NORTHFIELD, Ill., Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medline Inc. (“Medline”) (Nasdaq: MDLN) today announced that Jim Boyle, Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Drazin, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to present at the Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in Miami Beach, FL, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 9:30am ET. A webcast of the presentation will be available on the Events page of Medline’s Investor Relations website at ir.medline.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on Medl ...

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medline Inc. (“Medline”) (Nasdaq: MDLN) today announced that Jim Boyle, Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Drazin, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to present at the Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in Miami Beach, FL, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 9:30am ET. A webcast of the presentation will be available on the Events page of Medline’s Investor Relations website at ir.medline.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on Medl ...

Company Overview - Medline is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions, offering 335,000 products and operating 33 manufacturing facilities in over 100 countries [2][3] - The company provides next-day delivery to 95% of its U.S. customers, positioning itself similarly to Amazon in the medical supply sector [2] Financial Performance - Medline has demonstrated impressive sales growth, with an average annual growth rate of 18% since its founding in 1966 and 50 consecutive years of net sales growth [8] - Sales are projected to reach around $30 billion for the full year 2026, up from $17.5 billion in 2020 [6][9] - Analysts expect earnings of $1.17 per share for 2025, with a nearly 20% increase to $1.52 per share in 2026 [9] Market Position and Competitive Advantage - Medline's competitive edge includes its private label products, which enhance margins by eliminating the need for third-party resellers [3] - The company is significantly more profitable than its key rivals, with a gross margin of approximately 27.4%, compared to much lower margins for competitors like McKesson and Cardinal Health [12] Growth Potential - The total addressable market for Medline is estimated at $375 billion, indicating substantial growth potential [9] - Free cash flow projections are robust, with expectations of $1.5 billion for 2025 and at least $2.1 billion for 2026, driven by debt reduction from IPO proceeds [10] Recent Developments - Medline recently went public with an IPO priced at $29 per share, raising $6.3 billion to pay down debt, which stood at $16.5 billion prior to the IPO [5][7] - The company was previously taken private in a $34 billion buyout in 2021, during which it expanded its manufacturing capabilities significantly [5][6] Investment Considerations - The company has a high P/E multiple of 28, and approximately 70% of its sales come from hospitals, which may present a concentration risk [13] - Private equity owners retain 60% of voting control, which could be a concern if fundamentals deteriorate, but their management has been effective [14]

Core Insights - The private equity industry is experiencing a shift, with an increase in exits but at lower valuations, indicating a recalibration of expectations in response to market pressures [2][4]. Group 1: Private Equity Exits - The number of global private equity exits rose by 5.4% last year, totaling 3,149 exits [2]. - However, the total value of these exits declined by 21.2% year over year, amounting to $412.1 billion [2]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The private equity sector is under pressure to monetize aging assets, with many firms previously reluctant to mark down portfolio values, leading to a gap in buyer expectations [4]. - A backlog of tens of thousands of companies remains, resulting in lower cash returns for limited partners (LPs) and a subsequent hesitance to reinvest in private equity [5]. Group 3: Fundraising and Deal Activity - Fundraising for private equity declined by 11% in 2025, reaching $490.81 billion, marking the second consecutive annual slowdown [5]. - Although there was growth in U.S. private equity deal value in the first half of last year, the number of new deployments remained flat, indicating stagnation in overall deal activity [6]. Group 4: Performance of Larger Funds - Larger private equity funds, such as Blackstone, are seeing benefits in monetization, with Blackstone reporting $10.8 billion in realizations from exits in the fourth quarter, the highest quarterly total of the year [7][8]. - Blackstone's successful IPO of Medline, which raised over $7 billion, is noted as the largest private equity-backed IPO in the U.S., with the stock surging nearly 30% since its debut [9].

Core Viewpoint - Baillie Gifford continues to focus on technology and growth sectors, maintaining a global perspective despite a reduction in total assets held to $120 billion, down $15 billion from the previous quarter [1]. Holdings Overview - As of Q4 2025, Baillie Gifford holds a total of 265 companies with assets amounting to $120 billion, reflecting a decrease of $15 billion from Q3 [1]. Top Holdings - The firm remains heavily invested in global technology and consumer giants, with a notable emphasis on Latin American e-commerce platform MercadoLibre, and Nvidia leading the portfolio, indicating confidence in the long-term potential of AI infrastructure [4]. Top Buys - Significant increases in holdings include: - Axon Enterprise (AXON) with an additional investment of $860 million - Medline Inc (MDLN) with $437 million - Rocket Lab (RKLB) with $399 million - Google-A (GOOGL) with $373 million - Duolingo (DUOL) with $357 million - The firm shows strong interest in vertical technology sectors, particularly in safety technology and education [5][6]. Top Sells - The firm has reduced its positions in: - Datadog Inc (DDOG) by $1.01 billion - Cloudflare (NET) by $990 million - Shopify (SHOP) by $680 million - BioNTech SE (BNTX) by $630 million - Meta Platforms (META) by $590 million - This indicates a strategic retreat from cloud computing and vaccine-related companies, likely based on valuation and growth switching logic [7][8]. New Positions - New investments include: - Medline Inc (MDLN) with $437 million - United Therapeutics (UTHR) with $157 million - MongoDB (MDB) with $112 million - BillionToOne (BLLN) with $104 million - Silvergate Capital (SVM) with $35 million - The new positions reflect Baillie Gifford's exploration in emerging fields such as rare disease treatment and databases, showcasing a commitment to long-term tracking in technology and healthcare [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - Medline Inc. is set to report its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 25, 2026, with a conference call scheduled to discuss these results [1]. Group 1: Financial Reporting - The financial results will be announced before the market opens on February 25, 2026 [1]. - A webcast and conference call will take place at 9:30am ET/8:30am CT to discuss the financial results [1]. Group 2: Investor Relations - Information regarding the financial results and a link to the live webcast will be available on Medline's Investor Relations website [2]. - A replay of the webcast will be accessible after the event through the same website [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - Medline is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions, serving all points of care [3]. - The company has a broad product portfolio, resilient supply chain, and leading clinical solutions aimed at improving healthcare providers' clinical, financial, and operational outcomes [3]. - Medline is headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, employs over 43,000 people globally, and operates in more than 100 countries [3].

Company Overview - Medline Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLN) is a supplier of medical and surgical products for hospitals, surgery centers, and other healthcare facilities [2] - The company recently went public, pricing its IPO at $29, and saw its stock price jump to $41 on the first day of trading, currently trading at around $40 [2] Market Context - The IPO market experienced a cooling-off period due to a government shutdown, which was beneficial for the market's self-correction [2] - Medline's IPO was noted as the largest deal in four years following the reopening of the government [2] Analyst Sentiment - Jim Cramer expressed a very positive outlook on Medline, indicating it as a strong buy with multiple endorsements [1][2]

Group 1 - Medline Industries (MDLN) is rated as a buy due to its vertically integrated strategy, which provides scale advantages in manufacturing and logistics [1] - The company's private label offerings contribute positively to its market position [1] - The investment approach emphasizes understanding core business economics, including competitive moat, unit economics, reinvestment runway, and management quality, which are crucial for long-term free cash flow generation and shareholder value creation [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a decade of experience in investment banking and focuses on sectors with strong secular tailwinds [1] - The motivation for sharing insights on Seeking Alpha is to provide valuable investment analysis and receive feedback from other investors [1] - The analysis aims to help readers concentrate on factors that drive long-term equity value [1]

Company Overview - Medline is a major player in the healthcare industry, founded in 1966, providing medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions across various points of care [3] - The company offers over 335,000 products under various brand names, employing over 43,000 people and operating more than 29 million square feet of warehousing [2] IPO Details - Medline's IPO occurred on December 17, 2025, raising gross proceeds of $6.26 billion by selling 216,034,482 shares at $29 each, marking it as the largest IPO of 2025 [1] - The underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 32,405,172 shares, resulting in a market capitalization of approximately $34 billion [1] Market Performance and Analyst Ratings - Morgan Stanley's analyst Patrick Wood views Medline as a solid investment due to its position as the largest medical supply distributor in the U.S. market, with a unique business model and significant scale [8] - The stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 26 reviews, with 22 Buys and 4 Holds, currently priced at $43.41, and an average target price of $47.24, indicating a potential 9% gain in the next 12 months [8] Industry Context - The U.S. IPO market has shown signs of revival, with 342 companies going public by mid-December 2025, representing a 57% increase year over year, and aggregate proceeds exceeding $75 billion, approximately 80% higher than the previous year [6] - Cooling inflation and the Federal Reserve's shift toward interest-rate easing have improved equity market conditions, making stocks more attractive [5]

Core Viewpoint - Medline is participating in its first JPMorgan Healthcare Conference as a publicly traded company, indicating a significant milestone for the company and its visibility in the healthcare sector [2]. Group 1: Company Presentation - Jim Boyle, the CEO of Medline, will present, with Mike Drazin, the CFO, joining for the Q&A session, highlighting the leadership's engagement with investors [1]. - Karen King, the Head of Investor Relations, will provide an opening statement, setting the stage for the presentation and emphasizing the importance of investor relations [1][3]. Group 2: Financial Expectations - The company will make forward-looking statements regarding its long-term financial targets, which are based on current expectations but may differ due to various risks and uncertainties [3]. - There will be references to non-GAAP financial measures during the presentation, which will exclude certain items from the financial results reported in accordance with GAAP, providing a clearer picture of the company's financial health [4][5].