Alcon: posts flat quarterly sales; shares up

(CercleFinance.com) - Swiss eye care specialist Alcon posted flat quarterly sales on Thursday, as growth in surgical sales was offset by lower sales of contact lenses.


Net sales for the first quarter were 1.8 billion dollars, up 4% at constant currency, the group said.

In its first trading update since its spin-off from Novartis in April, Alcon said first quarter operating loss reached 48 million dollars, compared to last year's operating income of 73 million dollars, due to software implementation and higher research and development.

For full-year 2019, Alcon said it expects net sales to grow by 3% to 5% on a constant currency basis.

The stock is currently up 1% at 62.2 Swiss francs in Zurich. The Alcon share price has risen around 12% since the company was floated.

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