Alcon Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Alcon (NYSE: ALC) CEO David Endicott will present at the 2023 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 11:15 a.m. PST. A live webcast of the presentation will be available at investor.alcon.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations. As a global leader in eye care, Alcon serves over 260 million people with products for conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing sight and quality of life.

Alcon Inc. ('ALC') has launched a private offering of US$700 million in 5.375% senior notes due 2032 and US$600 million in 5.750% senior notes due 2052. The offering is set to close on December 6, 2022. Proceeds will be directed towards general corporate purposes, including repaying outstanding debts related to its acquisition of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The notes will be issued by Alcon Finance Corporation and guaranteed by Alcon.

Alcon has successfully completed its acquisition of Aerie Pharmaceuticals for approximately $930 million. This acquisition strengthens Alcon's position in the $20 billion global ophthalmic pharmaceutical market, enhancing its product offerings with Rocklatan and Rhopressa, and adding AR-15512, a Phase 3 dry eye candidate. The deal will leverage Alcon’s commercial capabilities and expand its research and development expertise, supporting future growth. Alcon aims to fully integrate Aerie into its operations, building on previous acquisitions to enhance its ophthalmic pharmaceutical portfolio.

Alcon reported third quarter 2022 sales of $2.1 billion, reflecting a 2% increase year-over-year and a 9% rise in constant currency. Diluted earnings per share were $0.23, while core earnings per share were $0.50, down 7% on a reported basis but up 14% in constant currency. The updated 2022 outlook expects net sales between $8.5 billion and $8.7 billion, with a core operating margin tightening to 18.0%-18.5%. Challenges include foreign currency impacts and supply chain issues. The acquisition of Aerie Pharmaceuticals is anticipated to close in Q4 2022.

Alcon (NYSE: ALC) has announced the launch of the Clareon Toric intraocular lens, designed for U.S. cataract patients with astigmatism, featuring advanced stability technology. This product completes the Clareon Collection, which includes various IOL options. Additionally, Alcon will showcase its Fidelis Virtual Reality Surgical Simulator and patient engagement tools at the upcoming AAO 2022 conference in Chicago. Studies presented will highlight the effectiveness and patient satisfaction associated with Alcon's products, supporting their commitment to innovative eye care solutions.

Alcon has announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire Aerie Pharmaceuticals for approximately $770 million. The transaction is expected to enhance Alcon's capabilities in the $20 billion global ophthalmic pharmaceutical segment by adding products like Rocklatan® and Rhopressa®. The acquisition is anticipated to be accretive to Alcon's core diluted EPS in 2024. Aerie's glaucoma franchise net product revenue is projected at $130-140 million for 2022, with the transaction expected to close in Q4 2022, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Alcon reported strong second quarter 2022 sales of $2.2 billion, a 5% increase from the previous year, and a significant 10% rise in constant currency. Though diluted earnings per share fell 3% to $0.30, core diluted EPS rose 13% to $0.63. The company's outlook for the full year was updated to net sales between $8.6 to $8.8 billion, reflecting consistent core operating margins but reduced expectations for core diluted EPS growth. Despite challenges from currency fluctuations, Alcon remains focused on new products and profitability improvements.

Alcon has launched a new campaign featuring Cooper Kupp to promote Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength, an over-the-counter solution for eye allergies. Kupp shares his own experiences battling eye allergies, emphasizing the product's effectiveness in providing 24-hour relief with just one drop. Approximately 66 million Americans suffer from ocular allergies, yet only 9 million use allergy eye drops. The campaign aims to raise awareness of Pataday's benefits through multimedia content and partnerships with social media influencers, encouraging allergy sufferers to seek relief.