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BSXMedical devices

Boston Scientific

Narrow moatMedium uncertainty

Updated

Price
$44.14
Fair value
fair value $64.00
Discount
31.0% below fair value
LSEG rating
LSEG 1.94 — lower is better (1–5)
Next earnings
Earnings Oct 28 ·

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In short

Thesis
The market no longer pays for fast growth after slower US electrophysiology sales and a cyber incident, and a recovery in sales and 2027 guidance can close the gap.
Gap
Can close. The October 28, 2026 outlook, the Penumbra closing and the 2027 guidance show within a year whether growth recovers.
Next test
: Q3 2026 earnings and updated outlook after the cyber incident

About

Boston Scientific makes medical devices that doctors use in minimally invasive procedures. Its Cardiovascular segment sells pulsed field ablation systems such as FARAPULSE for atrial fibrillation, the WATCHMAN device that lowers stroke risk, devices for coronary and peripheral arteries, and cardiac rhythm products. Its MedSurg segment sells endoscopy, urology and neuromodulation products. The company sells mainly to hospitals and clinics, and about two thirds of sales are in the United States.

Net sales were $5.44 billion in Q2 2026. It grows with new products, clinical data that widens their use, and acquisitions; it agreed to buy Penumbra, a maker of thrombectomy devices, in January 2026. From January 1, 2027, it will report three segments: Interventional Therapies, Rhythm Solutions and MedSurg.

Thesis

The market no longer pays for the fast growth that Boston Scientific had in 2024 and 2025. The share price fell on February 4, 2026, after the full-year 2025 results and guidance, with investor concern about growth in U.S. electrophysiology. In Q2 2026, U.S. electrophysiology sales grew only 3% and U.S. WATCHMAN sales grew 3% from a year earlier.

Organic sales growth was 7.0%, and the company guided 5% to 6% for 2026 and 3% to 5% for Q3. A cybersecurity incident on August 25, 2026, then stopped some manufacturing and shipping, and the company said it will likely miss its Q3 and full-year guidance. For the gap to close, four things must be true. Sales lost to the cyber incident must come back as the company clears its order backlog.

U.S. electrophysiology and WATCHMAN growth must speed up again, with new FARAPULSE products and clinical data. The FTC must clear the Penumbra purchase, which the company expects to close in the second half of 2026. Guidance for 2027 must show organic growth above the 2026 level, with help from the 2026 restructuring plan, which targets about $500 million of yearly savings. The first evidence comes on October 28, 2026, with the Q3 report and the updated outlook.

The Q4 report and the 2027 guidance follow in early 2027. If these checks pass, the gap can close over the next three to five quarters. The main reason it may not close is a longer slowdown in electrophysiology because of competition.

Checkpoints

  1. Oct 28, 2026Pending
    Q3 2026 earnings and updated outlook after the cyber incidentA clear recovery plan, with most lost sales expected back by early 2027 and U.S. electrophysiology growth that does not slow further, passes; a large cut to the outlook or a longer disruption fails.
  2. Dec 31, 2026 · est.Pending
    Penumbra purchase closesFTC clearance and closing in the second half of 2026, as the company expects, pass; an FTC challenge or a delay into 2027 fails.
  3. Feb 4, 2027 · est.Pending
    Q4 2026 earnings and 2027 guidance2027 organic growth guidance above the 5% to 6% of 2026 passes; lower guidance fails.

Every passed and failed checkpoint across all picks

Balance sheet

Cash
$539M
Debt
$12.6B
Net debt
$12.1B
Interest cover
12×
times profit pays interest

Cash against debt

Cash$539M
Debt$12.6B

debt covered by cashnet debt $12.1B

When the debt is due

12 months$1.7B
Later$10.9B

Boston Scientific funds itself with senior notes, commercial paper and bank facilities. At June 30, 2026, debt was $12.62 billion: $1.71 billion of current debt, which included $1.69 billion of commercial paper, and $10.92 billion of long-term debt.

Risks

  • Growth in the largest U.S. growth businesses slowed. In Q2 2026, U.S. electrophysiology sales rose 3% to $606 million and U.S. WATCHMAN sales rose 3% to $459 million. Competitors also sell pulsed field ablation systems, and slower growth lowers the value of the business.
  • The cybersecurity incident of August 25, 2026, disrupted manufacturing and shipping. The company expects a material impact on 2026 results, and the time to full recovery is not known. Investigations, litigation and harm to customer relations can follow.
  • The Penumbra purchase, valued at about $14.5 billion when announced, is under FTC review since a Second Request on March 16, 2026. Boston Scientific has $6 billion of term loans ready for the deal, so debt will rise, and a block or delay is possible.
  • A securities class action filed on March 5, 2026, claims that the company made misleading statements about guidance and U.S. electrophysiology growth. The case is at an early stage.

Recent events

  • October 7, 2026Boston Scientific promoted Joe Fitzgerald, head of the Cardiovascular group, to Chief Operating Officer from January 1, 2027. From that date, it will report three segments: Interventional Therapies, which will include Penumbra after closing, Rhythm Solutions and MedSurg.
  • September 21, 2026Arthur Butcher, Executive Vice President and Group President of MedSurg and Asia Pacific, told the company that he will retire from that role on January 1, 2027.
  • September 8, 2026Boston Scientific said that the cybersecurity incident will likely have a material impact on Q3 and full-year 2026 results, and that it will likely miss its sales growth and adjusted EPS guidance. Distribution centers shipped at or above normal levels again, and manufacturing restarted at most sites. The company will update its outlook on October 28, 2026.
Show 5 older events
  • August 25, 2026Boston Scientific found a cybersecurity incident that caused a global disruption of its operations, including its ability to process and ship customer orders.
  • July 29, 2026Boston Scientific reported Q2 2026 results. Net sales grew 7.5% to $5.442 billion, and organic growth was 7.0%. Adjusted EPS was $0.86. It lowered its 2026 guidance to organic sales growth of 5% to 6% and adjusted EPS of $3.28 to $3.32, and guided Q3 organic growth of 3% to 5%. It completed a $2 billion accelerated share repurchase of about 40 million shares.
  • July 21, 2026The board approved a 2026 restructuring plan. It expects pre-tax charges of $700 million to $800 million through 2029 and gross annual savings of about $500 million.
  • May 18, 2026Boston Scientific invested $1.5 billion for about 34% of MiRus, with an option to buy its SIEGEL TAVR valve business for $3 billion more. It also started a $2 billion accelerated share repurchase.
  • May 6, 2026Penumbra stockholders approved the purchase by Boston Scientific. The FTC asked for more information on March 16, 2026, and the review continues.

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