Second-quarter 2026
Filed Jul 30, 2026Baxter reports second-quarter sales of $2.96 billion, up 5% on both a reported and organic basis, and raises full-year 2026 financial outlook.
Sales grew 5% on both a reported and organic basis, all segments and divisions delivered growth in the U.S. and internationally, and the company raised its full-year sales-growth and adjusted EPS outlook. Adjusted diluted EPS decreased 5% from the prior year and included a $0.11 per diluted share benefit from an IEEPA tariff refund.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide salesGAAP | approximately $2.96 billion | – | 5% |
| Worldwide organic sales growthnon-GAAP | 5% | – | – |
| U.S. salesGAAP | approximately $1.6 billion | – | 4% |
| U.S. organic sales growthnon-GAAP | 4% | – | – |
| International salesGAAP | approximately $1.4 billion | – | 7% |
| International organic sales growthnon-GAAP | 5% | – | – |
| Net incomeGAAP | $135 million | – | – |
| Diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $0.26 per diluted share | – | – |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | $0.56 per diluted share | – | decreasing 5% from the prior year |
| Free cash flownon-GAAP | $181 million | – | – |
| Free cash flow, first half of the yearnon-GAAP | $257 million | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Products & TherapiesStrength within Infusion Therapies & Platforms, primarily Drug Compounding and IV Solutions, and continued strong global demand for Advanced Surgery products. Growth was partially offset by reduced Infusion Systems sales due to the shipment and installation hold of the Novum IQ LVP, and Injectables. | approximately $2.1 billion | – | 7% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic basis |
| Healthcare Systems & TechnologiesStrong demand for Care & Connectivity Solutions products, driven by growth in Patient Support Systems, and growth in Front Line Care. | approximately $801 million | – | 4% on both a reported and organic basis |
Full-Year 2026 outlook
- RevenueReported sales growth from continuing operations: 3% to 4%; Organic sales growth from continuing operations: 2% to 3%
- NoteAdjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share: $1.95 to $2.15
What drove it
- Worldwide sales increased 5% on both a reported and organic basis.
- All segments and divisions delivered growth in both the U.S. and internationally.
- Medical Products & Therapies benefited from Drug Compounding, IV Solutions and Advanced Surgery demand.
- Healthcare Systems & Technologies benefited from Patient Support Systems and Front Line Care growth.
- A $0.11 per diluted share benefit related to an IEEPA tariff refund partially offset earnings pressure.
Concerns
- Adjusted diluted EPS decreased 5% from the prior year.
- Results reflected the roll through of higher-cost inventory produced at the end of 2025.
- Results reflected an unfavorable comparison to the prior year from the reclassification of certain functional costs from SG&A to cost of sales.
- Medical Products & Therapies growth was partially offset by reduced Infusion Systems sales related to the Novum IQ LVP shipment and installation hold, and by Injectables.
What to watch
- Execution against raised full-year reported sales growth from continuing operations outlook of 3% to 4%.
- Execution against raised full-year organic sales growth from continuing operations outlook of 2% to 3%.
- Delivery against raised adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share outlook of $1.95 to $2.15.
- The effect of higher-cost inventory produced at the end of 2025 on earnings.
- Progress in resolving the shipment and installation hold of the Novum IQ LVP.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Free cash flow was $181 million in the second quarter.
- Free cash flow totaled $257 million in the first half of the year.
Analysis
Baxter reported second-quarter worldwide sales of approximately $2.96 billion, increasing 5% on both a reported and organic basis. U.S. sales were approximately $1.6 billion and increased 4% on both bases, while international sales were approximately $1.4 billion and increased 7% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic basis. The company stated that all segments and divisions delivered growth in both the U.S. and internationally.
Medical Products & Therapies generated approximately $2.1 billion of sales, increasing 7% on a reported basis and 5% on an organic basis. Drug Compounding, IV Solutions and Advanced Surgery demand supported the segment, while reduced Infusion Systems sales due to the Novum IQ LVP shipment and installation hold and Injectables partially offset growth. Healthcare Systems & Technologies generated approximately $801 million of sales, increasing 4% on both a reported and organic basis, supported by Patient Support Systems and Front Line Care.
On a U.S. GAAP basis, net income totaled $135 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.56 per diluted share, decreasing 5% from the prior year. Baxter identified the roll through of higher-cost inventory produced at the end of 2025 and an unfavorable comparison related to the reclassification of certain functional costs from SG&A to cost of sales as expected pressures. These factors were partially offset by a $0.11 per diluted share benefit related to an IEEPA tariff refund.
Free cash flow was $181 million in the second quarter and totaled $257 million in the first half of the year. The release did not report operating cash flow, capital expenditures, cash, debt, dividends or share repurchases. Management emphasized stabilizing the business, strengthening the balance sheet and driving continuous improvement under the Baxter Growth and Performance System.
Baxter raised full-year 2026 outlook to reported sales growth from continuing operations of 3% to 4%, organic sales growth from continuing operations of 2% to 3%, and adjusted earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $1.95 to $2.15. The prior ranges are stated in the current release, but a prior outlook document was not separately provided, so no actual-versus-prior-guidance assessment is included.
Management, verbatim
Our second-quarter results exceeded expectations on both the top and bottom lines, driven by both operating performance and an additional benefit from a tariff refund that was not previously contemplated in our guidance.
Andrew Hider, president and CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-year and prior-quarter dollar amounts for worldwide, U.S. and international sales.
- GAAP gross profit and gross margin.
- Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin.
- GAAP operating income or loss and operating margin.
- Non-GAAP adjusted operating income or loss and operating margin.
- GAAP and adjusted operating expenses, including SG&A and research and development expense.
- GAAP and adjusted income tax expense or benefit and tax rate.
- GAAP diluted EPS prior-year and prior-quarter comparison.
- Adjusted net income dollar amount.
- Operating cash flow.
- Capital expenditures.
- Cash balance.
- Debt balance.
- Share repurchases.
- Dividends.
- Detailed segment division revenue amounts and growth rates.
- Prior-quarter segment revenue and growth comparisons.
- GAAP reconciliation tables referenced in the release.
- Separate previous-outlook document for actual-versus-prior-guidance comparison.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.