rates). Teams targeting upside via cost programs and pricing .
- Tariff phasing/impact: Net FY26 COGS $200–$350mm; minimal in Q1, ~10% of full‑year in Q2, ~30% in Q3, ~60% in Q4; mitigation actions underway .
- CAS ramp to $2B: High demand for Affera; multi‑system installations at leading centers; supply chain scaled; Sphere360 driving excitement .
- RDN ramp vs PFA: RDN a longer ramp given patient work‑up; viewed as a durable growth driver post‑coverage .
- Portfolio strategy: Diabetes spin enables focus on higher‑margin B2B growth areas; management sees more portfolio actions and tuck‑in M&A ahead .
Estimates Context
- Q4 FY25 revenue and EPS beat: $8.93B vs $8.83B consensus; $1.62 vs $1.58 EPS. EBITDA missed vs consensus ($2.22B vs $2.76B)*.
- Implications: Street likely to adjust EBITDA estimates to reflect gross margin mix from CAS capital and Diabetes ramp. Management reiterated operating leverage trajectory and mitigation of tariffs .
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Growth drivers are compounding: PFA/CAS, Evolut TAVR, AiBLE spine, Neuromod, and Diabetes momentum collectively drive mid‑single digit organic growth with improving operating leverage .
- Near‑term catalysts: Diabetes separation (margin and EPS accretion), RDN NCD decision (draft by July, final by October), Sphere360 pivotal initiation; dividend increase supports yield .
- Watch mix and EBITDA: Gross margin mix (CAS capital, Diabetes ramp) pressured GM; EBITDA miss vs consensus suggests Street may recalibrate profitability trajectory; operating margin expansion continues .
- Tariffs manageable but back‑half risk: COGS headwind concentrated in Q3/Q4; mitigation in place; EPS range includes scenarios; monitor updates each quarter .
- U.S. growth inflection: Strongest U.S. growth in 15 quarters (+5%), driven by new technologies — supportive for sequential earnings leverage .
- Portfolio/FX tailwinds: Post‑spin margin uplift and share retirement, plus potential FX tailwind, set up FY27 for high‑single digit EPS growth per management framework .
- Trading lens: Beat on EPS/revenue with strategic spin catalyst; back‑half tariff risk and EBITDA miss could temper near‑term multiple expansion; focus on PFA adoption curves and RDN milestones for upside .