STAAR Surgical returns to profit in Q1, posts record sales on China boost

STAAR Surgical

13/05/2026 21:14

Overview

US intraocular lens maker's Q1 net sales rose 120% yr/yr to record high, led by China

Company returned to profitability with Q1 net income of $5.2 mln after prior yr loss

Gross margin improved to 73.6% from 65.8% a year ago, aided by manufacturing gains

Outlook

STAAR Surgical expects consistent, profitable growth in 2026 with disciplined execution

Company plans for Nidau facility to supply all lenses shipped to China in 2026, avoiding tariffs

STAAR Surgical remains mindful of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, especially in Europe and Asia

Result Drivers

CHINA RECOVERY - Co said strong Q1 sales were driven by a recovery in in-market demand in China, normalization of distributor inventory, and strong launch of EVO+ ICL

U.S. SALES GROWTH - Double-digit U.S. net sales growth attributed to increased surgeon adoption and improved commercial execution

MARGIN IMPROVEMENT - Gross margin gains primarily driven by elimination of period costs related to Swiss manufacturing ramp-up, lower inventory provisions, and decreased freight and other cost of sales

Company press release: ID:nBw3sxQLqa

Key Details

Metric
Beat/Miss
Actual
Consensus Estimate
Q1 EPS
$0.10
Q1 Net Income
$5.21 mln
Q1 Gross Margin
73.60%
Q1 Gross Profit
$68.86 mln
Q1 Operating Income
$7.98 mln


Analyst Coverage

The current average analyst rating on the shares is "hold" and the breakdown of recommendations is 2 "strong buy" or "buy", 9 "hold" and no "sell" or "strong sell"

The average consensus recommendation for the medical equipment, supplies & distribution peer group is "buy."

Wall Street's median 12-month price target for STAAR Surgical Co is $22.00, about 21.9% below its May 12 closing price of $28.18

The stock recently traded at 301 times the next 12-month earnings vs. a P/E of 351 three months ago

For questions concerning the data in this report, contact Estimates.Support@lseg.com. For any other questions or feedback, contact reuters.support@thomsonreuters.com.

(This story was created using Reuters automation and AI based on LSEG and company data. It was checked and edited by a Reuters journalist prior to publication.)