Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN)
Align Technology turns up whenever someone opts for clear plastic braces instead of traditional metal wire tracks.
Is Align Technology, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Align Technology turns up whenever someone opts for clear plastic braces instead of traditional metal wire tracks.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only; any dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
widespread shift from metal braces to clear trays globally
technological shifts or cheaper alternatives taking over
What does Align Technology, Inc. do?
Most people know this firm through Invisalign, the transparent trays that straighten teeth without the metal train-track look. Orthodontists use their fancy 3D scanners and software to map out a smile's journey, and the company manufactures the custom plastic aligners to match. The key detail to keep an eye on is how many dental professionals keep ordering new scanners and cases each quarter.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on quality and value, and weakest on income.
- !Pays no dividend - the whole return rides on the share price
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 4% over the year
- !High P/E of 30 - big growth is already priced in
- ✓Low debt - a sturdier balance sheet
- market leader in clear aligners
- high gross profit margins
- strong brand recognition among dentists and patients
- Growth screens low (21/100)
- Income screens low (16/100)
- economic downturns reducing non-essential medical spending
- rival firms launching cheaper aligner options
- higher share price volatility shown by the beta score
What do Align Technology, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Align Technology, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Align Technology, Inc. pay a dividend?
No - Align Technology, Inc. doesn't currently pay a dividend, so the whole return would rest on the share price. Plenty of growing companies reinvest their profits instead of paying them out - neither approach is better or worse, they're just different.
When does Align Technology, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Align Technology, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-28 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-29 | $2.60 | $2.64 | Beat +2% |
| 2026-04-29 | $2.29 | $2.58 | Beat +13% |
| 2026-02-04 | $2.97 | $3.29 | Beat +11% |
| 2025-10-29 | $2.41 | $2.61 | Beat +8% |
| 2025-07-30 | $2.57 | $2.49 | Missed -3% |
| 2025-04-30 | $1.99 | $2.13 | Beat +7% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Align Technology, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.What are the scenarios for Align Technology, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Align Technology, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- market leader in clear aligners
- high gross profit margins
- strong brand recognition among dentists and patients
- no dividend payments for income-focused holders
- cyclical exposure if patients delay cosmetic treatments
- growing competition in the dental space
- economic downturns reducing non-essential medical spending
- rival firms launching cheaper aligner options
- higher share price volatility shown by the beta score
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- a sharp, sustained drop in dentist orders for new cases
- new low-cost competitors capturing significant global market share
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.