Let’s dig into the relative performance of Solventum SOLV and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q2 surgical equipment & consumables - diversified earnings season.

The surgical equipment and consumables industry provides tools, devices, and disposable products essential for surgeries and medical procedures. These companies therefore benefit from relatively consistent demand, driven by the ongoing need for medical interventions, recurring revenue from consumables, and long‑term contracts with hospitals and healthcare providers. However, the high costs of R&D and regulatory compliance, coupled with intense competition and pricing pressures from cost‑conscious customers, can constrain profitability.

Over the next few years, tailwinds include aging populations, which tend to need surgical interventions at higher rates. The increasing integration of AI and robotics into surgical procedures could also create opportunities for differentiation and innovation.

The industry faces headwinds including potential supply chain vulnerabilities, evolving regulatory requirements, and more widespread efforts to make healthcare less costly.

The five surgical equipment & consumables - diversified stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.5%. Luckily, surgical equipment & consumables - diversified stocks have performed well with share prices up 10.1% on average since the latest earnings results.

**Solventum SOLV**

Founded in 1985, Solventum SOLV develops, manufactures, and commercializes a portfolio of healthcare products and services addressing critical customer and therapeutic patient needs. Solventum reported revenues of $2.16 billion, up 3.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ full‑year EPS guidance estimates. "Our solid second quarter fiscal year 2025 results mark five consecutive quarters of positive sales volume growth since implementing our transformation strategy," said Bryan Hanson, chief executive officer of Solventum. Interestingly, the stock is up 1.2% since reporting and currently trades at $72.85.

**Best Q2: Zimmer Biomet ZBH**

With a history dating back to 1927 and a presence in over 100 countries worldwide, Zimmer Biomet ZBH designs and manufactures orthopedic products including knee and hip replacements, surgical tools, and robotic technologies for joint reconstruction and spine surgeries. Zimmer Biomet reported revenues of $2.08 billion, up 7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ full‑year EPS guidance estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ constant‑currency revenue estimates. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 16% since reporting. It currently trades at $105.71.

**Weakest Q2: CONMED CNMD**

With over five decades of experience in surgical innovation since its founding in 1970, CONMED CNMD develops and manufactures medical devices and equipment for surgical procedures, specializing in orthopedic and general surgery products. CONMED reported revenues of $342.3 million, up 3.1% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. It was a satisfactory quarter as it also posted a narrow beat of analysts’ full‑year EPS guidance estimates. CONMED delivered the highest full‑year guidance raise but had the slowest revenue growth in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 6.5% since the results and currently trades at $53.46.

**BD BDX**

With a history dating back to 1897 and a presence in virtually every hospital around the globe, Becton Dickinson BDX develops and manufactures medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products used by healthcare institutions and professionals worldwide. BD reported revenues of $5.51 billion, up 8.9% year on year. This result met analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ constant‑currency revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates. BD pulled off the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 14.3% since reporting and currently trades at $197.

**STERIS STE**

With a mission‑critical role in preventing healthcare‑associated infections, STERIS STE provides infection prevention products, sterilization services, and medical equipment that help healthcare facilities and life‑science companies maintain sterile environments. STERIS reported revenues of $1.39 billion, up 8.7% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. It was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ constant‑currency revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates. STERIS scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 12.7% since reporting and currently trades at $249.55.

**Market Update**

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post‑pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

Surgical Equipment & Consumables - Diversified Stocks Q2 Teardown: Solventum (NYSE:SOLV) Vs The Rest

The article reviews the Q2 earnings of five surgical equipment and consumables companies, highlighting Solventum’s modest revenue growth and solid earnings beat, while noting the sector’s tailwinds such as aging populations and AI integration, and headwinds like supply‑chain risks and regulatory pressure. It also provides a brief market update on post‑pandemic inflation and recent Fed rate cuts.