Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) ended Wednesday, December 17, 2025, in positive territory even as the broader market sold off. The medical-device maker’s shares closed up 1.65% at $94.48, extending gains for a second session and outperforming several large medtech peers in a risk-off tape. MarketWatch
In after-hours trading, BSX ticked modestly higher, a sign that investors largely digested the day’s analyst updates and macro crosscurrents without a major change in sentiment. Here’s what stood out after the bell — and what investors will likely be watching before the U.S. market opens Thursday, December 18, 2025.
BSX price action after the bell: close, range, after-hours quote
- Official close (Wed, Dec. 17): $94.48 (+1.65%) MarketWatch
- After-hours (as of ~7:50 p.m. ET): $94.70 (+0.23%)
- Intraday range: roughly $93.58 to $95.99 Investing
- Volume: about 11.9 million shares, above the 50‑day average cited by MarketWatch MarketWatch
One important context point: even with Wednesday’s bounce, BSX finished the session ~13.7% below its 52‑week high of $109.50 (set Sept. 9, 2025), a reminder that the stock has been working through a multi-month pullback that many analysts now frame as a “reset” rather than a fundamental break. MarketWatch
After-hours trading can be thin and volatile. Still, the fact that BSX held onto a small gain after the closing bell suggests no immediate negative surprise hit the tape late Wednesday.
Why Boston Scientific outperformed in a down market
Wednesday was broadly weak for U.S. equities: the S&P 500 fell 1.16%, the Dow slid 0.47%, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.81%. Against that backdrop, BSX’s green close stood out as “defensive growth” behavior — a profile that can attract buyers when investors rotate away from higher-beta areas. MarketWatch
Boston Scientific also outpaced several key medtech comparables on the day. MarketWatch noted Abbott Laboratories slipped slightly while Medtronic and Stryker posted smaller gains than BSX. MarketWatch
This relative strength matters because medical devices often trade on a mix of:
- procedure-volume expectations (elective and cardiovascular),
- product-cycle momentum (new devices, expanded labels, clinical data),
- and the interest-rate backdrop (which can influence valuation multiples).
Today’s analyst and price-target headlines: the bulls stayed in control
A notable theme on Dec. 17: major analysts largely reiterated constructive views, even as they fine-tuned targets.
UBS reiterates Buy, keeps $140 target — points to WATCHMAN and 2026 upside
UBS maintained a Buy rating and a $140 price target, arguing the risk/reward into 2026 is “skewed to the upside.” UBS highlighted ongoing momentum in high-growth segments and specifically called out:
- Electrophysiology (EP) as a meaningful business (UBS pegged it at ~17% of estimated 2025 sales) with expectations for continued above-market growth, and
- WATCHMAN (UBS cited ~10% of estimated 2025 sales) with a key CHAMPION data readout expected in spring 2026 as a potential catalyst. Investing
RBC raises target to $130; Canaccord trims to $131 — both stay positive
- RBC Capital Markets raised its price target to $130 from $125 and kept an Outperform rating. GuruFocus
- Canaccord Genuity maintained a Buy rating while nudging its target to $131 from $132. GuruFocus
The broader takeaway: Street targets cluster in the $120s
Across the sell side, targets remain meaningfully above the current mid‑$90s share price. MarketBeat’s write-up on the RBC move described a Street backdrop of Buy-leaning consensus and referenced an average price target around $125. MarketBeat
(Separately, a FactSet-based MarketWatch snapshot published in late November also showed an average target in the mid‑$120s with a high target in the mid‑$140s. MarketWatch)
Forecasts and earnings outlook investors are keying on heading into 2026
Even though Wednesday’s move wasn’t tied to a fresh Boston Scientific earnings release, multiple “today” notes focused on forward expectations.
Next quarter: higher EPS and revenue expected year over year
Zacks’ Dec. 17 analysis (published via Nasdaq) cited consensus expectations for:
- EPS: $0.78 (about +11% year over year), and
- Revenue: $5.27 billion (about +15% year over year). Nasdaq
Full-year view: strong growth assumptions remain embedded
The same Zacks piece referenced full-year consensus estimates of:
- $3.04 EPS and
- $20.06 billion in revenue. Nasdaq
Meanwhile, Boston Scientific’s most recent guidance (from its Q3 reporting cycle) has also been an anchor for analysts. Reuters reported the company lifted its 2025 adjusted EPS outlook to $3.02–$3.04, and guided Q4 adjusted EPS to 77–79 cents. Reuters
When is the next earnings date?
The company has not formally confirmed the exact date in many calendars, but major market schedules widely estimate early February 2026 (often Feb. 3–4) as the next earnings window. Nasdaq
What to watch before the market opens Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025
While BSX-specific headlines drove the day’s narrative, Thursday morning’s macro calendar could set the tone for all large-cap stocks (including medtech), especially via rate expectations and index futures.
1) 8:30 a.m. ET: U.S. CPI release (November 2025)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics schedule shows the November 2025 CPI release set for Dec. 18, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why it matters for BSX: higher or stickier inflation can push yields up and pressure valuation multiples; softer inflation can do the opposite.
2) 8:30 a.m. ET: weekly initial jobless claims
Investing.com’s economic calendar lists initial jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET, with market expectations shown around 224K and the prior week at 236K. Investing
A “risk-on” or “risk-off” reaction here can influence premarket flows into defensives like healthcare.
3) Watch the “growth vs. defense” rotation in futures and medtech peers
Wednesday’s session showed classic rotation behavior: broad indexes fell while selected defensive growers held up. If Thursday’s CPI ignites a sharp move in index futures, BSX could:
- hold up relatively better if markets sell off again, or
- lag if a strong risk-on rebound pulls money back toward higher-beta sectors.
4) Any late-breaking corporate or regulatory headlines
Boston Scientific did not post a major earnings or M&A press release on Dec. 17, but it did announce philanthropic grants through its foundation (useful for corporate context, typically not a direct stock catalyst). Boston Scientific
More materially, investors should always monitor:
- new product updates,
- FDA communications,
- and SEC filings — especially in medtech, where safety/regulatory headlines can move shares quickly.
5) Longer-horizon catalysts that can shape “tomorrow’s” sentiment
Even if Thursday’s open is macro-driven, analysts are increasingly framing BSX’s 2026 narrative around:
- WATCHMAN growth and the CHAMPION data readout expected in spring 2026, and
- continued momentum in EP. Investing
Additionally, Boston Scientific’s planned acquisition of Nalu Medical (announced previously) remains on the roadmap; the company said the deal includes an upfront cash payment of about $533 million for the remaining equity and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary conditions. Boston Scientific
The bottom line for BSX heading into Thursday’s session
Boston Scientific stock closed higher on Dec. 17 and stayed modestly positive after hours — an encouraging setup considering the broader market decline. The day’s coverage leaned constructive: UBS reiterated a $140 Buy view, while RBC and Canaccord maintained bullish stances with targets around $130–$131. Investing
For Thursday morning (Dec. 18), the biggest near-term swing factor is likely macro data at 8:30 a.m. ET (CPI + jobless claims), which can move rates, index futures, and risk appetite — and therefore influence whether BSX’s defensive strength persists at the open. Bureau of Labor Statistics
