Boston Scientific(BSX) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, total company operational sales grew 19%, and organic sales grew 15%, exceeding the guidance range of 12% to 14% [5][20] - Q3 adjusted EPS was $0.75, reflecting a 19% increase and surpassing the guidance range of $0.70 to $0.72 [5][20] - Adjusted operating margin for Q3 was 28%, with an expected full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $3.02 to $3.04, representing growth of 20% to 21% [6][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Urology sales grew 27% operationally and 5% organically, driven by international business and Global Stone Management [8] - Endoscopy grew 9%, with double-digit growth in key products, particularly in the U.S. [9] - Neuromodulation sales increased by 9%, supported by strong performance in the brain franchise and pain franchise [9][10] - Cardiology sales grew 23%, with interventional cardiology therapy sales growing 3% [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. operational sales grew 27%, while Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) declined 2% due to specific headwinds [6][7] - Asia-Pacific grew 17% operationally, led by strong growth in Japan and China [7][8] - Watchman sales grew 35%, reflecting strong uptake in the U.S. [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on strategic tuck-in M&A in high-growth adjacencies, with recent acquisitions including Nalu Medical [20][24] - The company aims for 10% plus average organic revenue growth from 2026 to 2028, with a target of 50 basis points of annual adjusted operating margin expansion [26] - The company is investing in innovative solutions across both AF and non-AF segments to outpace market growth [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining above-market growth, particularly in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific [5][6] - The company anticipates improvements in backorders and expects to recover from ERP implementation challenges in Europe [7][10] - Management remains optimistic about the growth potential of Watchman and EP technologies, projecting a 20% CAGR over the long-range plan [32][44] Other Important Information - The company expects full-year 2025 reported revenue growth of approximately 20%, with operational revenue growth of about 19% [24] - Free cash flow for Q3 was $1.163 billion, with expectations of approximately $3.5 billion for the full year [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is Watchman a key growth driver? - Management confirmed that Watchman is a significant growth driver, with expectations of continued strong performance and market penetration [30][32] Question: What is the outlook for the China market? - Management indicated that the China business is performing well, with expectations of double-digit growth despite VBP price pressures [36][38] Question: How will the new product cycle impact CRM growth? - Management expressed confidence in the upcoming Denali platform and Empower leadless pacemaker, which are expected to enhance growth in the CRM segment [78][80] Question: What are the drivers for growth outside of EP and Watchman? - Management highlighted strong performance in neuromodulation, endoscopy, and the potential for Urology to improve in 2026 [55][56]