Operator
Welcome to the Getinge Q2 report 2026. During the questions and answers session, participants are able to ask questions by dialing pound key five on their telephone keypad.
I will hand the conference over to the speakers, CEO Mattias Perjos, and CFO Agneta Palmér. Please go ahead.
Operator
Mattias Perjos
Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's conference call. With me today, I have Agneta Palmér, our CFO, in today conference, we'll go through our performance, and some highlights for the second quarter before opening up for a Q&A.
We can move over to page number two, please. As usual, let's start by looking at the development of our strategic KPIs.
We continue to clearly track in line with plan to increase the share of sales from recurring revenue, accelerating the share of sales from high margin products like, for example, our ECLS offering, consumables in infection control, and BetaBags in sterile transfer. This is all supported by solid and effective quality processes.
The sales from recurring revenue continue to make up about two-thirds and the high margin products are now at 70%. For quality, the number of field actions in relation to sales has decreased significantly, and we're pacing a lot better than last year.
These improvements should of course be achieved through responsible leverage and also an attractive long-term return on invested capital. With that, we can move over to page number three, please.
If we zoom in on the second quarter and some of the financial key takeaways for the quarter. Overall, we deliver a healthy financial performance in the quarter with solid top-line growth.
Net sales grew 4.6% organically and with positive development in most of the business areas. Order intake increased by 6.2% organically.
Adjusted gross and EBITA margins were up in the quarter as a result of the tariff refund and also continued positive underlying performance in our business. This led to a strong cash flow and a strong financial position with financial leverage at 1.7 times, so well below the 2.5 times EBITDA as we have as our internal threshold.
We can then move over to page number four and some of the key events in the quarter. We take a step back here and look at some of the key events in our business across the second quarter when it comes to the offering and customers.
We continue to be innovative, and in the quarter we launched three products which will benefit the customers and the patients. We have launched the Aquadis Endo 110, which is the next generation of automated endoscope reprocessing.
While the Fluobeam LS expands the fluorescence imaging portfolio for small incision surgery. We also launched the Vasoview Hemopro 3, which is the latest evolution of our EVH platform supporting coronary artery bypass grafting procedures.
In Hamburg in Germany, we opened a digital OR innovation center with the purpose of accelerating the path to a more intelligent perioperative workflow. Furthermore, in Surgical Workflows, we strengthened our infection prevention offering in endoscopy by acquiring Pennamed, a U.K.-based distributor of endoscopic consumables.
We of course also monitor the situation in Middle East closely. Our first priority remains to tend to our employees in the region and continue to support our customers.
The region makes up about 2% of sales, where Saudi Arabia is around half. Thanks to our team's diligent efforts to reroute shipments, to implement sourcing initiatives, and also take other mitigating actions, the impact on both top line and cost have been very limited so far.
We continue to follow this very closely. If we then move to sustainability and quality, we reached an important regulatory milestone in June when we submitted the 510(k) application to FDA for our Cardiosave intra-aortic balloon pump.
I'm also happy to see that several of our sustainability KPIs are trending in the right direction. For example, when you look at the product quality KPI and the greenhouse gas emissions noted here on the slide.
As briefly mentioned also, when it comes to our tariffs that we communicated separately, we did receive an IEEPA refund in the quarter of approximately $36 million. We can then move over to page number five, and we'll discuss our top-line performance.
When it comes to top lines, and we start with order intake. The organic order intake in Acute Care Therapies increased primarily in ECLS therapy consumables in our covered stents portfolio and within EVH.
When it comes to Life Science, the organic order intake rose sharply during the quarter following double-digit growth in sterile transfer and in bioprocessing. WIS continued to decline as a result of the geopolitical uncertainty and the impact that this has on decision making and the continued challenging investment climate for pharma.
The organic order intake for Surgical Workflows increased slightly, driven by strong performance in infection control, while digital health solutions and surgical workplaces noted a decline in the quarter. When it comes to net sales, we had 4.6% organic growth.
Acute Care Therapies increased its net sales organically, primarily due to sales of stents, ECLS therapy consumables, as well as in chronic balloon pumps and consumables in the cardiac assist subsegment. In life science, organic net sales fell slightly despite robust growth in all product categories except for WIS.
In surgical workflows, organic net sales increased following growth in surgical workplaces as well as service and consumables in infection control. With that, we can move over to page number six, please, and I hand over to you, Agneta.
Mattias Perjos
Agneta Palmér
Adjusted for currency, OpEx had a positive impact on the margin by about +1.1 percentage point in the quarter, FX impacted negatively by -0.4 percentage points. All in all, this resulted in an adjusted EBITA of SEK 1.478 billion and a margin of 17.6%.
Let's move to page seven, please. We remain in a solid financial position.
Free cash flow in the quarter amounted to SEK 1 billion. Compared with last year, free cash flow was impacted by improved operating profit and changes in working capital.
At the end of Q2, net debt increased to SEK 11.5 billion on the back of the final earn-out for Paragonix, the acquisition of Pennamed, and the dividend. If we adjust for pension liabilities, net debt is at SEK 9 billion.
This brings us to a leverage of 1.7 times adjusted EBITA, which is well below the 2.5 times, which we have set as an internal threshold. If we adjust for pension liabilities, leverage is at 1.3 times adjusted EBITA.
Cash amounted to approximately SEK 2.1 billion at the end of the quarter. All in all, we can conclude that the financial position continues to be strong.
Let's move to page eight, please. Back to you, Mattias.
Agneta Palmér
Mattias Perjos
Okay, great. Thank you very much, Agneta.
Besides the tariff refund, Q2 was the first quarter in a while with a little bit cleaner year-on-year comparison as there were tariffs also in Q2 2025. Even if there was still a headwind from FX in this quarter, it has eased.
Looking then at the rolling 12 months development for adjusted EBITA margin, we were at 12.7% two years ago, and we're now at 15.2%. Normalized, which means that excluding tariffs, we are at 15.5%.
If we go back to the capital market update that we had in May 2024, we guided for an adjusted EBITA margin span of 16%-19% by the end of 2028. We're about halfway to the end of 2028 from then, and we are closing in on this span.
The main drivers which will support us there in spite of continued tariffs are the gradual cost release from the second half of this year, primarily stemming from the regulatory submission and the future approval processes when it comes to Cardiosave and also Cardiohelp II. There's also the mix shift to more recurring and high margin revenue, and there is also the results of our continuous productivity measures and some of the key product launches that we have ahead of us.
With that, we can move to page nine, please. In terms of the financial outlook for 2026, I think we're all aware of that we live in uncertain time with a lot of geopolitical uncertainties that we need to navigate on a daily basis in our business.
Based on the underlying demand that we see and our regular dialogue with customers, our expectation remains for an organic net sales growth to be in the range of 3%-5%. This is adjusted for the phase out of our Surgical Perfusion product category.
Surgical Perfusion is still expected to have some net sales in 2026, but declining from about SEK 250 million to around SEK 50 million. We can move to page 11, please.
Just to summarize the quarter before we head into Q&A. Overall, we had a robust financial performance with solid organic growth in top line.
Margins came in healthy thanks to the tariff refund and also our improving underlying performance. Cash flow in the quarter and our financial position remains strong.
For 2026, we reiterate our guidance for organic net sales growth of 3%-5%, adjusted for the phase out of Surgical Perfusion. Our priorities for 2026, they remain the same as they've been from the beginning of this year.
We continue to have the number one priority of addressing the remaining challenges in Acute Care Therapies. We have the sustainability productivity improvements that we're working on, and the cost consciousness when it comes to navigating in this geopolitical uncertainty, and also addressing the impact from tariffs.
Number one priority, of course, is also continue to creating added value for our customers, which I think is something that we see on an everyday basis in our business. With that, I open up for questions.
Thank you very much.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
If you wish to ask a question, please dial pound key five on your telephone keypad to enter the queue. If you wish to withdraw your question, please dial pound key six on your telephone keypad.
The next question comes from Erik Cassel from Danske Bank. Please go ahead.
Operator
Erik Cassel
Hi. Good morning, everyone.
First, I wanted to ask about the composition of organic order growth, specifically for EMEA. Obviously very strong at 16%.
You're saying that mainly it seems to do with ventilator orders. I also wanted to ask you, is there any component of Cardiosave return and early CardioHelp II units that you're seeing now in order intake?
Also on the Polish, Italian ventilator tenders, were they sort of very significant and I guess non-recurring? Any color on both of those would be very helpful.
Erik Cassel
Mattias Perjos
Yeah. Right.
Thanks, Erik. We don't disclose detailed numbers on product areas, area level, but we do have some sales of both categories that you mentioned here and also a bit of an impact from sales in Poland.
We don't disclose detailed numbers of this. There's an impact, but it's early days when it comes to both CardioHelp II and also the shipments of Cardiosave.
Mattias Perjos
Erik Cassel
Okay. Thank you.
I wanted to also ask about sub-segment products as well, I guess. On the order quality in Life Science.
Super strong as well, especially Americas. I just wanted to see if you could say anything about, in part, what's happening with the market over there, and also if you can talk about the mix between sterile transfers versus bioprocessing split, if there's anything non-recurring in that order intake or if it's just seeing the U.S.
market on a new higher level.
Erik Cassel
Mattias Perjos
Yeah. I'd say there is nothing non-recurring in there.
It is sterile transfer continuing to trend very strongly as it has for a while. Also then in addition to this, we are seeing a bit of a better market climate when it comes to bioprocessing.
On the negative side, as I mentioned in the call, we have a slightly more challenging situation when it comes to the WIS business and the capital goods there. There is still some decision anxiety when it comes to our pharma customers.
That is a drag on the business, but there is nothing unusual or one-off nature when it comes to the order intake otherwise there.
Mattias Perjos
Erik Cassel
Okay, good. Just quick one.
If these types of orders, which I guess are mostly consumable, looking at the mix in Life Science, are they converting relatively fast or is this order intake for long term, so to say?
Erik Cassel
Mattias Perjos
Sorry, which category were you talking about then?
Mattias Perjos
Erik Cassel
Mainly sterile transfer, overall consumables within Life Science.
Erik Cassel
Mattias Perjos
I think there's some lumpiness when it comes to order patterns in consumables in Life Science. Again, there's nothing that stands out dramatically here, I'd say.
When it comes to the sales, it is a lot more smooth when it comes to deliveries. Nothing out of the ordinary, I would say, in the quarter as such.
Mattias Perjos
Erik Cassel
Perfect. Thank you very much.
I'll jump back in queue.
Erik Cassel
Mattias Perjos
Thank you.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
The next question comes from Sten Gustafsson from ABG Sundal Collier. Please go ahead.
Operator
Sten Gustafsson
Good morning, guys. More product detailed questions.
I was wondering if you could share with us sort of growth rate and demand for your ECMO and intra-aortic balloon pump products. I guess we all saw one of the competing products out there having some issues and weak sales themselves.
I was wondering if that has helped your products in the market.
Sten Gustafsson
Mattias Perjos
Yeah. Thanks, Sten.
No, we have no evidence of that. To us, I can't talk about competitor positions here or anything that they've discussed in their earnings calls.
When it comes to our business, we basically continue to see the good trend that we've had for our ECLS business, this is geographically staying very strong across the board also. When it comes to the balloon pump business, as you know, we started to release shipments for CE markets and are ramping up the deliveries here as well.
I don't see a big connection between what other companies have communicated here and our growth. For us, it seems like normal strong end demand-driven here.
Mattias Perjos
Sten Gustafsson
Great. Thank you.
My second question is more of a clarification. I think you mentioned in your remarks cost releases in the second half related to the upcoming launches.
I was wondering if you could perhaps quantify those.
Sten Gustafsson
Mattias Perjos
We haven't put a number on this when it comes to the second half of this year. What we've said is really just reiterating what we've talked about for a few years now, that all the costs that go into remediating the two remaining categories in cardiac pulmonary and in cardiac assist will start to come down in the second half of this year.
The overall number I'm talking about here is the SEK 800 million of extraordinary quality cost that we said peaked in 2024. We had a little bit of a lowering of these costs in 2025.
We expect another lowering in 2026, mostly back-end loaded for 2026, a little bit of a rapid decrease of cost in 2027 and 2028.
Mattias Perjos
Sten Gustafsson
Perfect. Thank you very much for the clarifications.
Sten Gustafsson
Mattias Perjos
Thanks.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
The next question comes from Ludwig Germundsson from Handelsbanken. Please go ahead.
Operator
Ludwig Germundsson
Good morning, and thank you for taking my question. First one, I just want to follow up on the IABP ramp-up in CE markets.
Maybe you mentioned it, but would you say that there are any stocking effects in that at the moment since you're ramping up, or would you say that the sales and orders are very true to the underlying demand?
Ludwig Germundsson
Mattias Perjos
We are still supply constrained, so there's no possibility for anyone to stock any of the balloon pumps that we've started to ship here. We really have just been able to meet the most critical and urgent customer demand.
Mattias Perjos
Ludwig Germundsson
Okay, great. Thank you.
Secondly, I just wanted to focus a bit on ACT margins here. Could you help us understand and maybe elaborate a bit on the underlying margin development for ACT specifically, if we adjust for tariff refunds?
How should we think about that?
Ludwig Germundsson
Mattias Perjos
Go ahead, Agneta then.
Mattias Perjos
Agneta Palmér
Yeah. The majority of the tariff refund is related to ACT.
Underlying margin performance is rather strong, connected to those factors that Mattias also mentioned. It is a mix shift.
It is the high margin disposables that come through. It is continued pricing efforts, and it is those productivity initiatives.
Underlying margin development is strong, but it is boosted by this refund.
Agneta Palmér
Ludwig Germundsson
Thank you. Just a quick final one, if I may.
Recently, there have been some discussions regarding U.S. hospital CapEx levels.
I was just curious if you could share anything what you're currently seeing with the U.S. and if you have noticed any change recently in customer dialogues.
Ludwig Germundsson
Mattias Perjos
No, we have the same data as everybody else here. We actually have seen this since almost a year back in some of the data from our customers as well.
We are very close to the strongly needed acute therapists. We haven't had any real demand impact from our perspective.
I think, as I alluded to in the call, the continued dialogue that we have on an everyday basis with our customers is still rather positive. Customers seem to be willing invest in the type of products and therapies that we offer because it's something that is needed to treat patients on an everyday basis.
Mattias Perjos
Ludwig Germundsson
Great. That's all from me.
Thank you for taking my questions.
Ludwig Germundsson
Mattias Perjos
Thank you.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
The next question comes from Kristofer Liljeberg from DNB Carnegie. Please go ahead.
Operator
Kristofer Liljeberg
Hi. Thank you.
Two questions. First, could you just update us on the Cardiohelp II previous, hopefully fan problem status?
Also, I'm curious to hear your view here now about the potential to lift margin for the full year and also if we adjust for this tariff refund that you had and maybe sum up more of that in the second half of the year. Thank you.
Kristofer Liljeberg
Mattias Perjos
Yeah. When it comes to the Cardiohelp II limited market release, this issue that you mentioned has been resolved.
We are back into the final phase of that. Of course, in the coming months, then move into a full market release.
That issue is behind us. When it comes to the margin guidance, we don't give detailed guidance for 2026.
We have mentioned earlier that our ambition is to improve the reported margin also this year. We have not changed that at all, but we're not prepared to give any more detailed guidance now.
When it comes to the tariffs, we have, of course, reported what has been refunded to us and also how this is reported in the financial numbers. We'll continue to report forward-looking from here on what tariffs we end up paying.
We'll underline that for as of next week, there is a new tariff regime coming into place. We don't know exactly what this is, we'll continue to update you once we have clarity on this.
Our intention is only to continue to report tariffs paid going forward.
Mattias Perjos
Kristofer Liljeberg
Could I ask a follow-up on what you said about margin? Would you say that the second quarter underlying margin development was according to what you were planning earlier this year, or have you become more confident in this margin recovery we're seeing now of the second quarter?
Kristofer Liljeberg
Mattias Perjos
Yeah, I think the drivers of the margin, if we disregard the tariffs, I think the other drivers of the margins when it comes to impact from leverage on growth, when it comes to the product mix, when it comes to the productivity improvements that we have. I think it's broadly tracking according to the plans that we have.
Maybe some additional comfort from this. I think to us, no major surprise.
We can see this development on a day-to-day business as we follow up everything that we do.
Mattias Perjos
Kristofer Liljeberg
Thank you very much.
Kristofer Liljeberg
Mattias Perjos
Thank you.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
The next question comes from Mattias Vadsten from SEB. Please go ahead.
Operator
Mattias Vadsten
Hi. Thanks for taking my questions.
First one, zooming out on APAC here in this quarter. Overall dropping in orders and in sales, all or nothing material.
Could you just describe maybe the climate that you see in the region, perhaps specifically covering key drivers in China?
Mattias Vadsten
Mattias Perjos
I think China, like we've said for some time now, we expect to be a challenging market for the foreseeable future. Last year, we did have around 2% growth in China.
We don't guide on individual markets. I think the headwinds are well known per category.
They're quite well known by now. There's no particular dynamic to call out.
I think China was one of the weak points in the quarter from a geographic perspective. It's also something that fluctuates between quarters.
I think we have no reason to revise our outlook or anything when it comes to evolution in APAC overall or China in particular. I think the categories within ACT that we have strong positions in, they continue to have a good demand situation.
Surgical Workflows, on the other hand, we've had some strong competitive pressure for quite some time, and that's also continued now. Life Science is a little bit more diverse depending on which product category you look at.
From a demand perspective in China, nothing to call out. We expect this to continue to be challenging.
I think our team locally is doing a very good job in navigating this also.
Mattias Perjos
Mattias Vadsten
Good. Thank you.
The next question relates to ventilators. Seems to be doing well.
How would you describe the comparison figures when you move in here to the second half of the year compared to what you have experienced in the first half? Are they easing up?
Mattias Vadsten
Mattias Perjos
We've had some positive boost from this ventilator conversion that was going on and impacted the comps last year. We had some of that remaining in Q2.
I think Q3 and Q4 are cleaner from that perspective. Overall, the ventilation market has, I think, stabilized quite well after all this post-COVID turbulence.
We continue to protect and develop our market share.
Mattias Perjos
Mattias Vadsten
Good. Final question is, what is a reasonable timeline from now as to when you're able to sell CardioSave and the full ECMO offering in the U.S.
without restrictions, based on your knowledge?
Mattias Vadsten
Mattias Perjos
Yeah. That is an important question, very difficult to give a timeline on.
When it comes to the timeline, the part that we can impact, which means the submissions of 510(k) applications, I think we're on top of that. As I mentioned in the call here, we have submitted the 510(k) application for our intra-aortic balloon pump.
When it comes to the ECMO indication, it is second half of the year, we'll come back specifically when that happens as well. No change to plans or, I think, the timeframe when it comes to submissions either.
Of course, approval process is a dialogue that we have with FDA and not something I can give you any guidance on.
Mattias Perjos
Mattias Vadsten
H2 is both the Cardiohelp and the HLS?
Mattias Vadsten
Mattias Perjos
It's the complete submission, yes, for USA ECMO indication. Which means both.
Mattias Perjos
Mattias Vadsten
Perfect. Thank you.
Mattias Vadsten
Mattias Perjos
The hardware and consumables.
Mattias Perjos
Mattias Vadsten
Perfect. Thank you.
Mattias Vadsten
Operator
The next question comes from Filip Wetterqvist from SB1 Markets. Please go ahead.
Operator
Filip Wetterqvist
Good morning, guys. Thank you for taking my questions.
I'll take them one by one. First one, you mentioned price adjustments as a contributor to growth.
I'm kind of wondering, how much did that contribute? You mentioned in Q4 that you expect prices to contribute about 2% for the full year.
Does that still stand, or have you been able to increase prices further?
Filip Wetterqvist
Mattias Perjos
No, it's around the same level. No change here.
Mattias Perjos
Filip Wetterqvist
All right, perfect. Thank you.
On Life Science, growth declined despite solid development in all categories except WIS. How big part of Life Science sales are WIS, let's say?
Filip Wetterqvist
Mattias Perjos
We don't disclose detailed numbers on the categories. It is the legacy part of our portfolio.
I think the longest offering that we've had in the market, it consists of also capital and service, close to around 50/50 for those. No detailed numbers on exactly the size of the business.
It is the one with the strongest headwind in Life Science right now.
Mattias Perjos
Filip Wetterqvist
Getinge. My last question is on field actions.
You report field actions per SEK billion, and it was up quarter-over-quarter by 0.1. What was the reason for that increase?
Filip Wetterqvist
Mattias Perjos
We don't disclose, I think, detailed field actions. I think what the information that you can get is from what is officially published from regulatory authorities here.
No other particular drivers to call out here. This is also something that can vary quite a bit over quarters.
Nothing to call out here in terms of product categories or geographic markets.
Mattias Perjos
Filip Wetterqvist
Okay. Thank you.
That was all for me.
Filip Wetterqvist
Mattias Perjos
All right. Thank you.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
As a reminder, if you wish to ask a question, please dial pound key five on your telephone keypad. The next question comes from David Adlington from JPMorgan.
Please go ahead.
Operator
David Adlington
Morning, guys. First question just on the revenue guidance.
You're obviously on 2.7% year-to-date. I just wondered if the top end of the range at five is really in scope, and what drives the acceleration in the second half to get there?
Thanks.
David Adlington
Mattias Perjos
Yeah. We're not going to break down the guidance span into any more detail here.
We have a fairly good momentum and reiterate the span as such. When it comes to the demand drivers, I'd say overall it's what we've talked about for a while.
We do see good traction when it comes to the cardiopulmonary business and the ECLS therapy products that we have. We expect sterile transfer to continue to be a strong point as well within Life Science.
We can't give you any more details on where we expect to land and what's required in terms of the guidance span here.
Mattias Perjos
David Adlington
Okay. Fair enough.
Then just on margins, on the cost inflation side, sort of anything you wanted to call out in terms of additional cost inflation, either the impact on the second half or into next year? Thanks.
David Adlington
Mattias Perjos
Yeah, this is something we're monitoring very closely. Far, we haven't seen any significant impact.
I think the biggest individual impact has been when it comes to transport and transport surcharges. Again, not material at this stage.
We continue to monitor all different categories very closely. As you know, we have a productivity program in place since quite a while.
We were hoping maybe for some of these benefits to drop through to the bottom line, right now they have more of a mitigating effect towards some of the inflationary pressures that we see. Definitely on our radar, thus far manageable.
I think we will be able to offset hopefully most of this with the continued productivity improvements that we're working on.
Mattias Perjos
David Adlington
That's good, Mattias. Thank you.
Then just finally on the IABP, you say you're supply constrained. Are you planning on ramping up capacity?
If so, when do you expect that to be able to meet demand?
David Adlington
Mattias Perjos
Yeah, I can't give you a timeline. We are continuously ramping up capacity here.
There are some constraints when it comes to components and also when it comes actually to labor and ramping up. As you know, we've had a lot of capacity constraints because of the remediation program and having to do quite a lot of testing when it comes to products and so on.
It is an upward trajectory, I can't give you a timeline for when we'll be kind of in balance here.
Mattias Perjos
David Adlington
Okay, great. Thank you.
David Adlington
Mattias Perjos
Thank you.
Mattias Perjos
Operator
There are no more questions at this time. I hand the conference back to the speakers for any closing comments.
Operator
Mattias Perjos
All right. Thank you very much.
Thanks for tuning in. I think we already made this summary here, so I appreciate you taking the time to be with us today, and wish you a great rest of the day.
Thank you very much.