Boston Scientific shares opened lower in pre-market trading, sliding 3.6% to $43.42 after the medical device maker released its third-quarter 2026 results ahead of the market open. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.73, missing the analyst consensus of $0.75 by $0.02. Revenue came in at $5.14 billion, a hair above the $5.12 billion estimate, representing 1.5% growth compared with the prior year.
Investors focused on the company's forward guidance, which weighed on sentiment. Management set fourth-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS guidance at $0.77 to $0.79, below the consensus estimate of $0.83. For full-year 2026, the company narrowed and lowered its adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $3.16 to $3.18, down from the previous $3.28 to $3.32 range. Additionally, Boston Scientific projected fourth-quarter net sales to decline between 1% and 3% year over year, a clear departure from the growth trajectory some investors had anticipated.
The company attributed part of the ongoing operational weakness to a cyberattack that occurred on August 25. That incident disrupted manufacturing operations, order processing and global shipments, and it had already prompted the company to withdraw earlier 2026 guidance in September. Management's revised forecast indicates that the fallout from that disruption has continued to affect near-term performance.
Market conditions offered little in the way of relief. The S&P 500 was essentially flat, up approximately 0.1% on the day, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly negative, leaving no broad-market tailwind to offset the company-specific pressure on the stock. Boston Scientific has also faced more persistent business challenges in recent months, including competitive headwinds for its FARAPULSE electrophysiology franchise and softer demand for WATCHMAN products, factors that have damped investor confidence.
These combined elements - the modest earnings miss, a notable reduction in guidance and uncertainty about the pace of operational recovery following the cyberattack - drove selling pressure in pre-market trading. The stock traded not far above its 52-week low of $41.38 as market participants reassessed Boston Scientific's near-term earnings prospects heading into the fourth quarter of 2026.
Context and implications
The quarter's results display a mixed picture: top-line growth that slightly exceeded expectations coupled with earnings that fell short and a materially lower outlook for the remainder of the year. The firm's statement about continuing effects from the late-August cyberattack reinforces uncertainty around the timing and completeness of operational normalization.
Given the guidance rollback and sales decline forecast for Q4, investors will be watching updates on manufacturing and supply-chain recovery, as well as any management commentary on competitive dynamics within electrophysiology and WATCHMAN demand in coming quarters.