Health Care Equipment & Services

The Nasdaq Hearings Panel granted SCWorx Corp.'s request for reconsideration and approved the company's continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, reversing the Panel's September 17, 2026 delisting decision. The Panel determined that SCWorx now meets Nasdaq's continued listing requirements, including the minimum bid price rule 5550(a)(2) and the minimum publicly held shares rule 5550(a)(4). Trading in SCWorx common stock on Nasdaq, suspended since April 14, 2026, will be reinstated on a date to be scheduled by Nasdaq, and the stock will continue to be quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol WORX until then. The decision followed the company's September 16, 2026 private placement, which together with warrant exercises raised publicly held shares to 549,092 as of September 17, 2026, above the 500,000-share minimum, and the closing bid price has been at or above $1.00 per share every trading day since August 4, 2026. As conditions, the Panel required disclosure that each private placement investor agreed not to exercise its termination right, imposed a Discretionary Panel Monitor for a one-year period ending October 2, 2027, and required monthly reports of shares outstanding, insider holdings and public float through October 5, 2027.

Veeva Systems announced that Servier has selected Veeva OpenData to standardize customer reference data across more than 80 countries, expanding the French pharmaceutical group's relationship with Veeva beyond its existing use of Veeva Link Key People. The deployment is expected to improve data consistency, connect customer information with actionable insights and support more targeted commercial and medical engagement. Veeva OpenData is one product within Veeva's broader Data Cloud portfolio, which also includes Veeva Link and Veeva Compass, each addressing different aspects of life sciences data requirements. The win could deepen Veeva's footprint within large pharmaceutical organizations and support recurring revenue growth in its Data Cloud business as drugmakers scale artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. Veeva currently has a market capitalization of $44.25 billion, and its shares have gained 22.4% year to date.

Inspire Medical Systems announced that the American Medical Association's CPT Editorial Panel approved new Category I CPT codes for procedures involving a single lead and implantable pulse generator, including the company's recent launch of the Inspire V system. The new codes, effective Jan. 1, 2028, establish a dedicated coding framework for hypoglossal nerve stimulation procedures and are expected to create a clearer, more consistent pathway for coding and reimbursement while reducing administrative burden for hospitals and physicians. The company credited support from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the International Surgical Sleep Society in seeking a permanent coding solution. The codes now enter the Medicare valuation process, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expected to weigh recommendations from the AMA Relative Value Scale Update Committee; Inspire Medical expects CMS to publish proposed valuations in July 2027 and final valuations in November 2027. Inspire V, a closed-loop implantable device designed to synchronize with patients' natural breathing to help maintain an open airway during sleep, has treated more than 140,000 patients over more than a decade of clinical experience. INSP stock has lost 1.1% since the announcement on Thursday and is down 24.2% year to date, against the industry's 18.4% growth and the S&P 500's 12.3% rise, with a market capitalization of $2.02 billion.

Abbott announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for updates to its CardioMEMS HF System that, for the first time, let U.S. CardioMEMS patients view their pulmonary artery pressure readings directly on their smartphones through the new CardioGuide HF App. The new capabilities also include Dynamic Treatment Plan, a software feature that lets clinicians set up personalized medication adjustment plans based on changes in a patient's pulmonary artery pressure and send medication adjustment instructions directly to patients through the app. The CardioMEMS HF System, which measures pulmonary artery pressure through an implanted sensor in the pulmonary artery, has been shown to reduce heart failure hospitalizations and mortality risk, and clinicians have used its readings for more than a decade to identify signs of worsening heart failure and guide treatment. Abbott said it plans to make the CardioGuide HF App and Dynamic Treatment Plan available later this year. Katie Spayde, vice president of Abbott's heart failure division, said the new capabilities help patients stay informed, engaged and connected to their care between doctor visits.

Dental Corporation Public Company Limited, or D, has met the criteria of the Stock Exchange of Thailand and will move from the Market for Alternative Investment, or mai, to trade on the SET in the Services industry group, Medical business sector, starting October 1, 2026, after more than 9 years listed on mai. Chief Executive Officer Pornsak Tantapakul, together with the company's board and executives, joined in congratulating the occasion. The company stated that the move to the SET reflects the organization's growth and potential, from its beginnings as a Thai family business to a listed company in the capital market, and that over the past 9 years it has used funds raised to expand its business, generating growth in revenue, net profit, and shareholders' equity. The Dental Corporation group operates a full-service dental business, covering dental hospitals, the Bangkok International Dental Hospital, or BIDH, dental centers, Smile Signature dental clinics, and Dental Planet dental clinics, as well as Dental Vision Company Limited, a subsidiary that distributes dental materials and equipment.

Safe Fertility Group Public Company Limited, or SAFE, has announced a three-to-five-year plan to expand its family care base from 40,000 families to 50,000 families, while driving average revenue growth of 10-15% per year from 2027 onward, after revenue in 2026 is expected to hold steady from the 900 million baht recorded in 2025. Dr. Wiwat Kwangkananurak, Chief Executive Officer, said the growth strategy comes from the Preserve and Prevent markets, as younger generations increasingly turn to egg freezing, sperm freezing, and genetic testing, as well as from expanding the base of international patients, who currently account for 50% of all patients. The company is also broadening its business scope into genetic analysis laboratories under Next Generation Genomic Company Limited, providing reproductive medicine and maternal and child medicine analysis services to leading public and private healthcare providers, as well as obstetrics and gynecology clinics both domestically and overseas. It is also in discussions on cooperation with the National Health Security Office, or NHSO, on a project to screen for fetal chromosomal abnormalities from maternal blood, known as NIPT, with services under the NHSO project expected to begin in 2027. It is also discussing ways to provide intrauterine insemination, or IUI, for holders of universal health coverage rights, or the 30-baht scheme, to broaden access to treatment more comprehensively.

Safe Fertility Group Public Company Limited, or SAFE, has announced a business plan under the concept The Next Chapter of Fertility, riding the trend of younger generations marrying and having children later in life. The company aims to grow its customer base from roughly 40,000 families today to 50,000 families within 3-5 years, and targets average revenue growth of 10-15% per year through two main strategies: expanding the Preserve and Prevent market, which covers egg freezing, sperm freezing and genetic testing, and expanding its international customer base into new markets. International customers currently account for about 50% of the company's total patient base. In Thailand's assisted reproductive technology, or IVF, market, Kasikorn Research Center estimates the value at approximately 6 billion baht, while the global IVF market is worth more than 30 billion US dollars. SAFE cited Japan as an example, where the number of newborns has fallen below 700,000, yet children born through assisted reproductive technology now make up about one in eight of all births. The company has also expanded into genetic analysis laboratories through Next Generation Genomic Company Limited, and has set a long-term goal of 5-10 years to elevate Thailand into a Regional Fertility Hub.

Dental Corporation Public Company Limited, or D, has moved from the Market for Alternative Investment, or mai, to trade on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, or SET, in the Services industry group, Medical sector, effective October 1, 2026, after being listed on mai for more than 9 years. Chief Executive Officer Pornsak Tantapakul, along with the company's board and executives, joined in congratulating the company on meeting the SET's listing criteria. The move to the SET reflects the organization's growth and potential, from its beginnings as a Thai family business to a listed company in the capital market. Over the past 9 years, the company has used funds raised to expand its business, driving growth in revenue, net profit, and shareholders' equity. D operates a comprehensive dental services business covering dental hospitals, the Bangkok International Dental Hospital, or BIDH, dental centers, Smile Signature dental clinics, and Dental Planet dental clinics, as well as Dental Vision Company Limited, a subsidiary that distributes dental materials and equipment.

Cardinal Health announced in October 2026 that it had entered into a binding Letter of Intent to extend its existing distribution agreement with CVS Health through June 30, 2032, maintaining the current scope of distribution services. The long-dated extension reinforces the durability of Cardinal Health's core distribution relationships and underscores the importance of scale partnerships in its business model. The company's narrative projects $297.6 billion in revenue and $3.0 billion in earnings by 2029, requiring 5.4% yearly revenue growth and an earnings increase of about $1.3 billion from $1.7 billion today. The extended CVS agreement supports that core distribution pillar but does not directly change the near-term focus on product quality risks from the levothyroxine and Webcol recalls, or cost pressure in the Global Medical Products and Distribution segment. The most relevant recent announcement alongside the CVS extension is Cardinal Health's August 2026 unsecured US$4.0 billion revolving credit agreement through 2031, which refreshes its funding flexibility and gives the company financial room to keep investing in automation, specialty distribution and at-home solutions.

Asia Plus Securities said the number of Middle Eastern tourists in September rose 18.8% year on year, though it fell 43.1% from the previous month on seasonal factors. That brought the third quarter of 2026 up 12.9% year on year and 142.4% quarter on quarter, reflecting a gradual return of travel to normal and a positive signal for the Middle Eastern patient trend at private hospital groups. The research team views this as a positive factor for third-quarter 2026 earnings after Middle Eastern patients began to recover from the impact of the Iran war, with most returning patients being complex and critical cases that carry high revenue per case and high margins, supporting the prospect that profits will recover faster than revenue. This is consistent with the number of Middle Eastern tourists in the third quarter of 2026, with the UAE up 29.8% year on year and Saudi Arabia up 21% year on year, while Qatar and Oman rose 1% and 4% year on year respectively. The research team maintained an overweight stance on the hospital group and buy ratings on BH, PR9 and BDMS, choosing BH as the top pick because it has the highest share of revenue from Middle Eastern patients in the group at about 23%, followed by PR9 at about 10% and BDMS at about 4%. It kept 2027 target prices at 225.00 baht, 23.00 baht and 25.00 baht respectively.

AtriCure's fair value price target has shifted from about US$51.67 to about US$54.89, reflecting modest fine tuning in analyst models rather than a wholesale reset. BTIG raised its AtriCure price target to US$55 from US$45, pointing to the new STS Quality Metric, which it thinks could support greater use of the EnCompass Clamp in U.S. surgery patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation, and noting that only about 35% of atrial fibrillation patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the U.S. currently receive a surgical ablation. BTIG models potential upside to AtriCure's U.S. Open Ablation revenue of US$10m to US$25m in 2027 and US$20m to US$55m in 2028 compared with its prior forecasts. UBS keeps a Buy rating on AtriCure alongside a revised price target of US$50 from US$55, citing business growth excluding MIS as support for what it describes as sustainable double digit top line expansion. Freedom Capital downgraded AtriCure to Hold from Buy and lifted its target to US$57 from US$43, expecting BoX-NoAF POAF data in Q2 2027 to be positive but flagging that earlier supportive data carries caveats, which it thinks reduces the margin for error if results or execution fall short of expectations. Revenue growth assumptions are broadly steady, moving from about 12.33% to about 12.35%, net profit margin expectations remain around 4.55%, future P/E has moved from about 94.5x to about 101.3x, and the discount rate is broadly unchanged, moving from about 7.52% to about 7.55%.

SAFE Fertility Group, or SAFE, has announced its corporate direction under the concept "The Next Chapter of Fertility" on the occasion of celebrating its 20th year. Dr. Wiwat Kwangkananurak, founder and Chief Executive Officer, said the company aims to expand its family care base from 40,000 families to 50,000 families within the next 3-5 years, while driving average revenue growth of 10-15% per year. Key strategies include growth in the Preserve and Prevent markets, as younger generations increasingly turn to egg freezing, sperm freezing, and genetic testing, and expansion of its international patient base, which currently accounts for as much as 50% of all the company's patients, into additional new markets. The concept covers three areas: Prepare, readiness through health and hormone assessments; Preserve, alternative treatment through egg and sperm freezing technology; and Prevent, advance prevention through comprehensive genetic disease screening. The company is also expanding into genetic analysis laboratories under Next Generation Genomic Co., Ltd. Over the longer term of 5-10 years, SAFE aims to propel Thailand to become a Regional Fertility Hub trusted by families across the region.

Analysts at Asia Plus Securities see the return of Middle Eastern tourists as a positive factor for the earnings of private hospital operators in the third quarter of 2026. The number of Middle Eastern tourists in September rose 18.8% year on year, though it fell 43.1% from the previous month on seasonal factors, bringing the third quarter of 2026 up 12.9% year on year and 142.4% from the previous quarter. This reflects travel gradually returning to normal after Middle Eastern patients began recovering from the impact of the Iran war. Although patient numbers at some hospitals have yet to return to last year's levels, most of those coming back are complex and serious cases with high revenue per case and high margins, supporting the prospect that profits will recover faster than revenue. In the third quarter of 2026, tourists from the UAE rose 29.8% and those from Saudi Arabia rose 21%, while Qatar and Oman rose 1% and 4% respectively. BH benefits the most, with Middle Eastern patients accounting for about 23% of its revenue, followed by PR9 and BDMS at about 10% and 4%. Normalised profits for private hospital operators in the third quarter of 2026 are expected to be the strongest of the year, driven by recovering foreign patients, a rise in Thai patients from influenza and COVID-19, and the return of complex cases. The Bangkok floods from 24 to 26 September are expected to have a limited impact.

Alignment Healthcare announced that its Alignment Health Plan will add Hoag, a large Orange County health system, to its network for Medicare members starting January 1, 2027. The agreement comes as Alignment Healthcare's share price sits under pressure, with the stock down 41.36% on a 30 day share price return basis and 60.73% year to date, while the 3 year total shareholder return remains positive at 8.47% and the 1 year total shareholder return has declined 52.23%. Analysts following the company see a wide gap between their narrative fair value of about $22.23 and the last close at $7.94, with 14 investors viewing Alignment Healthcare as 64% undervalued. On simple P/E math the stock screens as expensive, trading at about 40.5x earnings versus 24.3x for the wider US Healthcare industry and roughly 34.5x for peers, even though the fair ratio is estimated at 43x. The bull case rests on a technology-enabled care model, administrative automation and expansion into existing counties and new states, but it depends on stable Medicare Advantage funding and clean accounting, and any adverse regulatory or legal outcome could quickly challenge those assumptions.

Simply Wall St raised its fair value estimate for Pulse Biosciences from US$45.25 to US$54.00 per share, a roughly 19% increase, after analysts pointed to enthusiasm around the company's nsPFA technology and first-in-human European data. BTIG, Freedom Capital and Needham describe the nanosecond pulsed field ablation platform as differentiated from traditional microsecond PFA systems, and BTIG cites European first-in-human data in 141 patients with reported procedural success of 100% at six months and 96.2% at 12 months as support for its US$70 price target. Canaccord, Mizuho and Oppenheimer each raised their price targets, with Canaccord moving from US$32 to US$43, Mizuho from US$30 to US$45 and Oppenheimer from US$30 to US$35. Oppenheimer still flags validation risk because early nsPFA data need confirmation in pivotal trials, and other firms describe Pulse Biosciences as a very early stage commercial company. The updated model also shifted the revenue growth rate from 246.85% to 218.54%, the net profit margin from 12.13% to 12.58%, the future P/E multiple from about 777x to about 1,158x, and the discount rate from 7.45% to about 7.51%.

Medtronic reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $9.76 billion, up 13.7% from a year earlier, and raised its full-year outlook, with adjusted diluted EPS climbing 15.1% to $1.45 and GAAP EPS rising 40.7% to $1.14. Management now expects organic revenue growth of 7.25%-7.75% for fiscal 2027, up from 6.75%-7.25% previously, and lifted adjusted EPS guidance to $5.94-$6.00. The quarter included an extra selling week that added about $570 million to revenue, so the headline growth rate should not be expected to repeat. Cardiovascular delivered strong growth, while Neuroscience, Medical Surgical and Diabetes also posted high-single-digit or double-digit organic growth. At a share price of around $89-$90, the stock trades at roughly 15 times the midpoint of the adjusted EPS forecast, versus about 22 times trailing earnings, while paying a quarterly dividend of $0.72 per share, or $2.88 a year, for a yield of roughly 3.2%-3.3%. Medtronic is also expanding its Affera cardiac mapping and ablation system, investing in Pi-Cardia and Cornerstone Robotics, and has acquired Scientia Vascular and SPR Therapeutics, with a planned separation of its Diabetes business.

Dexcom released its 2026 "State of Type 2 Report: Global Access and Attitudes to Diabetes Technology" ahead of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, highlighting gaps in continuous glucose monitoring awareness and access while pointing to growing potential for combining CGM with GLP-1 therapies. The survey of more than 800 healthcare professionals and 2,500 people with Type 2 diabetes across eight countries found that 89% of HCPs believe CGM helps assess treatment adherence between appointments, yet 55% of surveyed Type 2 patients reported limited knowledge of the technology, and reimbursement and coverage challenges were cited by 90% of U.S. HCPs and 53% of HCPs in the other seven countries surveyed. Among existing users, 94% said CGM helps them manage diabetes more independently and 91% use CGM data to guide treatment decisions. The report also flagged an emerging intersection between CGM and GLP-1 therapies, with 58% of Type 2 patients taking GLP-1 medicines using CGM alongside their medication versus only 27% of Type 2 patients not using insulin, while half of HCPs expect increasing GLP-1 use to drive CGM adoption. Dexcom also partnered with Team Novo Nordisk, an all-diabetic professional cycling team principally sponsored by Novo Nordisk, to extend its visibility within the Type 1 diabetes community and create opportunities for real-world research, education and awareness.

Dr. Wirot Wasusuttikulkan, Chief Executive Officer of SMD Rise Public Company Limited, or SMD100, informed the Stock Exchange that the company's board meeting on October 2, 2026 approved the establishment of a new subsidiary to provide medical diagnostic imaging technology services in Thailand, covering X-ray, Ultrasound, CT Scan, PET/CT, MRI, radiation therapy, and digital health solutions, serving hospitals and related project customers. The new subsidiary is named SMD Remag (Thailand) Company Limited, with registered capital of 10 million baht, in which SMD100 holds 51% and Remag Group (Thailand) Company Limited holds 49%. The company expects to begin recognizing revenue from this business in the second quarter of 2027, using the company's working capital as the funding source for the establishment. At the same time, the meeting also approved the dissolution of SMD Pharmatics Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary that imports and distributes automated medication dispensing systems and related equipment and provides full installation and system integration services, due to financial performance that did not meet targets. The dissolution does not significantly affect the company's operations or financial position.

SMD Rise Public Company Limited, or SMD, informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand that its board of directors, at its 6/2569 meeting on 2 October 2569, approved the establishment of a new subsidiary named SMD REMAC (Thailand) Company Limited with registered capital of 10 million baht, divided into 100,000 ordinary shares at a par value of 100 baht each. SMD will hold 51% and REMAC Group (Thailand) Company Limited will hold 49%. The new company will provide medical diagnostic services using imaging technology in Thailand, covering X-ray, Ultrasound, CT Scan, PET/CT, MRI, radiotherapy, and digital health solutions, serving hospitals and related project customers. The company expects SMD REMAC to begin generating revenue in the second quarter of 2570, using the company's working capital as the funding source for the establishment. The transaction does not constitute a connected transaction and is not a significant transaction under the criteria of the Capital Market Supervisory Board. In addition, the board meeting approved the dissolution of SMD Pharmaceutics Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary in which SMD holds 100%, which operates the import and distribution of automated drug dispensing systems and related equipment and provides turnkey system installation services, because its financial performance did not meet targets.

Phillip Securities (Thailand) Public Company Limited estimates that Bumrungrad Hospital Public Company Limited, or BH, will have hospital revenue of approximately 6.75 billion baht in the third quarter of 2026, up 8.3% from the previous quarter and 4.0% from the same period last year, exceeding management's guidance of about 3% year-on-year revenue growth. International patient revenue is expected at 4.579 billion baht, up 10.7% quarter-on-quarter and 5.6% year-on-year, driven by an accelerating number of travelers from the Middle East to Thailand, with about 70,000 such tourists in September 2026, growing 18.8% year-on-year. Thai patient revenue is expected at 2.17 billion baht, up 8.3% quarter-on-quarter and 0.7% year-on-year. Core profit for the third quarter of 2026 is expected at 2.088 billion baht, up 10.5% quarter-on-quarter and 2.4% year-on-year, on total revenue of approximately 6.77 billion baht. The gross margin is expected to rise to 53.2% from 53.0% in the third quarter of 2025, and the EBITDA margin is expected at 41.4%, up from 40.9% in the same period last year. Phillip views the third quarter of 2026 as the best quarter of the year, with the second quarter of 2026 likely marking the bottom of performance. Core profit for the nine months of 2026 is expected at approximately 5.759 billion baht, up 2.3% year-on-year, representing 72.7% of the full-year profit forecast. It maintains a buy recommendation on BH with a year-end 2026 target price of 200 baht per share. The business expansion plan continues with the opening of a hospital in Phuket in two phases. The first phase, spanning years one to five, or approximately the second half of 2027 to 2032, will gradually open 120 beds, and the second phase, spanning years six to ten, or approximately 2032 to 2037, will add another 92 beds, for a total of 212 beds, following a hub-and-spoke model. Factors to monitor include the slow recovery in domestic purchasing power and the conflict situation in the Middle East, which may affect the number of international patients and BH's revenue trend going forward.

The US FDA has approved Edwards Lifesciences' AUTUS surgical pulmonary valve for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease. AUTUS is the first such pulmonary valve approved for children that can be expanded as a child grows, with the expansion performed through a transcatheter procedure. The approval was based on a study that found no patients had device-related complications after 30 days and no AUTUS valve reinterventions through six months. In patients with one-year follow-up, all showed consistent outcomes, with a right ventricular outflow tract mean gradient of 40 mmHg or less, less than moderate pulmonary regurgitation, and no valve reinterventions.

Edwards Lifesciences announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the AUTUS Size-Adjustable Valve, the first FDA-approved surgical pulmonary valve designed specifically for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease who require pulmonary valve replacement. The valve can be expanded as a child grows through a minimally invasive transcatheter procedure, potentially reducing the need for repeat open-heart surgeries. FDA approval was based on the totality of clinical evidence from the pivotal study, which met its primary safety and effectiveness endpoints, with 100% of patients free from device-related complications through 30 days and no AUTUS valve reinterventions through six months; among patients who completed one-year follow-up, 100% showed an RVOT mean gradient of 40 mmHg or less, less than moderate pulmonary regurgitation and no valve reinterventions, with patients to be followed for 10 years. The AUTUS valve previously received FDA Breakthrough Device designation, and the approval expands Edwards' congenital treatment options, which also include SAPIEN 3, the Alterra Adaptive Prestent and pediatric atrioseptostomy catheters. CEO Bernard Zovighian called the valve a meaningful advancement for children who have historically had limited treatment options, and Dr. Emile Bacha of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, an investigator in the trial, said it gives congenital heart teams a new way to think about long-term care planning for pediatric patients who may otherwise face multiple surgeries.

Cardinal Health has extended its drug distribution agreement with CVS Health through June 2032, sending its shares up 3.7% in Thursday trading. The pharmaceutical distributor said it entered into a binding Letter of Intent to extend the existing distribution agreement through June 30, 2032, maintaining the current scope of distribution services. "We value our long-standing partnership with CVS Health and look forward to continuing to bring our best-in-class capabilities together to serve their customers," said Jason Hollar, CEO of Cardinal Health. In connection with the contract renewal, Cardinal Health reaffirmed its fiscal year 2027 non-GAAP EPS guidance of 13% to 15% growth, or $12.40 to $12.60, and maintained its long-term non-GAAP EPS growth rate guidance of 12% to 14%. The company said further updates may be provided during its upcoming first quarter earnings call on November 5, 2026.

Medtronic announced that the American Medical Association has approved new Category I Current Procedural Terminology codes for two of its technologies, the Altaviva implantable tibial neuromodulation device for urge urinary incontinence and the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system for uncontrolled hypertension. The new codes, which replace existing Category III codes, take effect in January 2028. Category I codes are permanent codes assigned to procedures the AMA deems well established, widely performed across the United States, and supported by robust clinical evidence, and while they can help support physician payment and inform commercial payer coverage decisions, they do not determine coverage, reimbursement, clinical superiority, or patient access. The Altaviva device was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2025 for urge urinary incontinence, a condition affecting 16 million adults in the United States, and is placed under the skin near the ankle in a minimally invasive procedure. The Symplicity Spyral system was finalized for Medicare coverage in October 2025, and Medtronic said its SPYRAL HTN global clinical program is the most comprehensive studying renal denervation, with more than 5,000 patients and experience in over 40,000 patients globally.

Retractable Technologies has declared a $1.00 per share dividend. The dividend is payable Oct. 22 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 12, which is also the ex-dividend date. The declaration applies to the company's Series II and Series III Class B preferred stock.

Medtronic reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings per share of $1.45, up 15.1% year over year and ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.3%, while raising its full-year outlook. Revenue rose 13.7% to $9.76 billion, beating consensus by 3%, a quarter that included an extra fiscal week worth roughly $570 million in organic growth. GAAP earnings per share came in at $1.14, up from 81 cents a year earlier, and the adjusted operating margin expanded 10 basis points to 23.7%. Medtronic lifted its fiscal 2027 organic revenue growth outlook to 7.25%-7.75% from 6.75%-7.25% and raised adjusted EPS guidance to $5.94-$6.00 from $5.90-$6.00, incorporating an estimated neutral to 1% accretive foreign currency impact. The company also highlighted its recent acquisitions of Scientia Vascular and SPR Therapeutics, though shares have fallen about 6.4% since the report and estimates have trended downward, leaving the stock with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

McKesson Corporation announced it has signed an agreement in principle to extend its partnership with CVS Health to distribute pharmaceuticals to mail order and specialty pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and distribution centers through June 2032. The Irving, Texas-based company said the extension builds on a relationship of more than 25 years, according to chair and chief executive officer Brian Tyler. McKesson is reaffirming its fiscal year 2027 adjusted EPS guidance of $44.20 to $45.00 and its long-term adjusted EPS growth rate of 13% to 16%. Further updates will be provided during the company's second quarter fiscal 2027 earnings call on November 4, 2026. The company cautioned that the deal remains an agreement in principle and that risks include possible delays in signing a definitive contract, a failure to sign one, or not realizing all expected financial and operational benefits.