Alcon Inc. said net sales increased 2% year on year to $1.86 billion in the second quarter driven by surgical and vision care sales.
Core diluted earnings per share for the company, previously under Novartis AG, however, slipped to 47 cents for the three months ended June 30, compared to 52 cents in the year-ago period.
For the first half of 2019, net sales totaled $3.64 billion, up from $3.60 billion in the same period last year. Core diluted EPS fell to 98 cents during the six months from $1.10 in 2018.
Alcon reiterated its full year outlook unveiled in May. The company expects net sales for the full year to grow between 3% to 5% on a constant currency basis.
Novartis completed the spinoff of Alcon, its eye care business, in April. Alcon shares started trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange on April 9.
