Medtronic Lowers FY2026 EPS Guidance to $5.50-$5.54
The company states: "On March 18, 2026, MiniMed Group, a consolidated subsidiary of Medtronic plc announced that the FDA has cleared the MiniMed Flex, a next-generation discreet, smartphone-controlled insulin pump. The clearance of the MiniMed Flex by the FDA was several months earlier than anticipated, and will facilitate the earlier commercialization of this key MiniMed product. The research and development of the MiniMed Flex was funded in part by affiliates of Blackstone Life Sciences Advisors L.L.C. (Blackstone). Under the research and development agreement between MiniMed and Blackstone, in exchange for funding the development of the MiniMed Flex, during the first two years following regulatory approval in the U.S. and commercial launch of the MiniMed Flex, Blackstone will earn the greater of: (i) mid-to-high single digit royalty percentage of applicable net sales, and (ii) specified minimum payments. MiniMed is expected to recognize a one-time charge of $157 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 related to the series of future payments due to Blackstone, which is expected to result in an $0.08 per share impact to Medtronic's consolidated results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, based on Medtronic's 90% ownership interest in MiniMed. These arrangements are not expected to have an impact on Medtronic's results for fiscal year 2027. In addition, as previously disclosed during the Company's Q3 earnings call, the timing of the March 9, 2026 closing of the initial public offering (IPO) of 10% of MiniMed is expected to result in dilution of approximately $0.02 per share to Medtronic shareholders for each month of the quarter following the IPO. This will result in an aggregate dilutive impact of $0.04 per share during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, which ends on April 24, 2026. As a result of the foregoing factors related to MiniMed that are expected to have an impact in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, on March 24, 2026, Medtronic announced that it now expects non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal year 2026 to be in the range of $5.50 to $5.54, a revision from the Q3 earnings call EPS guidance of $5.62 to $5.66. The Company's guidance for fiscal year 2027 of high single-digit EPS growth remains unchanged, and is based upon the prior guidance from the Q3 earnings call, prior to the MiniMed-related updates announced here."
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- FDA Approval: Medtronic's Stealth AXiS robot-assisted surgical system has received FDA approval for cranial and ENT procedures, marking a significant advancement in the company's medical robotics portfolio.
- Technology Integration: The system integrates preoperative planning, surgical navigation, and robotics, based on technologies from Mazor Robotics, which Medtronic acquired for $1.6 billion in 2019, enhancing surgeon workflows and procedural efficiency.
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- Expert Commentary: Vijay Ramakrishnan, a professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, highlighted that the system enhances surgeon confidence and efficiency through innovative technologies, potentially transforming operating room workflows.
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- Integrated Intelligent System: The system unifies surgical planning, navigation, and robotics into a single intelligent platform, providing real-time insights through its AI architecture, which aids surgeons in making more precise decisions during complex surgeries, thereby improving operational efficiency.
- Personalized Brain Mapping: For cranial procedures, the system employs AI-enabled automatic tractography to generate patient-specific brain maps, allowing surgeons to visualize critical neural pathways associated with essential brain functions, thus increasing the likelihood of successful surgeries.
- Continuous Innovation Capability: The flexible architecture of the Stealth AXiS system supports ongoing software innovation and capability expansion, aiming to drive the next era of surgical development while enhancing connectivity within the healthcare ecosystem.
- FDA Clearance: Medtronic's Stealth AXiS™ surgical system has received FDA clearance for cranial and ENT procedures, marking a significant innovation in healthcare technology that is expected to enhance surgical precision and efficiency.
- Intelligent Surgical Platform: The system integrates surgical planning, navigation, and robotics, utilizing an AI-enabled architecture to provide real-time insights for surgeons, thereby improving decision-making during complex procedures and enhancing patient outcomes.
- Breakthrough for ENT Surgery: The Stealth AXiS™ system delivers high-precision navigation and advanced visualization for ENT surgeries, optimizing surgical workflows and boosting surgeons' confidence in high-risk areas, which is anticipated to drive technological advancements in the field.
- Continuous Innovation Capability: The system's flexible architecture supports ongoing software innovation and expanded functionalities, aiming to shape the next era of surgery and further solidify Medtronic's leadership position in the global healthcare technology market.
- FDA Clearance: Medtronic's Stealth AXiS™ surgical system has received FDA clearance for cranial and ENT procedures, integrating surgical planning, navigation, and robotics to enhance precision and real-time insights for surgeons, thereby improving outcomes in complex surgeries.
- AI Technology Integration: The system features AI-enabled automatic tractography that assists surgeons in generating patient-specific brain maps and visualizing critical neural pathways, significantly enhancing surgical efficiency and patient outcomes, showcasing Medtronic's innovative leadership in surgical technology.
- ENT Surgery Enhancement: The Stealth AXiS™ system provides high-precision navigation and advanced visualization tailored for the intricate anatomy of ENT surgeries, boosting surgeons' confidence and efficiency in decision-making during operations, further solidifying Medtronic's leadership in the ENT market.
- Continuous Innovation Capability: The system's flexible architecture is designed to support ongoing software innovation and expanded capabilities, aiming to shape the next era of surgery, reflecting Medtronic's long-term strategic vision and commitment to the future of surgical practices.











