Page 1

Alcon MEDIA RELEASE COMMUNIQUE AUX MEDIAS MEDIENMITTEILUNG Alcon Reports First Quarter 2021 Results • First quarter sales of $ 1.9 billion , up 5 % or 2 % constant currency • • • Strong commercial execution drives the global launch of new product innovations Substantially completes separation process Full year guidance : sales of $ 7.8 to $ 8.0 billion and core diluted EPS of $ 1.85 to $ 1.95 Geneva , May 4 , 2021 - Alcon ( SIX / NYSE : ALC ) , the global leader in eye care , reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31 , 2021. For the first quarter of 2021 , worldwide sales were $ 1.9 billion , an increase of 5 % on a reported basis and 2 % on a constant currency basis ( ² ) , as compared to the same quarter of the previous year . First quarter 2021 diluted earnings per share were $ 0.17 and core diluted earnings per share were $ 0.49 . First quarter 2021 key figures Net sales ( $ millions ) Operating margin ( % ) Core operating margin ( % ) ( ¹ ) Earnings / ( loss ) per share ( $ ) Core diluted earnings per share ( $ ) ( 1 ) Three months ended March 31 2021 2020 1,910 1,822 7.8 % ( 1.5 ) % 18.0 % 16.6 % 0.17 ( 0.12 ) 0.49 0.45 " The first quarter was a solid start to the year , with healthy sales , a return to 2019 core margin levels and the substantial completion of our separation activities . Strong commercial execution of our new product launches continues to drive market share gains despite the continued impacts of COVID - 19 , " said David Endicott , Chief Executive Officer . Mr. Endicott continued , " I want to thank the hundreds of Alcon associates who have spent the past two years working to complete our separation and establish our independence as the global leader in eye care . Their extraordinary work is allowing us to devote more time to accelerating innovation and driving above - market sales growth . Our recent success validates our continued investment in a robust product pipeline that will meet the future needs of eye care professionals and their patients . " 1