Alcon has reported Q2 revenues of around $2.8bn, indicative of an 8% uptick year-over-year (YoY), prompting it to revise its 2026 outlook.
The Swiss eyecare specialist now expects 2026 earnings growth to land in the 12% to 15% per diluted share range, up from 10% to 13% previously. Alcon is maintaining its YoY sales growth outlook within the 5% to 7% range.
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The lion’s share of Alcon’s profits came from its surgical segment at around $1.6bn, indicative of an 8% uptick YoY, with vision care in second place with sales of around $1.2bn corresponding to an increase of 8% compared to the same quarter last year.
Delving deeper into its Q2 performance, Alcon highlighted that operating income of $11m in Q2 versus $247m YoY was offset by its decision to discontinue the intraocular lens (IOL) programmes it acquired from PowerVision in March 2019. As part of this decision, the company recorded a pre-tax charge of $402m in Q2.
Alcon elected to discontinue the PowerVision programmes following analysis of the latest clinical study data, stating that they did not produce “acceptable patient outcomes”, with this conclusion primarily based on “persistent unpredictable post-surgical visual outcomes” reported in a subset of the patients that could not be resolved despite multiple development efforts.
Alcon released its financials after markets closed on 10 August. Ahead of market open on 11 August, the company’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) were up by around 2% (correct as of 5:08am ET) at $75.10 versus $73.63 previously. Alcon has a market cap of $30.29bn.
Alcon’s CEO, David Endicott, said the company’s Q2 performance was driven by “strong execution” and a raft of recent product launches, including its PanOptix Pro trifocal IOL in April 2025.
Endicott said: “Across the portfolio, our innovative products continue to gain traction and expand our market positions, including contact lenses where we are continuing to gain share.
“With a robust pipeline and several important launches ahead, we are well positioned to deliver sustainable long-term growth and further strengthen our leadership in eye care.”
Alcon’s performance follows a Q1 in which its planned acquisition of STAAR Surgical fell through. Originally tabling $1.6bn to acquire the company, the plans were subsequently scrapped following a disputatious period between STAAR and its shareholders.
