STRYKER CORP (SYK) Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 delivered strong top-line and margin execution: net sales rose 10.3% to $6.1B and organic growth was 9.5%; adjusted operating margin reached 25.6% (+90 bps YoY) and adjusted EPS increased 11.1% to $3.19 .
- Results modestly beat Wall Street consensus: adjusted EPS $3.19 vs $3.132* and revenue $6.057B vs $6.045B*; EBITDA also slightly above consensus ($1.658B vs $1.651B*) (Values retrieved from S&P Global).
- FY25 guidance raised: organic net sales growth to 9.8%–10.2% and adjusted EPS to $13.50–$13.60; FX expected to be slightly positive and pricing modestly favorable .
- Segment performance was led by MedSurg & Neurotechnology (+14.4% to $3.803B) and robust sub-segment growth (notably Vascular +59.6%); Orthopaedics rose 3.9% reported, or 12.5% excluding divested Spinal Implants .
- Catalysts: sustained procedural demand, record MEKO installations, pricing tailwinds, and raised guidance; offset by tariff headwinds (~$200M expected FY25) and lingering supply chain impacts in Medical .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Broad-based organic growth with pricing contribution: organic sales grew 9.5% with 9.1% unit volume and 0.4% price; adjusted EPS up 11.1% to $3.19; adjusted operating margin 25.6% .
- Record MEKO installations and strong U.S. ortho momentum (knees, hips, trauma & extremities) supporting above-market growth; management reiterated strength in ASC and procedural volumes .
- CEO tone confident: “We delivered another quarter of strong sales and double-digit adjusted earnings per share growth” ; commitment to ongoing margin expansion and sustained growth reiterated on the call .
What Went Wrong
- Tariff headwinds intensifying: company now expects ~$200M impact in FY25, more second-half weighted, partially offsetting margin expansion in Q4 .
- Medical segment supply chain disruptions persisted, creating intra-quarter variability, with acceleration expected in Q4 to achieve ~10% organic growth for the year .
- Orthopaedics pricing showed slight pressure (organic price -0.3% in Orthopaedics), though overall company price remained positive; management emphasized continued pricing discipline and contracting execution .
Financial Results
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We delivered another quarter of strong sales and double-digit adjusted earnings per share growth. Our teams continue to execute at a high level, driving performance at the high-end of MedTech and building sustained momentum across our broad portfolio.” — Kevin A. Lobo, Chair & CEO .
- “We are firmly on track to deliver a second consecutive year of 100 basis points of adjusted operating margin expansion… We are raising our full year 2025 outlook.” — Prepared remarks summary .
- “Adjusted operating margin was 25.6%… 90 bps favorable YoY, driven by gross margin favorability and SG&A discipline… tariffs will have a net impact of approximately $200 million for the full year 2025.” — Preston Wells, CFO .
- “Medical… will achieve 10% organic sales growth this year while we manage… supply chain disruptions affecting our Emergency Care business.” — CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- Margin trajectory and Q4 seasonality: Management expects operational margin improvement in Q4, partially offset by second-half-weighted tariff impacts .
- Orthopaedics competitive dynamics: Strong knee momentum with cementless and MEKO adoption; additional MEKO software/product innovations forthcoming .
- Inari integration: Double-digit pro forma growth; destocking headwind to complete by end of Q1 next year; arterial product (Artix) well-received, with OUS expansion expected to inflect in 2H next year .
- ASC channel: Stryker leverages full portfolio; growth remains high with shoulders and total ankles moving into ASC settings .
- Capital environment: Hospitals’ balance sheets strong; increased outright purchases of MEKO and strong bed procurement; backlog elevated .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 beats: Adjusted EPS $3.19 vs $3.1319* consensus; revenue $6.057B vs $6.045B*; EBITDA $1.658B vs $1.651B* (Values retrieved from S&P Global).
- Prior quarters also exceeded consensus on adjusted EPS and revenue (Q1 and Q2) (Values retrieved from S&P Global).
- Implication: With FY25 organic growth and EPS guidance raised, consensus models likely drift higher on top-line and margins; OI&E guidance (
$415M) and tariff headwind ($200M) should be incorporated into EPS bridges .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Demand resilience across portfolios and geographies underpins sustained high-single to low-double-digit organic growth; pricing and mix add incremental support .
- Margin expansion remains intact despite tariffs: adjusted operating margin at 25.6% in Q3 with company guiding to continued improvement; watch Q4 offsets from tariffs .
- Raised FY25 guidance is a positive revision catalyst; FX and pricing provide modest tailwinds; OI&E/tax guide adds transparency to EPS .
- Orthopaedics durable: strong knees/hips/trauma aided by MEKO adoption; MEKO pipeline and ASC penetration extend runway .
- MedSurg & Neurotechnology leadership: Vascular outperforms with new launches (Surpass Elite, Broadway); Emergency Care supply constraints should ease heading into Q4 .
- Inari integration progressing: near-term destocking headwinds, but procedure growth in teens and new arterial product support double-digit sales growth; OUS opportunity likely 2H next year .
- Portfolio expansion continues: trauma platform upgrades (Pangea, T2 Alpha) and Incompass total ankle system launch broaden competitive moats .