Shares of Alcon Inc. (ALC) plunged 6.58% on Wednesday following the release of disappointing first-quarter 2025 financial results and reduced full-year guidance. The eye care company's performance fell short of analyst expectations, prompting concerns about its near-term growth prospects.
Alcon reported Q1 core diluted earnings per share of $0.73, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $0.75 and declining from $0.78 in the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.45 billion, slightly below the expected $2.51 billion. The company cited a "soft US market" as a significant challenge during the quarter.
Adding to investor worries, Alcon lowered its full-year 2025 outlook. The company revised its core operating margin guidance to 20-21% from the previous 21-22% and reduced its core diluted EPS forecast to $3.05-$3.15, down from $3.15-$3.25 previously. This adjustment incorporates a gross tariff impact of approximately $80 million, which is expected to pressure cost of net sales.
Despite the challenges, Alcon's CEO David J. Endicott expressed optimism about recent product launches, including Unity VCS and PanOptix Pro, which are expected to accelerate growth in the second half of 2025. However, the market's immediate reaction suggests that investors are more focused on the near-term headwinds facing the company.
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