Zimmer Biomet Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

• First quarter net sales of $2.087 billion increased 9.3% on a reported basis, 6.8% on a constant currency¹ basis and 2.9% on an organic constant currency¹ basis
• First quarter diluted earnings per share were $1.22, an increase of 34.1%; adjusted¹ diluted earnings per share were $2.09, an increase of 15.5%
• Company updates full-year 2026 financial guidance

WARSAW, Ind., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.  The Company reported first quarter net sales of $2.087 billion, an increase of 9.3% over the prior year period, an increase of 6.8% on a constant currency¹ basis and an increase of 2.9% on an organic constant currency¹ basis.  Net earnings for the first quarter were $238.1 million, or $409.4 million on an adjusted¹ basis.

Diluted earnings per share were $1.22 for the first quarter, an increase of 34.1%, and adjusted¹ diluted earnings per share were $2.09, an increase of 15.5%.  Zimmer Biomet generated $359.4 million in operating cash flow and $245.9 million of free cash flow in the first quarter.

"We are off to a solid start to the year — strategically, operationally and financially," said Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet. "Our first quarter results reflect healthy end markets, continued momentum from our recently launched products and disciplined execution across the business. Given our progress and with our go-to-market transformation proceeding as planned, we are raising our adjusted EPS guidance and free cash flow expectations for the year. We remain confident that our strategy will position Zimmer Biomet for consistent, durable growth over the longer term."

Recent Highlights

• Completed $250 million of share repurchases during the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
• Named Dr. Jonathan M. Vigdorchik as Chief Science, Technology and Medical Affairs Officer to oversee the strategy, delivery and management of the company's global end-to-end technology portfolio, including AI, robotics, smart implants and data.
• Completed enrollment in the multi-center clinical study in India of mBôs, a first-of-its-kind, surgeon-guided, autonomous robotic total knee arthroplasty system acquired from Monogram Technologies. This marks a key development milestone and helps ensure future regulatory and commercialization pathways remain on track.
• First case completed using the G7®TM Acetabular System, a next-generation implant engineered to address challenging primary and revision hip replacement surgeries, following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance in February 2026.
• Released new data and showcased a broad portfolio of innovations at the 2026 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting, including the full commercial launch of ROSA® Knee with OptimiZe.
• Named to FORTUNE's 2026 list of America's Most Innovative Companies and to Ethisphere's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the second straight year.
• Launched Phantom® Curved TTC Nail System, a next-generation solution from Paragon 28 subsidiary to support hindfoot fusion procedures.

Geographic and Product Category Sales

The following sales table provides results by geography and product category for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026, as well as the percentage change compared to the prior year period, on both a reported basis and a constant currency basis.  Percentage change is also presented on an organic constant currency basis to exclude the impact on net sales from the April 2025 acquisition of Paragon 28, Inc. ("Paragon 28").

Amounts reported in millions are computed based on the actual amounts.  As a result, the sum of the components reported in millions may not equal the total amount reported in millions due to rounding.  Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying unrounded amounts.

Financial Guidance

The Company is updating its full-year 2026 financial guidance as follows:

Conference Call

The Company will conduct its first quarter 2026 investor conference call today, April 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.  The audio webcast can be accessed via Zimmer Biomet's Investor Relations website at https://investor.zimmerbiomet.com.  It will be archived for replay following the conference call. 

About the Company

Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology leader with a comprehensive portfolio designed to maximize mobility and improve health.  We seamlessly transform the patient experience through our innovative products and suite of integrated digital and robotic technologies that leverage data, data analytics and artificial intelligence. 

With 90+ years of trusted leadership and proven expertise, Zimmer Biomet is positioned to deliver the highest quality solutions to patients and providers.  Our legacy continues to come to life today through our progressive culture of evolution and innovation.

For more information about our product portfolio, our operations in 25+ countries and sales in 100+ countries or about joining our team, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or follow on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zimmerbiomet or X / Twitter at www.x.com/zimmerbiomet.  

Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.zimmerbiomet.com, in the "Investor Relations" section.  We use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.  Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. 

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website or any other website referenced herein is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and our commentary in our investor conference call today include non-GAAP financial measures that differ from financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Net sales change information for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026 is presented on a GAAP (reported) basis and on a constant currency basis. Net sales change for this period is also presented on an organic constant currency basis to exclude the impact on net sales from the April 2025 acquisition of Paragon 28.  Constant currency percentage changes exclude the effects of foreign currency exchange rates.  They are calculated by translating current and prior-period sales at the same predetermined exchange rate.  The translated results are then used to determine year-over-year percentage increases or decreases.  Projected revenue change information for the year ending December 31, 2026, is also presented on an organic constant currency basis.  In addition to excluding the projected effects of foreign currency exchange rates, projected 2026 organic constant currency revenue change also excludes the projected impact on net sales from the April 2025 acquisition of Paragon 28 through the one-year anniversary of the acquisition date in April 2026.

Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 are presented on a GAAP (reported) basis and on an adjusted basis.  These adjusted financial measures exclude the effects of certain items, which are detailed in the reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures presented later in the press release. 

Free cash flow is an additional non-GAAP measure that is presented in this press release.  Free cash flow is computed by deducting additions to instruments and other property, plant and equipment from net cash provided by operating activities.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in this press release.  This press release also contains supplemental reconciliations of additional non-GAAP financial measures that the Company presents in other contexts.  These additional non-GAAP financial measures are computed from the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure as indicated in the applicable reconciliation.

Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally to evaluate the performance of the business.  Additionally, management believes these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful incremental information to investors to consider when evaluating the performance of the Company.  Management believes these measures offer the ability to make period-to-period comparisons that are not impacted by certain items that can cause dramatic changes in reported income but that do not impact the fundamentals of our operations.  The non-GAAP measures enable the evaluation of operating results and trend analysis by allowing a reader to better identify operating trends that may otherwise be masked or distorted by these types of items that are excluded from the non-GAAP measures.  In addition, constant currency revenue change, adjusted operating profit, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are used as performance metrics in our incentive compensation programs.

Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and our commentary in our investor conference call today also include certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures for the year ending December 31, 2026.  We calculate forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures based on internal forecasts that omit certain amounts that would be included in GAAP financial measures.  For instance, we exclude the impact of restructuring and other cost reduction initiatives; acquisition, integration, divestiture and related; and certain legal and tax matters.  We have not provided quantitative reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures (other than projected 2026 organic constant currency revenue change) to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because the excluded items are not available on a prospective basis without unreasonable efforts.  For example, the timing of certain transactions is difficult to predict because management's plans may change.  In addition, the Company believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors.  It is probable that these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures may be materially different from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding financial guidance, statements regarding macro pressures, including the impact of such pressures on our business, and any statements about our forecasts, expectations, plans, intentions, commitments, strategies or prospects.  All statements other than statements of historical or current fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements.  Such statements are based upon the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.  These risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to: competition; pricing pressures; dependence on new product development, technological advances and innovation; changes in customer demand for our products and services caused by demographic changes, obsolescence, development of different therapies or other factors; our ability to attract, retain, develop and maintain adequate succession plans for the highly skilled employees, senior management, independent agents and distributors we need to support our business; the transformation of our sales and distribution network in the U.S. and other markets; challenges relating to the rationalization of our products; shifts in the product category or regional sales mix of our products and services; the risks and uncertainties related to our ability to successfully execute our restructuring plans; the risks and uncertainties relating to our ability to successfully execute on our product portfolio rationalization plans; control of costs and expenses; risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, including the possibility that the expected benefits from such transactions will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that acquired businesses will not be integrated successfully; the effects of business disruptions affecting us, our suppliers, customers or payors, either alone or in combination with other risks on our business and operations; the risks and uncertainties related to our ability to successfully integrate the operations, products, service providers, agents, employees, sales representatives and distributors of acquired companies; the effect of the potential disruption of management's attention from ongoing business operations due to integration matters related to mergers and acquisitions; the effect of mergers and acquisitions on our relationships with customers, suppliers and lenders and on our operating results and businesses generally; unplanned delays, disruptions and expenses attributable to our enterprise resource planning and other system updates; the ability to form and implement alliances; dependence on a limited number of suppliers for key raw materials and other inputs and for outsourced activities; the risk of disruptions in the supply of materials and components used in manufacturing or sterilizing our products; breaches or failures of our (or of our business partners' or other third parties') information technology systems or products, including by cyberattack, unauthorized access or theft; the outcome of government investigations; the impact of healthcare reform and cost containment measures, including efforts sponsored by government agencies, legislative bodies, the private sector and healthcare purchasing organizations, through reductions in reimbursement levels, repayment demands and otherwise; the effects of natural disasters, or of legal, regulatory or market measures to address natural disasters; the effects of our commitments, goals and disclosures relating to corporate responsibility matters; the impact of substantial indebtedness on our ability to service our debt obligations and/or refinance amounts outstanding under our debt obligations at maturity on terms favorable to us, or at all; changes in tax obligations arising from examinations by tax authorities and from changes in tax laws in jurisdictions where we do business, including as a result of the "base erosion and profit shifting" project undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and otherwise; challenges to the tax-free nature of the ZimVie Inc. spinoff transaction and the subsequent liquidation of our retained interest in ZimVie Inc.; the risk of additional tax liability due to the recategorization of our independent agents and distributors to employees; changes in tariffs relating to imports to the U.S. and other countries; the risk that material impairment of the carrying value of our intangible assets, including goodwill, could negatively affect our operating results; changes in general domestic and international economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in general industry and market conditions, including domestic and international growth, inflation and currency exchange rates; the domestic and international business impact of political, social and economic instability, tariffs, trade restrictions and embargoes, sanctions, wars, disputes and other conflicts, including on our ability to operate in, export from or collect accounts receivable in affected countries; challenges relating to changes in and compliance with governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and other government regulators relating to medical products, healthcare fraud and abuse laws and data privacy and cybersecurity laws; the success of our quality and operational excellence initiatives; the ability to remediate matters identified in inspectional observations issued by the FDA and other regulators, while continuing to satisfy the demand for our products; product liability, intellectual property and commercial litigation losses; and the ability to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property protection.  A further list and description of these risks and uncertainties and other factors can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.zimmerbiomet.com or on request from us. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in our filings with the SEC.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we expressly disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements since there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate.  This cautionary note is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Note: Amounts reported in millions within this press release are computed based on the actual amounts.  As a result, the sum of the components reported in millions may not equal the total amount reported in millions due to rounding.  Certain columns and rows within tables may not add due to the use of rounded numbers.  Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying unrounded amounts.

The condensed consolidated statement of earnings for the three-months ended March 31, 2026, reported in this press release are based on an initial assessment that the Company will not record a goodwill impairment charge in the first quarter 2026.  The Company is finalizing its estimated fair value assessment of such goodwill, and therefore the determination of whether an impairment charge will be recorded, and the amount of any such charge, is not complete and subject to change.  If an impairment charge is recorded, our GAAP net earnings information related to the first quarter of 2026 in this release will differ from what is reported in this release. The final determination regarding any impairment, and the impact on results if there is an impairment, will be included in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.