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QuidelOrtho Corp (QDEL)·Q3 2026 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Primary-source documents for Q3 2026 are not yet publicly available; analysis anchors on the latest reported quarter (Q3 2025) and S&P Global consensus for Q3 2026, with explicit estimate comparisons and prior-quarter trends for context .
  • Q3 2025 delivered material beats vs Street: revenue $699.9M vs $663.5M consensus and adjusted EPS $0.80 vs $0.47, despite a $701M non-cash goodwill impairment driving GAAP loss per share of $10.78 .
  • Full-year 2025 guidance was narrowed: revenue $2.68–$2.74B, adjusted EBITDA $585–$605M, and adjusted EPS updated (lower) to reflect debt refinancing; COVID revenue expected $70–$100M .
  • Near-term investor narrative: core growth resiliency (Labs and Immunohematology) vs respiratory normalization and donor screening wind-down; 2026 setup hinges on Lex Diagnostics timeline, margin execution, and ERP-driven cash timing normalization .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Core growth: Non-respiratory revenue rose to $588M (+5% reported; +4% cc), Labs +5% reported; Immunohematology +7.7% reported, showing underlying momentum .
  • Cost actions: Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 25% (+180 bps YoY), with GAAP and non-GAAP OpEx down 6–7% from cost-savings initiatives .
  • Strategic progress: CEO emphasized “expanding margins and accelerating innovation—most recently with the addition of high-sensitivity Troponin on our VITROS platform” .

What Went Wrong

  • Respiratory normalization: Respiratory revenue fell to $112M (down ~32% YoY) driven by a 63% decline in COVID revenue .
  • Impairment and GAAP optics: A $701M non-cash goodwill impairment led to GAAP operating margin of (101%) and GAAP loss per share of $10.78, overshadowing strong non-GAAP results .
  • Cash flow timing: CFO noted “a disappointing quarter for us for cash flow, primarily driven by the impacts of the system conversions…delaying cash into fiscal Q4,” with adjusted FCF negative $50M .

Financial Results

MetricQ1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025Q3 2026E
Revenue ($USD Millions)$693.0 $614.0 $699.9 $697.9*
Adjusted EPS ($USD)$0.74 $0.12 $0.80 $0.70*
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$160 $105.8 $177.1 $179.2*
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)23% 17% 25%

Note: *Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Vs Estimates (Q3 2025)

MetricStreet ConsensusActualBeat/(Miss)
Revenue ($USD Millions)$663.5*$699.9 +$36.4M (beat)
Adjusted EPS ($USD)$0.47*$0.80 +$0.33 (beat)
EBITDA ($USD Millions)$139.5*$177.1 +$37.6 (beat)

Note: *Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Segment Breakdown (Q3 2025)

SegmentRevenue ($USD Millions)YoY Change
Labs$373.8 +5% reported
Immunohematology$142.0 +7.7% reported
Donor Screening$14.7 -47.3% reported
Point of Care$164.6 -20% reported
Molecular Diagnostics$4.8 -14% reported

KPIs (Q3 2025)

KPIValue
Cash and Cash Equivalents$98M
Adjusted Free Cash Flow-$50M (ERP timing)
Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA~4.4x
GAAP Goodwill Impairment$701M

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Total RevenueFY 2025$2.60–$2.81B $2.68–$2.74B Narrowed
Adjusted EBITDAFY 2025$575–$615M $585–$605M Narrowed
Adjusted EBITDA MarginFY 202522% 22% (unchanged) Maintained
Adjusted Diluted EPSFY 2025$2.07–$2.57 $2.00–$2.15 (updated lower) Lowered
COVID RevenueFY 2025$110–$140M (Q1 guidance) $70–$100M Lowered
FX ImpactFY 2025Neutral (assumption) Neutral Maintained

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 2025, Q2 2025)Current Period (Q3 2025)Trend
Cost-savings & MarginQ1: +450 bps adj EBITDA margin; reiterate FY guide . Q2: +330 bps; achieved $100M annualized savings .Adj EBITDA margin 25%, OpEx down 6–7% .Improving
Respiratory/COVIDQ1: COVID down 53% YoY; respiratory ex-COVID +11% . Q2: respiratory $47M (-20%) .Respiratory $112M; COVID down 63% .Normalizing/lower
China/Tariffs/MacroQ1: tariff headwinds $30–$40M flagged .Adjusted GM -50 bps YoY; ongoing mitigations .Headwind mitigated
Lex DiagnosticsQ2: intent to acquire announced .FDA clearance expected late 2025/early 2026; 2026 margin dilutive; accretive post scale .Building pipeline
Product Performance (VITROS Troponin, Sofia)Q1/Q2: Labs momentum .CEO highlights high-sensitivity troponin; Sofia base “stable and expanding” .Positive
ERP/FCF TimingQ1: Adjusted FCF $47M; improving conversion .ERP conversion delayed cash; adjusted FCF -$50M .Temporary drag

Management Commentary

  • CEO: “Our third quarter results reflect continued execution and meaningful progress…expanding margins and accelerating innovation—most recently with the addition of high-sensitivity Troponin on our VITROS platform.”
  • CFO: “Fiscal Q3 was…a disappointing quarter for cash flow…impacts of the system conversions…delaying cash into fiscal Q4.”
  • CFO on Lex: “Lex will likely have a dilutive impact on margins next year…wouldn’t expect it to be accretive.”
  • CFO on donor screening exit: “Residual revenue will completely wind down in 2026…expect ~50 bps margin accretion later 2026/early 2027.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Free cash flow conversion: Management expects normalization as ERP timing effects fade; discussed conversion targets into 2026 .
  • Lex Diagnostics regulatory/timing: Clearance targeted late 2025/early 2026; North America rollout H2 2026, accretive after scale .
  • Donor screening wind-down: Headwinds dissipate through mid-2026; stranded costs to be removed to unlock margin accretion .
  • Installed base strategy: Integrated analyzer placements at 30–40% of Lab base, indicating runway vs competitors; Sofia base “stable and expanding” .

Estimates Context

  • Q3 2025 beats vs S&P Global consensus: Revenue $699.9M vs $663.5M; adjusted EPS $0.80 vs $0.47; EBITDA $177.1M vs $139.5M (see table above; estimates marked with asterisk).
  • Q3 2026 S&P Global consensus: revenue ~$697.9M, EPS ~$0.70, EBITDA ~$179.2M*.

Note: Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Core franchises (Labs, Immunohematology) continue to offset respiratory normalization, supporting mid-teens adj EBITDA margins while cost actions underpin margin durability into 2026 .
  • Near-term optics impacted by non-cash impairment and ERP cash timing; expect FCF conversion to improve as system conversion effects roll off .
  • Donor screening exit removes top-line headwinds by 2026 with ~50 bps margin accretion over late 2026/early 2027 after stranded costs are addressed—favorable for medium-term margin trajectory .
  • Lex Diagnostics offers strategic optionality but is margin dilutive in 2026; the investment case hinges on scaling manufacturing and placements by 2027–2028 for accretive contribution .
  • China tariff headwinds and BBP dynamics appear manageable with mitigation actions; monitor adjusted gross margin trajectory and pricing/mix in EMEA/Asia .
  • Trading setup: Historically strong Q4 seasonality in respiratory and instrument mix could pressure near-term margins; watch execution on ERP cash recovery and FY guidance cadence into early 2026 .
  • Valuation anchor: Consensus 2026 revenue ~$2.77B with mixed EPS views; target price consensus ~$37.67 indicates divergent analyst opinions—stock likely to be sensitive to 2026 margin/FCF delivery and Lex milestones .

S&P Global disclaimer: All values marked with an asterisk are retrieved from S&P Global.