STAAR Surgical Q4 Sales Jump to $57.8M, Margin Hits 75.7%
STAAR Surgical's fiscal Q4 net sales rose to $57.8M from $49.0M, driven by a China rebound to $17.5M and Americas growth of 18%. Gross margin improved to 75.7% on cost reductions and Swiss manufacturing ramp-up, while adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $0.2M from $20.8M.
1. Leadership Transition and Strategic Plan
Interim co-CEOs Warren Foust and Deborah Andrews assumed shared leadership on February 1 and unveiled a growth, profit and innovation plan for fiscal 2026. The board retained Egon Zehnder to conduct a CEO search and management is focused on execution after disruption tied to the terminated Alcon merger.
2. Fiscal Q4 Financial Results
Net sales climbed to $57.8M from $49.0M year-over-year, with China net sales rising to $17.5M and Americas up 18%, while EMEA declined 20% and APAC ex-China was up 2%. Gross margin expanded to 75.7% and adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $0.2M thanks to timing of China shipment revenue and cost reductions.
3. China Inventory Rebalancing
Following double-digit EVO ICL sales declines in 2024, STAAR paused China shipments and monitored distributor inventory weekly, reducing stock to or below a six-month contractual level by late 2025. A $27.5M December 2024 shipment was fully consumed in fiscal 2025, with all related revenue recognized by Q3.
4. 2026 Growth and Manufacturing Initiatives
STAAR launched its first new lens in China in over a decade, EVO+, with early demand encouraging and scaled Nidau, Switzerland manufacturing to boost supply and avoid U.S./China tariffs. Management expects significant sales growth in 2026, targeting profitability despite potential gross margin headwinds from new manufacturing costs and inventory reserves.