Update: Novartis Q3 Core Earnings, Net Sales Rise; Maintains 2026 Net Sales Growth Outlook, Raises Core Operating Income Guidance

05:36 AM EDT, 10/27/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates to include core operating income guidance details in the headline and fifth paragraph, and stock movement in the sixth.) Novartis AG (NVS) reported Q3 core earnings Tuesday of $2.46 per diluted share, up from $2.25 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $2.27. Net sales for the quarter ended Sept. 30 was $14.52 billion, up from $13.91 billion a year earlier. Analysts expected $14.53 billion. For 2026, the company continues to expect net sales to grow at a low-single-digit rate, while raising its forecast for core operating income to low-single-digit growth from a previously projected low-single-digit decline. Novartis AG shares were up 1.4% in premarket activity.