Alcon Reports Strong Financial Results For Second Quarter

Alcon has reported global sales revenue of $1.67 billion for the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of 3.4% compared to the second quarter of 2008. Net earnings for the second quarter of 2009 rose 2.6% to $582 million or $1.94 per diluted share, compared to $567 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008.

The company also recorded a sale of $1.67 billion, compared to $1.73 billion for Q2, 2008. The operating income for the quarter saw a decrease to $632 million, compared to $646 million for the previous year.

For the six month period, the company posts sales revenue of $3.17 billion, compared to $3.27 billion for the same period a year ago. The operating income was at par for both 2009 and 2008 at $1.14 billion. The net earnings for the company is posted at $1.03 billion, compared to $996 million for the previous year.

Kevin Buehler, president and chief executive officer of Alcon, said: “Organic sales growth is coming in as expected in 2009, as we continue to execute our sales and marketing strategies that allow us to grow even in the face of global economic weakness.

“We expect that further development of key businesses like glaucoma, advanced technology intraocular lenses and emerging markets will enable us to achieve our full year guidance of mid-single digit organic sales growth with somewhat higher organic growth in the second half of the year than in the first, and to translate that growth into solid earnings performance,” he added.