Core Insights - The company reported strong growth across its business units, with a notable 7.9% underlying growth in Orthopedics, marking the strongest quarterly growth in over two years [2] - Management emphasized the importance of CORI deployment, with "Other recon" growing by 40.8% and a significant increase in knee growth in accounts where CORI is established [1] - The company achieved a fourth-quarter revenue of $1.7 billion, reflecting a 6.2% underlying growth and an 8.3% reported growth, aided by foreign exchange [4] Financial Performance - Full-year revenue for 2025 reached $6.2 billion, up 5.3% on an underlying basis and 6.1% reported, with segment growth reported as 5.1% in Orthopedics, 5.2% in Sports Medicine and ENT, and 5.6% in Advanced Wound Management [8] - Adjusted EPS rose by 21% to $1.02, supported by a $500 million buyback completed in the second half of 2025 [10] - Free cash flow increased by 52.5% to $840 million, driven by improved working capital performance and lower restructuring costs [10] Growth Drivers - The U.S. revenue grew by 5.6%, with other established markets rising by 7.2% and emerging markets increasing by 6.4% [3] - Sports Medicine and ENT grew by 7.3% in Q4, with joint repair surpassing $1 billion in annual revenue for the first time [6] - Advanced Wound Management grew by 2.8% in the quarter, with Advanced Wound Devices performing particularly well [7] Strategic Initiatives - The company plans to expand its shoulder portfolio through the acquisition of Integrity Orthopaedics, with total consideration up to $450 million [16] - Management expects around 6% organic revenue growth in 2026, with profit growth anticipated to outpace revenue growth [12] - The company aims for a medium-term organic revenue CAGR of 6% to 7% and trading profit CAGR of 9% to 10% under its RISE strategy [18] Market Outlook - Management anticipates a $60 million impact from tariffs in 2026, up from $17 million in 2025, and a $20 million to $40 million incremental impact from changes to wound reimbursement [13] - Sales in greater China for 2026 are expected to be similar to 2025, with anticipated challenges from AET and ENT VBPs [15] - The company expects first-half revenue growth of approximately 4.5% to 5% and second-half growth of 7.5% to 8% [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong finish to 2025, achieving underlying revenue growth of 5.3% and free cash flow of $840 million, a 52.5% increase year-on-year [1][3] - Trading profit for the full year was $1.2 billion, reflecting a 160 basis points margin expansion to 19.7% [17][20] - Adjusted earnings per share grew by 21% to $1.02, driven by a $500 million share buyback [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orthopedics grew by 5.1%, Sports Medicine and ENT by 5.2%, and Advanced Wound Management by 5.6%, all on an underlying basis [15][16] - The joint repair business surpassed $1 billion in revenue for the first time, driven by products like REGENETEN and Q-FIX [11][12] - Advanced Wound Management grew 2.8% in Q4, with Advanced Wound Care growing 4.4% [13][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. growth was 5.6%, other established markets 7.2%, and emerging markets 6.4%, with underlying growth excluding China at 7.2% [7][16] - The company expects continued growth in orthopedics, sports medicine, and Advanced Wound Management, particularly in AWC and AWD [27][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to a new RISE strategy aimed at accelerating growth and improving returns, building on the previous 12-Point Plan [4][31] - The acquisition of Integrity Orthopaedics is expected to enhance the sports medicine portfolio and drive growth in biomechanical repair [33][34] - The company plans to increase R&D investment and maintain a robust product launch pipeline, with expectations of launching 16 new products in 2026 [43][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving around 6% organic revenue growth in 2026, with trading profit growth expected to be around 8% [20][29] - The impact of China VBP on joint repair is expected to be less significant moving forward, with management anticipating a bounce in sports business in China [72][75] - The company aims to maintain a focus on organic growth and capital allocation towards high-value clinical segments [68][69] Other Important Information - The company achieved a 15-fold increase in free cash flow and a 170 basis points increase in ROIC from 6.6% to 8.3% [6][25] - The company expects to face extraordinary headwinds in 2026, including inventory revaluation and changes to reimbursement in the U.S. AWM business [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down revenue guidance for 2026 and expectations for market growth? - Management indicated that 2026 revenue growth is expected to be around 6%, with contributions from all business units and innovation driving growth [48][49] Question: What is the expected phasing of revenue growth through the quarters? - Management expects Q1 to be softer due to one fewer trading day, with growth in the first half around 4.5%-5% and stronger growth in Q3 and Q4 [53][54] Question: What is the outlook for joint repair in China? - Management confirmed that joint repair growth in China has annualized, and they expect a bounce in sports business while AET and ENT will have a limited negative impact [64][75]

Financial Performance - The company reported a strong finish to 2025, achieving underlying revenue growth of 5.3% and free cash flow of $840 million, a 52.5% increase year-on-year [1][3][15] - Trading profit for the full year was $1.2 billion, reflecting a 160 basis points margin expansion to 19.7% [17][20] - Adjusted earnings per share grew by 21% to $1.02, driven by a $500 million share buyback [18][19] Business Unit Performance - Orthopedics grew 7.9% on an underlying basis, with strong performance in hips and trauma, while U.S. knee growth improved following the launch of LEGION MS [7][8][10] - Sports medicine and ENT grew 7.3%, with joint repair surpassing $1 billion in revenue for the first time, driven by REGENETEN and Q-FIX [11][12] - Advanced Wound Management grew 2.8%, with Advanced Wound Care growing 4.4% [13][15] Market Performance - U.S. growth was 5.6%, with other established markets at 7.2% and emerging markets at 6.4% [7] - Excluding China, underlying growth was 7.2%, indicating strong performance across various regions [16] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is transitioning to a new RISE strategy aimed at accelerating growth and improving returns, building on the previous 12-Point Plan [4][31] - The acquisition of Integrity Orthopaedics is expected to enhance the sports medicine portfolio and drive growth in biomechanical repair [33][35] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving around 6% organic revenue growth for 2026, with trading profit growth expected to be around 8% [20][29] - The impact of China VBP on joint repair is expected to be less significant moving forward, with management anticipating a bounce in sports business in China [72][75] Other Important Information - The company achieved a 15-fold increase in free cash flow and a 170 basis points increase in ROIC to 8.3% [6][25] - The company plans to maintain a dividend ratio of 35%-40% and consider buybacks subject to leverage targets [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down revenue guidance for 2026 and expectations for market growth? - Management indicated that 2026 revenue growth is expected to be around 6%, with innovation contributing significantly to this growth [48][49] Question: What is the outlook for joint repair in China? - Management confirmed that joint repair growth in China has annualized, and the impact of VBP will be less significant moving forward [64][75] Question: How does M&A impact bottom line growth? - Management emphasized that M&A, such as the acquisition of Integrity, is aimed at scaling in areas of strength and is expected to be accretive in the long term [68][69]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2025, the company reported underlying revenue growth of 5.3%, with all three business units growing by over 5% [1][15] - Free cash flow increased to $840 million, a 52.5% year-on-year growth, enabling a $500 million share buyback program [3][26] - Trading profit for the full year was $1.2 billion, reflecting a 160 basis points margin expansion to 19.7% [17][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orthopedics grew 7.9% on an underlying basis, with strong performance in hips and trauma, while U.S. knee growth improved following the launch of LEGION MS [8][9] - Sports medicine and ENT grew 7.3%, driven by double-digit growth in joint repair, surpassing $1 billion in revenue for the first time [12][13] - Advanced Wound Management grew 2.8%, with Advanced Wound Care growing 4.4% [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. growth was 5.6%, other established markets grew 7.2%, and emerging markets grew 6.4% [7] - Excluding China, underlying growth was 7.2%, indicating strong performance in other markets despite challenges in China [16][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning to a new RISE strategy aimed at accelerating growth and improving returns, building on the previous 12-Point Plan [4][31] - The acquisition of Integrity Orthopaedics is expected to enhance the sports medicine portfolio and drive growth in biomechanical repair [33][35] - The company aims for more than 20% margin in orthopedics by 2030, supported by initiatives like the Ortho360 operating model [3][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving around 6% organic revenue growth for 2026, with trading profit growth expected to be around 8% [4][28] - The impact of China VBP is expected to be less significant in 2026, with management anticipating a flat performance in greater China sales compared to 2025 [70][73] - The company is focused on innovation, with over 60% of growth in 2025 coming from products launched in the last five years [2][16] Other Important Information - The company achieved a 240 basis points trading margin expansion from 17.3% in 2022 to 19.7% in 2025, despite facing headwinds from VBP in China and inflation [5][19] - The company plans to maintain a dividend ratio of 35%-40% and consider buybacks subject to leverage targets [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down revenue guidance for 2026 and the impact of new product launches? - Management indicated that growth will be driven by multiple sources, with innovation contributing significantly, and expects around 6% growth for 2026 [48][49] Question: What is the outlook for joint repair in China? - Management confirmed that joint repair growth in China has annualized, and they expect a balanced portfolio to drive growth without the previous VBP drag [63][74] Question: How does M&A impact bottom line growth? - Management emphasized that M&A, like the acquisition of Integrity, is aimed at scaling in areas of strength and will complement existing products, enhancing overall growth potential [66][68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Underlying revenue growth for Q3 was 5%, consistent with H1 run rate, driven by sports medicine and advanced wound management [2][3] - Revenue for the quarter was $1.5 billion, with a reported growth of 6.3% due to a 130 basis point tailwind from foreign exchange [5] - Free cash flow guidance raised from over $600 million to around $750 million due to strong working capital discipline and operational efficiencies [3][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orthopedics grew 4.1% on an underlying basis, with strong performance in hips in the U.S. offsetting softer knee sales [5][7] - Trauma and extremities grew 7.5%, with strong contributions from Evos plating system and Atos shoulder [8] - Advanced wound management grew 6%, with advanced wound care growing 1.1% and Bioactives up 12.2% [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue grew 5.5%, while other established markets grew 3.9% and emerging markets grew 5.4% [5] - Excluding China, underlying revenue growth was 6.4%, with joint repair growth at 13% [3][9] - Stability and gradual recovery observed in China following the anniversary of the joint repair VBP [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Innovation remains central to growth, with over half of growth coming from products launched in the last five years [13] - The company is focused on cash and capital efficiency, expecting further margin expansion beyond 2025 [12][42] - Upcoming capital markets day will outline the next phase of growth and midterm priorities [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in Q4 revenue guidance, supported by new customer integrations and product placements [21][31] - Acknowledgment of ongoing portfolio rationalization impacting U.S. knees, with expectations for improvement as new products are launched [27][30] - Anticipated headwinds for 2026 include tariffs and skin substitutes pricing, but management remains optimistic about margin expansion [39][41] Other Important Information - The company launched several new products, including the Alevi Complete Care dressing and Legion medial stabilized knee [14][15] - Management is committed to building a sustainable business in China, evaluating product lines for investment [43] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about revenue guidance and Q4 performance - Management remains confident in Q4 revenue guidance, citing strong sales funnel and new customer integrations [21][31] Question: U.S. knees performance and portfolio rationalization impact - Management acknowledged the gap between U.S. knees and market performance, attributing it to ongoing rationalization efforts [27][30] Question: Margin guidance and headwinds for 2026 - Management expects margin expansion despite headwinds, with specific guidance to be provided at the capital markets day [39][41]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Underlying revenue growth for Q3 was 5%, consistent with H1 run rate, driven by sports medicine and advanced wound management [2][3] - Revenue for the quarter was $1.5 billion, with a reported growth of 6.3% due to a 130 basis point tailwind from foreign exchange [5] - Free cash flow guidance raised from over $600 million to around $750 million, reflecting improved working capital discipline and operational efficiencies [3][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orthopedics grew 4.1% on an underlying basis, with strong performance in hips in the US offsetting softer knee sales [5][7] - Trauma and extremities grew 7.5%, with strong contributions from Evos plating system and Atos shoulder [8] - Advanced wound management grew 6%, with advanced wound care growing 1.1% and Bioactives up 12.2% [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - US market grew 5.5%, while other established markets grew 3.9% and emerging markets grew 5.4% [5] - Excluding China, underlying revenue growth was 6.4%, with joint repair growth at 13% [3][9] - China headwinds are beginning to abate, with expectations of a gradual recovery [3][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Innovation remains central to growth, with over half of growth coming from products launched in the last five years [13][15] - The company is focused on cash and capital efficiency, expecting further margin expansion beyond 2025 [12][42] - Upcoming capital markets day will outline the next phase of growth and midterm priorities [16][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in meeting revenue guidance for Q4, supported by new customer integrations and product placements [21][31] - The impact of Medicare reimbursement changes is anticipated to be a headwind for Advanced Wound Management sales in 2026 [10][41] - Management acknowledged the ongoing portfolio rationalization in US knees, which has led to some volume loss but remains a strategic focus [27][39] Other Important Information - The company launched several new products, including the Alevi Complete Care dressing and the Legion medial stabilized knee [14][15] - The company is committed to building a sustainable business in China, evaluating product lines for investment [43] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about revenue guidance and Q4 performance - Management remains confident in Q4 revenue guidance, citing strong sales funnel and new customer integrations [21][31] Question: US knees performance and portfolio rationalization impact - Management acknowledged the gap between US knees and market performance, attributing it to ongoing portfolio rationalization [27][39] Question: Margin guidance and headwinds for 2026 - Management expects margin expansion despite headwinds from knees and hips, with specific guidance to be provided at the capital markets day [40][42] Question: Pricing trends and competitive landscape - Management noted a return to more normalized pricing levels in orthopedics, with expectations of continued competitive positioning [64][65] Question: Other recon performance and expectations for Q4 - Management expressed optimism about Q4 performance in other recon, citing strong placements and utilization [71]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Underlying revenue growth for Q3 2025 was 5%, consistent with H1 run rate, with reported revenue at $1.5 billion, reflecting a 6.3% increase due to a 130 basis point tailwind from foreign exchange [2][5] - Free cash flow guidance raised from over $600 million to around $750 million, driven by improved working capital discipline and operational efficiencies [3][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orthopedics grew 4.1% on an underlying basis, with strong performance in hips in the US offsetting softer knee sales [5][6] - Trauma and extremities grew 7.5%, with notable contributions from the Evos plating system and Atos shoulder [7] - Advanced Wound Management grew 6%, with advanced wound care growing 1.1% and Bioactives up 12.2% [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - US market grew 5.5%, while other established markets grew 3.9% and emerging markets grew 5.4% [5] - Excluding China, underlying revenue growth was 6.4%, with joint repair growth at 13% [3][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Innovation remains central to growth, with over half of growth coming from products launched in the last five years [12] - The company is focused on operational improvements and cash efficiency, with plans to present a new strategy at upcoming capital markets events [15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in meeting revenue guidance for Q4, citing a strong sales funnel and new customer integrations [20][30] - The company anticipates continued margin expansion beyond 2025, despite headwinds from tariffs and reimbursement changes [11][41] Other Important Information - The company launched several new products, including the Alevi Complete Care dressing and the Legion medial stabilized knee, which are expected to drive future growth [12][14] - Management acknowledged ongoing challenges in the US knee market but remains optimistic about future performance improvements [15][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about revenue guidance and margin expectations - Management remains confident in Q4 revenue guidance, supported by new product launches and customer integrations, and expects to maintain margin guidance in the 19-20% range [20][30] Question: Impact of portfolio rationalization on US knees - Management acknowledged the gap between their performance and market growth in US knees, attributing it to ongoing portfolio rationalization, but expressed optimism for future improvements [27][28] Question: Key factors affecting margins in 2026 - Management outlined several headwinds for 2026, including tariffs and pricing pressures, but remains confident in achieving margin expansion through operational efficiencies [41][42] Question: Future of the China business - The company is committed to building a sustainable business in China and will evaluate product lines for investment based on profitability [42] Question: Expectations for Q4 performance in other recon - Management expects a rebound in other recon performance in Q4, driven by strong placements and utilization rates [75]