Alcon AG logo

Alcon AG(ALC)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$70.17
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ALC

10/23/2026: ALC (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Alcon AG is a global pure-play medical device company focused exclusively on eye care. The company holds a leading position in cataract surgery equipment and vision correction products, benefiting from long-term demographic shifts and recurring revenue streams. Its main growth opportunity lies in expanding its premium product portfolio and increasing penetration in emerging markets. Investors should monitor competitive pressures from other medical device makers and potential regulatory shifts in healthcare reimbursement that could impact procedure volumes. Alcon is generally well-suited for investors seeking exposure to a stable, high-margin healthcare franchise, though valuation premiums should be carefully considered given the company's reliance on successful product innovation.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitAlcon offers steady growth prospects driven by global demographic trends in eye health.
Momentum investorMixed fitThe stock is currently a stable performer; momentum depends on positive quarterly beats.
Value investorMixed fitAlcon often trades at a premium valuation due to its high-quality market position.
Dividend investorMixed fitAlcon pays a dividend, but it is primarily a growth-oriented medical device company.
Low-risk investorStrong fitThe essential nature of eye care provides relative stability in varying market cycles.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumGeneral market fluctuations can impact the share price despite fundamental strength.
Valuation riskMedium / highA premium price tag requires consistent growth to justify current trading levels.
Competition risk (Ophthalmic device rivalry)HighAggressive R&D from peers threatens Alcon's market-leading positions.
Business qualityStrongAlcon is a dominant, specialized franchise in a necessary healthcare sector.
Dividend incomeLowDividends are not the primary reason to hold this stock.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully managing large R&D pipelines and global supply chains is essential.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -28.56%
Avg. Invested days 36
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
ALC receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
ALC has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 15.5%) is partially offset by slightly negative earnings growth (-3.7%), moderate revenue growth (+4.9%), soft profitability (net margin 9.4%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
ALC's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.6B (15.5% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is ALC's strongest growth driver at +14.3% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-3.7%, slightly negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 63.1% and approximately 99.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.20%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 3.05%
Bank of New York Mellon Corp 2.70%
NORGES BANK 2.27%
Amvescap Plc. 2.15%
Ako Capital Llp 2.00%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
ALC generates approximately $552 of gross profit, $131 of operating income, and $155 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins and strong cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 15.52%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
ALC has a large-cap, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Low VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 33.92B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 53.16
1Y Target Price 82.73
Price to earnings Ratio 53.16
1Y Target Price 82.73
Volume (30-day avg) 1.8M shares
Beta 0.73
52 Weeks Range 61.84 - 87.22
Updated Date 10/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 61.84 - 87.22
Updated Date 10/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 0.51%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.32

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
SurgicalCataract equipment, IOLs, and surgical consumables.Alcon makes significant money by selling both the machines used in surgeries and the recurring supplies needed for each procedure.
Vision CareContact lenses and eye care solutions.This is a high-volume, recurring consumer business that drives consistent revenue growth.
GeographyGlobal sales across North America, EMEA, and APAC.A diversified global footprint helps balance regional economic risks.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 53.16
Forward PE 16.92
Enterprise Value 36.39B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.12
Enterprise Value 36.39B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.12
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.35
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 13.34
Shares Outstanding 483.40M
Shares Floating 481.83M
Shares Outstanding 483.40M
Shares Floating 481.83M
Percent Insiders 0.2
Percent Institutions 63.1

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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