Boston Scientific Cuts Guidance After Cyberattack
Boston Scientific Cuts Guidance after an August cyberattack that trimmed Q3 revenue and narrowed 2026 outlook, tightening earnings expectations.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Management cut 2026 guidance following a Form 8-K citing an August cyberattack.
- The cyberattack trimmed Q3 organic growth by about 300 basis points and cost roughly $150 million.
- Management forecast Q4 revenue down 1%-3% with adjusted EPS of $0.77-$0.79.
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Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) cut its 2026 outlook on Oct. 28, 2026, saying an August cyberattack and other headwinds weakened third-quarter results and prompted the company to narrow its full-year and fourth-quarter guidance.
Third-Quarter Results and Cyberattack Impact
In its Oct. 28 earnings-call transcript, Boston Scientific reported third-quarter revenue of $5.138 billion, a 1.5% reported year-over-year increase. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) fell 3% to $0.73, below prior guidance of $0.80 to $0.82.
Management attributed roughly 300 basis points of the third-quarter organic revenue growth shortfall to the cyberattack, which cost about $150 million in revenue and reduced adjusted EPS by approximately $0.07. The incident disrupted ordering, manufacturing, and shipping for about two weeks, with operations fully restored by Sept. 8, 2026.
Executives noted the company’s challenges extended beyond the cyberattack, as prior guidance had targeted third-quarter organic growth of 3% to 5%.
Revised Guidance and Fourth-Quarter Outlook
In a Form 8-K filed Oct. 28, Boston Scientific lowered its full-year 2026 reported revenue-growth guidance to about 4.25% and narrowed adjusted EPS guidance to $3.16 to $3.18.
On the earnings call, management forecast fourth-quarter revenue would decline 1% to 3% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $0.77 to $0.79. The cyber-related headwind is expected to persist into the fourth quarter, reducing revenue growth by roughly 200 to 300 basis points and adjusted EPS by about $0.04 to $0.05. Management added that customer inventory restocking after the disruption would be worked down during the quarter.
The guidance revision narrows near-term earnings expectations and ties fourth-quarter results to the pace of operational recovery and inventory normalization.
