QGEN Stock Slumps After-Hours On Guidance Cut Tied To Weak TB Test Demand

• The company said that it expects 2026 net sales growth of 1-2% now, previously estimated at atleast 5%.
• The company pinned the lowered guidance on sustained caution among U.S. Life Sciences customers and increased geopolitical uncertainty, among other factors.
• For the second quarter, the company forecast net sales declining approximately 2% CER from last year’s $534 million, with adjusted EPS flat at at least $0.60 CER.

Shares of QIAGEN N.V. (QGEN) fell 6% after hours on Monday after the company cut its fiscal year 2026 earnings guidance in light of lower-than-expected sales growth on the back of weak demand for its QuantiFERON tuberculosis test.

Qiagen now expects full-year adjusted and diluted earnings per share of at least $2.43 at the constant exchange rate (CER), compared to its former guidance of $2.50. The company said that it expects net sales growth of 1-2% now, previously estimated at atleast 5% growth. The company pinned the lowered guidance on sustained caution among U.S. Life Sciences customers and increased geopolitical uncertainty, among other factors.

For the second quarter, the company forecast net sales declining approximately 2% CER from last year’s $534 million, with adjusted EPS flat at at least $0.60 CER. Management said it expects stronger growth trends to return in the second half of 2026, supported by the end of headwinds from discontinued product lines, new product launches, sequential QuantiFERON improvement, and contributions from the recent Parse Biosciences acquisition.

Preliminary Q1 Numbers

The diagnostics and life-sciences tools company said preliminary Q1 net sales reached $492 million, up 2% on a reported basis but down 1% at constant exchange rates (CER). That fell short of its prior outlook for at least 1% CER growth. Adjusted diluted earnings per share came in at $0.54 CER, in line with analyst expectations.

The weakness was driven largely by QuantiFERON sales, which fell 5% CER to $113 million due to “significantly lower immigration testing demand” in the United States and the Middle East. Other headwinds included cautious spending among U.S. life-sciences customers, geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, currency movements, and costs tied to ensuring reliable product supply.

The company’s complete first-quarter earnings will be announced on May 6.

How Did Retail Traders React?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around QGEN stock fell from ‘bullish’ to ‘neutral’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at ‘normal’ levels.

QGEN stock has fallen 15% over the past 12 months.

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