Boston Scientific's Margins Strengthen in Q3: What's Driving It?

Core Insights - Boston Scientific (BSX) reported an adjusted gross margin of 71% in Q3 2025, a 60-basis-point improvement year-over-year, primarily due to a favorable product mix and strong growth in electrophysiology (EP) and WATCHMAN units, although tariffs limited growth potential [1][4] - WATCHMAN's sales increased by 35% in Q3, with over 600,000 patients treated, driven by accelerated adoption in the U.S. and strong clinical evidence [2] - EP sales surged 63% year-over-year, supported by the growth of the Farapulse Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System, with expectations for global PFA penetration to reach about 50% by the end of 2025 [3] Financial Performance - The adjusted operating margin rose by 80 basis points to 28%, reflecting solid performance on the top line [1] - Full-year adjusted gross margin is expected to be slightly above 2024 levels, despite an estimated $100 million tariff headwind, with management projecting an operating margin expansion of approximately 100 basis points [4] Market Position and Valuation - Year-to-date, Boston Scientific shares have increased by 9.8%, outperforming the industry growth of 3.4% [7] - The company's shares trade at a forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio of 6.59, which is lower than its median but above the industry average [9] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for Boston Scientific are showing an upward trend, with current estimates for the current year at $3.04 and $3.45 for the next year [11]