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Alcon (ALC) Reports Q3 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say

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Alcon (ALC - Free Report) reported $2.72 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.9%. EPS of $0.91 for the same period compares to $0.79 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.73 billion, representing a surprise of -0.6%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.25%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.89.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Alcon performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Net Sales and other revenues- Net Sales: $2.72 billion compared to the $2.73 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.9% year over year.
  • Net Sales- Total Surgical: $1.48 billion compared to the $1.49 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.2% year over year.
  • Net Sales- Total Vision care: $1.24 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.25 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.8%.
  • Net Sales- Total Surgical- Consumables: $789 million versus $777.63 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +5.9% change.
  • Net Sales and other revenues- Other revenues: $20 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $23.15 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -20%.
  • Net Sales- Total Vision Care- Contact lenses: $737 million versus $741.37 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +4.2% change.
  • Net Sales- Total Vision Care- Ocular health: $500 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $505.09 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +8.2%.
  • Net Sales- Total Surgical- Implantables: $422 million compared to the $435 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.3% year over year.
  • Net Sales- Total Surgical- Equipment/other: $269 million versus $273.4 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +10.7% change.

View all Key Company Metrics for Alcon here>>>

Shares of Alcon have returned +16.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -3.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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