Solventum lifts earnings forecast even as third-quarter revenue slips 7%

Solventum has raised its profit expectations for 2026 despite a softer third quarter, telling investors on 5 November that revenue for the period came to $1.9bn. That was 7.0% lower than a year earlier as reported, and 2.8% lower on an organic basis.

Management put the shortfall down to customer buying behaviour rather than weaker end demand. According to the company, buyers had placed orders early in the second quarter ahead of a changeover to a new ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, and that earlier buying then reversed in the third quarter.

Even so, Solventum now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share of $7.20-$7.30. It also said organic revenue growth should land toward the upper end of its 2.5%-3.0% range, and it kept its free cash flow target of $200-300m unchanged. The company did not provide further detail on the drivers of the higher profit outlook in the material reviewed.

Separately, Solventum said it has received US FDA 510(k) clearance for using Restrata together with V.A.C. Therapy in advanced wound care. A 510(k) clearance is the route by which the agency clears devices shown to be substantially equivalent to ones already legally marketed. No further information on the clearance, including its timing or commercial plans, was available.