Cooper Companies (The)

The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE: COO) is a global medical device company headquartered in San Ramon, California, specializing in two distinct healthcare markets through its operating divisions: CooperVision and CooperSurgical. With over 16,000 employees serving customers in more than 130 countries, Cooper has established itself as a leader in contact lens technology and women's healthcare solutions. The company's comprehensive portfolio spans vision correction with advanced contact lens platforms and women's health with medical devices, fertility products, and genomic services that support healthcare professionals and patients throughout critical life stages.

CooperVision ranks as one of the world's leading manufacturers of soft contact lenses, holding approximately 25% of the U.S. market with flagship brands including MyDay, clariti, Biofinity, and Proclear. The division pioneered numerous innovations in contact lens technology, including the industry's first 30-day continuous wear lens in 1979 and the development of silicone hydrogel daily disposable lenses that combine high oxygen permeability with exceptional comfort. CooperVision serves eye care professionals and contact lens wearers globally with a product range covering spherical, toric (for astigmatism), and multifocal lenses across daily, two-week, and monthly replacement modalities.

CooperSurgical, established as a business unit in 1990, focuses on advancing the health of women, babies, and families through its diversified portfolio of medical devices and fertility and genomics services. The division provides comprehensive solutions across the entire spectrum of women's healthcare, from reproductive health and fertility treatments to surgical products for gynecological procedures and obstetrics. Recent strategic acquisitions including Generate Life Sciences ($1.6 billion in 2021) and select Cook Medical reproductive health assets have significantly expanded CooperSurgical's capabilities in the rapidly growing fertility market, positioning the company as a comprehensive provider throughout the entire IVF cycle.

Founded in 1958 by Parker Montgomery as Cooper Laboratories and incorporated under various names including Cooper Tinsley Laboratories (1961) and Cooper Laboratories Inc. (1967), the company entered the contact lens business in 1972 through its acquisition of British lens maker GlobalVision. The transformation into The Cooper Companies occurred in 1987 when the organization restructured into focused business units. Over subsequent decades, strategic acquisitions—including the pivotal 2004 purchase of Ocular Sciences that made CooperVision the third-largest soft contact lens manufacturer globally—have shaped Cooper into the specialty healthcare leader it is today. With fiscal 2024 revenue reaching $3.90 billion (up 8.41% year-over-year) and strong growth across both divisions, The Cooper Companies continues to invest in innovation, strategic acquisitions, and global expansion to serve the evolving needs of patients and healthcare professionals worldwide.