Boston Scientific Corp.'s CEO Mike Mahoney said that the year is turning out to be “more challenging” than the company anticipated, prompting a cut to its organic sales growth guidance to 6.5% to 8%, from 10% to 11%. The company also lowered its adjusted earnings-per-share guidance to $3.34 to $3.41, from $3.43 to $3.49 previously. Analysts welcomed the lower guidance seeing it as somewhat of a relief and an opportunity to reset on the back of the company’s share price, which has fallen sharply over the last year.
Boston Scientific Corp. revealed much-anticipated data from the Champion-AF trial which showed that its Watchman FLX device provides superior protection from bleeding compared to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The left atrial appendage closure device also proved noninferior to NOACs in reducing stroke, cardiovascular death, or systemic embolism.
Despite reporting strong fourth-quarter (Q4) organic sales growth of $5.29 billion, up 12.7% year-on-year, Boston Scientific Corp. saw its shares plunge more than 17% in early trading. Investors appeared disappointed by weaker U.S. sales in the electrophysiology and Watchman businesses, two of the company’s growth engines, and concern over the 2026 organic growth guidance provided by management of 10% to 11%, down from the 15.8% seen in 2025.
At first glance, the results of the CLOSURE-AF study would seem to spell doom for left atrial appendage closure devices for patients at risk of stroke, but there is some noise in the signal, including that the devices used in the study no longer represent the state of the med-tech art.
With the number of beats Boston Science Corp. has posted in recent years, it could be auditioning as a heavy metal drummer. Third quarter results kept up the streak, with overall sales 2% ahead of consensus at $5.07 billion and earnings per share of 75 cents, 5% above the Street’s expectations. The company’s two market-transforming products, Watchman and Farapulse, led the strong across-the-board performance, which would be no surprise by now except when looking at the stunning growth rates and sales both posted in the same quarter last year.
Boston Scientific Corp. continues to prove out its strategy of active acquisitions combined with industry-leading organic growth with the closing of its $88 million acquisition of Elutia Inc.’s Bioenvelope business and very positive targets for growth presented during its investor day on Sept. 30.
The U.S. FDA posted an Aug. 6 early alert regarding the use of the Watchman left atrial appendage device by Boston Scientific Corp., citing instances in which the device’s delivery system is associated with events of embolism.
The ink is barely dry on the draft Medicare physician fee schedule for 2026, but three cardiology societies blasted the draft for cutting rates for left atrial appendage closure procedures – a move they said needlessly endangers patients.
Boston Scientific Corp. handily beat expectations for sales growth and profits in the second quarter, led by 117% growth for its Farapulse pulsed field ablation system in the U.S. and 23% overall organic increase in revenue for cardiology. The company cut the expected impact of tariffs by 50% and raised guidance for earnings per share and sales for the year.
The U.S. FDA expanded the approval for use of Boston Scientific Corp.’s Watchman Flx and Watchman Flx Pro left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) devices to include post-ablation patients, bringing good news to the company as it preps for its second quarter earnings report on July 23.