GE HealthCare Stock Jumps 7%: Best Earnings Since the Spinoff

GE HealthCare Technologies (NASDAQ: GEHC) stock jumped about 7% on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after the medical-imaging maker beat third-quarter forecasts and raised its full-year outlook — delivering its strongest earnings growth since its spinoff from General Electric in 2023. Adjusted earnings rose 25% and revenue beat estimates by more than $160 million, putting the shares among the day's top gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100.

What happened

GE HealthCare reported adjusted earnings of $1.34 a share for the third quarter, up 25% from a year earlier and ahead of the $1.20 consensus forecast, according to FactSet figures cited by both Investor's Business Daily and Barron's. Revenue rose 7.2% to $5.51 billion — $5.513 billion in the company's reporting — beating the roughly $5.35 billion Wall Street expected. On an organic basis, revenue grew 6.2%.

The growth was broad. Pharmaceutical diagnostics revenue grew 13.8% to $846 million, helped by strength in radiopharmaceuticals, while patient care solutions revenue rose 8.8% to $793 million. Profitability improved as well: the overall adjusted EBIT margin expanded to 16.6%, up from 14.8% a year earlier, and diluted earnings per share surged 39.1% to $1.36.

Demand also held up in the order book. The company's backlog climbed to $23.7 billion, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.03 — meaning it took in slightly more orders than it shipped — and organic orders grew 4.0%.

The direct numbers

Adjusted EPS: $1.34, up 25% year over year, versus $1.20 expected.

Revenue: $5.51 billion, up 7.2% (6.2% organic), versus about $5.35 billion expected.

New full-year guidance: adjusted EPS of $4.95 to $5.05, raised from $4.80 to $5.00 previously.

Backlog: $23.7 billion, with a 1.03 book-to-bill ratio.

Stock move: up about 7.2% to around $76.23 in Wednesday trading.

Why it's blowing up

This was not just a beat — it was a beat, a raise, and a breakout at the same time. Management lifted its full-year earnings outlook to $4.95 to $5.05 a share and raised its organic revenue growth target to about 4%, from 3% to 4% previously. "We delivered strong top-line growth and margin expansion across all segments," chief executive Peter Arduini said in the earnings statement.

Context made the move bigger. GE HealthCare has been the laggard of the old General Electric family since the conglomerate's three-way split was completed in April 2024 — Barron's notes the stock had lost about 14% since the breakup while GE Aerospace doubled and GE Vernova rose roughly sixfold. A quarter that finally shows earnings growth outpacing its former siblings is exactly the kind of story that pulls sidelined investors back in, and the shares pushed up toward a technical buy point near $75.65 as they jumped.

The company has also been buying growth. Earlier this month it agreed to acquire radiopharmaceutical developer Sofie Biosciences for $945 million, a deal expected to close in the first half of 2027 and fold into its pharmaceutical diagnostics segment — the same segment that just grew almost 14%.

What's next

The raised outlook now becomes the bar. Investors will watch whether the $23.7 billion backlog converts into shipments at the pace implied by the new 4% organic growth target, whether margins can hold near 16.6% as tariff pressures shift, and how the Sofie Biosciences acquisition progresses toward its first-half 2027 close. Wednesday's move does not settle the longer debate — GE HealthCare still trails its former GE siblings by a wide margin since the split — but it gives the stock its clearest earnings-driven catalyst in years. This article reports the news and the market reaction; it is not financial advice.

Sources

Investor's Business Daily — GE HealthCare stock eyes breakout on best earnings since spinoff
Barron's — 2 reasons why GE HealthCare stock is climbing after earnings
Seeking Alpha — GE HealthCare stock rises after Q3 beat
StockStory — GE HealthCare (GEHC) stock trades up, here is why

FAQ

Why did GE HealthCare stock jump on October 28, 2026?

It beat third-quarter forecasts — adjusted EPS of $1.34 versus $1.20 expected and revenue of $5.51 billion versus about $5.35 billion expected — and raised its full-year guidance, sending the shares up about 7%.

What is GE HealthCare's new full-year outlook?

The company raised adjusted EPS guidance to $4.95 to $5.05, from $4.80 to $5.00, and lifted its organic revenue growth target to about 4% for the year.

How big is GE HealthCare's backlog?

$23.7 billion, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.03 and organic orders growth of 4.0% in the quarter.

Why do traders call this its best earnings since the spinoff?

Investor's Business Daily described the quarter as the company's strongest earnings growth since its 2023 spinoff from General Electric, with adjusted EPS up 25% year over year.