MINNEAPOLIS — Medtronic, the world’s largest medical-device maker, delivered its strongest annual revenue growth in a decade Wednesday, driven by surging demand for heart procedures and newer cardiovascular technologies that are helping patients live longer and healthier lives.

The company reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $9.8 billion, up 9.9% from a year earlier and ahead of Wall Street expectations. Adjusted earnings came in at $1.55 per share, capping what management described as one of the strongest years in recent company history.

Even if consumers have never heard of Medtronic, many have likely benefited from its products. The company manufactures pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, insulin pumps, surgical instruments, spinal implants, and neurological devices used by hospitals and physicians around the world.

Because of its enormous presence across healthcare, Medtronic is often viewed as a bellwether for the broader medical-technology industry.

The biggest growth story this quarter came from the company’s heart business.

Revenue from Cardiac Ablation Solutions, which includes devices used to treat irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, surged 78% globally and 124% in the United States. The broader cardiovascular division grew approximately 10%, while Medtronic’s surgical business posted a solid 5% increase.

Geoff Martha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, credited expanding patient access and strong adoption of newer therapies for the company’s performance.

The results arrive as healthcare providers continue seeing rising demand from aging populations that require more cardiovascular treatment, chronic-disease management, and surgical procedures.

For investors, Medtronic delivered another important milestone.

The board approved a dividend increase to $0.72 per share quarterly, marking the company’s 49th consecutive year of dividend growth.

Few public companies can claim nearly half a century of uninterrupted dividend increases.

The consistency reflects Medtronic’s ability to generate significant cash even during periods of economic uncertainty.

For the full fiscal year, the company generated more than $7.3 billion in operating cash flow and approximately $5.4 billion in free cash flow, giving management ample flexibility to invest in future growth while rewarding shareholders.

The company is also expanding through acquisitions.

Earlier this year, Medtronic agreed to acquire SPR Therapeutics for up to $650 million, strengthening its position in the growing market for non-opioid pain management. The acquisition reflects increasing demand for alternatives to traditional pain medications.

Meanwhile, Medtronic continues investing heavily in robotic surgery through its Hugo surgical platform as it seeks to challenge industry leader Intuitive Surgical and its widely used da Vinci system.

Looking ahead, management forecast organic revenue growth of 6.75% to 7.25% for the new fiscal year, suggesting confidence that current momentum can continue.

For the broader healthcare industry, the message is encouraging. Hospitals remain busy, demand for advanced procedures remains strong, and patients continue seeking treatments that improve quality of life.

For shareholders, the story is equally straightforward.

A company that helps keep hearts beating, raises its dividend for nearly five decades, and just delivered its fastest growth in ten years appears to be doing exactly what investors hope a healthcare leader will do.

Wall Street — JBizNews Desk

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