Medtronic Has Potential To Pursue Further Divestitures: Analyst

Core Insights - Medtronic Plc reported second-quarter earnings and announced key board appointments following Elliott Investment Management becoming the largest shareholder [1] - The company introduced a new Growth Committee to oversee strategic M&A, R&D investments, and potential divestitures, including the planned separation of its Diabetes business [1] Financial Performance - Medtronic's first-quarter 2026 sales reached $8.58 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $8.38 billion, representing an 8.4% year-over-year increase with organic growth of 4.8% [2] - Adjusted earnings per share were $1.26, surpassing expectations of $1.23 [2] Sales Guidance - The company raised its sales guidance for fiscal 2026 from a range of $35.15 billion to $35.25 billion to a new range of $35.72 billion to $35.82 billion, compared to the consensus of $35.32 billion [3] Analyst Reactions - Needham's analyst Mike Matson believes Medtronic is in the early stages of a strong product cycle and expects Elliott's involvement to enhance shareholder value, but maintains a Hold rating until organic growth shows meaningful acceleration beyond 5% [4] - Matson raised fiscal 2026 and 2027 revenue estimates to $35.81 billion from $35.29 billion and to $37.69 billion from $36.96 billion, respectively [5] - Bernstein maintains an Outperform rating on Medtronic, raising the price forecast from $97 to $98, while Baird maintains a Neutral rating, increasing the price forecast from $94 to $96 [6] Stock Performance - Medtronic's stock increased by 4.07%, reaching $93.56 at the last check on Wednesday [6]