Alcon Stock Rises in Switzerland Following Confirmation of Guidance

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

ALC-0.9%

Source: WSJ

Updated: Nov 12 2025

0mins

Source: WSJ

Sales Growth: Alcon reported an acceleration in third-quarter sales growth, which positively impacted its share price in Switzerland.
Annual Outlook: The company confirmed its annual outlook, providing reassurance after two previous guidance cuts earlier in the year.
Share Performance: Shares of Alcon rose by 6.3% during European morning trading, although they remain down 15% since the beginning of the year.
Market Reaction: The positive sales report and outlook led to a favorable market reaction, indicating investor confidence despite earlier challenges.

ALC

$80.29+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on ALC

Wall Street analysts forecast ALC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ALC is 91.11 USD with a low forecast of 75.18 USD and a high forecast of 112.77 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

11 Analyst Rating

6 Buy

4 Hold

1 Sell

Moderate Buy

Current: 81.020

Low

75.18

Averages

91.11

High

112.77

Current: 81.020

Low

75.18

Averages

91.11

High

112.77

Deutsche Bank

Hold

Buy

upgrade

2026-01-20

New

Reason

Deutsche Bank

Price Target

AI Analysis

2026-01-20

New

upgrade

Hold

Buy

Reason

Deutsche Bank upgraded Alcon to Buy from Hold with a price target of CHF 77, up from CHF 69. The firm views Alcon as the global leader in eye care. The company's organic sales growth should reaccelerate in 2026 due to a new product launches and margin expansion, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Deutsche believes Alcon represents one of the few investment cases in the sector where growth is not more back-end loaded this year.

Morgan Stanley

NULL -> Underweight

downgrade

$13

2026-01-16

Reason

Morgan Stanley

Price Target

$13

2026-01-16

downgrade

NULL -> Underweight

Reason

Morgan Stanley resumed coverage of Staar Surgical (STAA) with an Underweight rating and $13 price target after the company terminated its merger agreement with Alcon (ALC). While the EVO ICL technology is "impressive," the firm thinks the product has always been a niche product best suited for a limited addressable patient pool and it believes expansion in the U.S. and other western markets will be difficult despite the company "executing the best it can," the analyst tells investors. The firm also calls it "a bit surprising" that shares are trading higher than they were pre-merger announcement.

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Stifel

Buy -> Hold

downgrade

$85 -> $80

2026-01-08

Reason

Stifel

Price Target

$85 -> $80

2026-01-08

downgrade

Buy -> Hold

Reason

Stifel downgraded Alcon to Hold from Buy with a price target of $80, down from $85. The firm says its Unity survey was mixed, with results tempering its confidence in upside to management's system installation outlook. The Street's 7% sales growth estimate for 2026 could prove challenging without Unity-driven upside, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

BTIG

Neutral

maintain

$21.10

2026-01-06

Reason

BTIG

Price Target

$21.10

2026-01-06

maintain

Neutral

Reason

After Staar Surgical (STAA) investors voted against the Alcon (ALC) transaction following a prolonged sales process that included an additional "go-shop" period and an incremental $2.75 per share offer increase, BTIG contends that Alcon could still put in another tender offer after a very contentious proxy battle, but thinks the company is more likely to move on to focus on its other products and existing markets. With shares trading down following the vote, the firm thinks Staar shares are unlikely to see much, if any bid, as it contends that "investors have limited reason to want to own STAA until clarity on the company emerges." BTIG has a Neutral rating on Staar, which is down about 12% to $21.10 near the open.

About ALC

Alcon AG is a Switzerland-based eye care company. The Company research, develop, manufacture, distribute and sell a full suite of eye care products within two key businesses: Surgical and Vision Care. The Company’s Surgical business is focused on ophthalmic products for cataract surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, refractive laser surgery and glaucoma surgery. The surgical portfolio includes implantables, consumables and surgical equipment required for these procedures and supports the end-to-end needs of the ophthalmic surgeon. The Company’s Vision Care business comprises of daily disposable, reusable and color-enhancing contact lenses and a portfolio of ocular health products, including products for dry eye, ocular allergies, glaucoma, and contact lens care, as well as ocular vitamins and redness relievers. The Company operates in 60 countries and serves consumers and patients in over 140 countries.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.