Varian Medical Systems (VAR) 10-Q 8 May 19 2019 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Apr. 26, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 29, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	VAR
Entity Registrant Name	VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000203527
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-27
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		90,945,747

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMEN

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 779.4	$ 729.9	$ 1,520.4	$ 1,408.4
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	461.2	411.4	886.1	787.1
Gross margin	318.2	318.5	634.3	621.3
Operating expenses:
Research and development	59.4	58.9	120.3	114.8
Selling, general and administrative	149	139.4	292.5	264.7
Impairment charges	0	11.1	0	11.1
Total operating expenses	208.4	209.4	412.8	390.6
Operating earnings	109.8	109.1	221.5	230.7
Interest income	4	3.6	7.9	6.8
Interest expense	(1)	(2.3)	(2.2)	(4.4)
Other income (expense), net	0.2	(14.8)	23.2	(15)
Earnings before taxes	113	95.6	250.4	218.1
Taxes on earnings	24.6	22.4	58.1	257.1
Net earnings (loss)	88.4	73.2	192.3	(39)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.2)	0	0.5	0.1
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Varian	$ 88.6	$ 73.2	$ 191.8	$ (39.1)
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 0.80	$ 2.11	$ (0.43)
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.79	$ 2.09	$ (0.43)
Shares used in the calculation of net earnings (loss) per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	91	91.5	91	91.6
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	91.9	92.6	92	91.6
Product
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 430.5	$ 393.8	$ 830.7	$ 759.4
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product and service	294.4	264.2	561	488.1
Service
Revenues:
Total revenues	348.9	336.1	689.7	649
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product and service	$ 166.8	$ 147.2	$ 325.1	$ 299

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEM_2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019		Mar. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss)		$ 88.4	$ 73.2	$ 192.3		$ (39)
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.1 and $0.1, for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019, respectively, and $0.0 and $0.1, for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2018, respectively	[1]	(0.1)	(0.3)	(0.3)		(0.5)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($0.1) and ($0.2), for three and six months ended March 29, 2019, respectively, and ($0.1) and ($0.3), for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2018, respectively		0.4	0.7	0.9		1.2
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans		0.3	0.4	0.6		0.7
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.2 and $0.3, for the three and six months ended March 30, 2018, respectively		0	(0.4)	0		(0.6)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($0.3) for both the three and six months ended March 30, 2018, respectively		0	0.7	0	[1]	0.6	[1]
Derivative instruments		0	0.3	0		0
Currency translation adjustment		(3.1)	6.6	(7.1)		9.7
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)		(2.8)	7.3	(6.5)		10.4
Comprehensive earnings (loss)		85.6	80.5	185.8		(28.6)
Less: Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(0.2)	0	0.5		0.1
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Varian		$ 85.8	$ 80.5	$ 185.3		$ (28.7)
[1]	Tax expense or benefit related to the periods presented are not material.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEM_3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Tax on amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost	$ 0.1	$ 0	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Tax on amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost	(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.2)	(0.3)
Tax on increase (decrease) in unrealized gain on derivative instruments	0	0.2	0	0.3
Tax on reclassification adjustments on derivative instruments	$ 0	$ (0.3)	$ 0	$ (0.3)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 546.3	$ 504.8
Trade and unbilled receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $43.9 at March 29, 2019, and $41.1 at September 28, 2018	1,029.2	1,009.9
Inventories	478	438.1
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	207.7	233.3
Current assets of discontinued operations	0	2.3
Total current assets	2,261.2	2,188.4
Property, plant and equipment, net	268.4	274.6
Goodwill	309.3	293.6
Intangible assets	90.8	101.1
Deferred tax assets	94.9	102.2
Other assets	365.6	292.8
Total assets	3,390.2	3,252.7
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	208.7	190.3
Accrued liabilities	352.2	419.7
Deferred revenues	757.9	729.7
Total current liabilities	1,318.8	1,339.7
Other long-term liabilities	331.3	324.3
Total liabilities	1,650.1	1,664
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Equity:
Preferred stock of $1 par value: 1.0 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock of $1 par value: 189.0 shares authorized; 91.2 shares issued and outstanding at both March 29, 2019, and at September 28, 2018, respectively	91.2	91.2
Capital in excess of par value	813.6	778.1
Retained earnings	902.3	780.4
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(71.8)	(65.3)
Total Varian stockholders' equity	1,735.3	1,584.4
Noncontrolling interest	4.8	4.3
Total equity	1,740.1	1,588.7
Total liabilities and equity	$ 3,390.2	$ 3,252.7

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANC_2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 43.9	$ 41.1
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	189,000,000	189,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	91,200,000	91,200,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	91,200,000	91,200,000

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEM_4

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 192.3	$ (39)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Share-based compensation expense	23	21.2
Depreciation	25.8	25.4
Amortization of intangible assets	11.4	10.4
Gain on sale of equity investments, net	(21.8)	0
Deferred taxes	7.4	41.8
Impairment charges	0	11.1
Loss on hedges related to acquisition-related activities	0	16.4
Loss on equity investments	2.2	0.9
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	4	2
Other, net	(1.9)	(0.9)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Trade and unbilled receivables	(58.6)	28.4
Inventories	(41.9)	(10.9)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(19.3)	0
Accounts payable	23.7	0.9
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities	(74.2)	125.3
Deferred revenues	55.4	11.5
Net cash provided by operating activities	127.5	244.5
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(25.2)	(17.8)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(25)	(29.6)
Purchase of equity investments	(11.8)	(3.1)
Sale of equity investment	29.9	0
Principal payments on notes receivable	0.1	5.2
Investment in available-for-sale security	0	(6)
Sale of available-for-sale security	0	8
Loans to CPTC	(1.1)	(5.3)
Purchase of foreign currency option related to acquisition-related activities	0	(5.5)
Amounts paid to deferred compensation plan trust account	(2.5)	(1.3)
Other, net	1	0.4
Net cash used in investing activities	(34.6)	(55)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchases of common stock	(85.6)	(92.7)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to employees	38.6	44.6
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(13.9)	(11.1)
Cash received from Varex Imaging Corporation	4.1	0
Borrowings under credit facility agreement	0	234.3
Repayments under credit facility agreement	0	(209.3)
Net repayments under the credit facility agreements with maturities less than 90 days	0	(120)
Other	(0.1)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(56.9)	(154.2)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	6.5	(11.5)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	42.5	23.8
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	516.4	718.5
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$ 558.9	$ 742.3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEM_5

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY Statement - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Varian Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2017		91.7
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 29, 2017	$ 1,521.9	$ 91.7	$ 716.1	$ 778.6	$ (68.8)	$ 1,517.6	$ 4.3
Net earnings (loss)	(112.2)			(112.3)		(112.3)	0.1
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	3.1				3.1	3.1
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.4
Issuance of common stock	24.2	$ 0.4	23.8			24.2
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(0.3)		(0.3)			(0.3)
Share-based compensation expense	10.7		10.7			10.7
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(0.5)
Repurchases of common stock	(56.7)	$ (0.5)	(10.4)	(45.8)		(56.7)
Other	0.3		0.6	(0.3)		0.3
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2017		91.6
Balance at end of period at Dec. 29, 2017	1,391	$ 91.6	740.5	620.2	(65.7)	1,386.6	4.4
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2017		91.7
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 29, 2017	1,521.9	$ 91.7	716.1	778.6	(68.8)	1,517.6	4.3
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	$ 10.4
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.8)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 30, 2018		91.7
Balance at end of period at Mar. 30, 2018	$ 1,456.6	$ 91.7	754.7	664.2	(58.4)	1,452.2	4.4
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2017		91.6
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 29, 2017	1,391	$ 91.6	740.5	620.2	(65.7)	1,386.6	4.4
Net earnings (loss)	73.2			73.2		73.2
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	7.3				7.3	7.3
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.5
Issuance of common stock	21.4	$ 0.5	20.9			21.4
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards (shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(10.8)	$ (0.1)	(10.7)			(10.8)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 10.5		10.5			10.5
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.3)	(0.3)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (36)	$ (0.3)	(6.5)	(29.2)		(36)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 30, 2018		91.7
Balance at end of period at Mar. 30, 2018	$ 1,456.6	$ 91.7	754.7	664.2	(58.4)	1,452.2	4.4
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2018	91.2	91.2
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 28, 2018	$ 1,588.7	$ 91.2	778.1	780.4	(65.3)	1,584.4	4.3
Net earnings (loss)	103.9			103.2		103.2	0.7
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	(3.7)				(3.7)	(3.7)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.3
Issuance of common stock	22	$ 0.3	21.7			22
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(4.4)		(4.4)			(4.4)
Share-based compensation expense	10.5		10.5			10.5
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(0.3)
Repurchases of common stock	(34.8)	$ (0.3)	(6.6)	(27.9)		(34.8)
Other	(0.2)			(0.2)		(0.2)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2018		91.2
Balance at end of period at Dec. 28, 2018	$ 1,682	$ 91.2	799.3	855.5	(69)	1,677	5
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2018	91.2	91.2
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 28, 2018	$ 1,588.7	$ 91.2	778.1	780.4	(65.3)	1,584.4	4.3
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	$ (6.5)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.7)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2019	91.2	91.2
Balance at end of period at Mar. 29, 2019	$ 1,740.1	$ 91.2	813.6	902.3	(71.8)	1,735.3	4.8
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2018		91.2
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 28, 2018	1,682	$ 91.2	799.3	855.5	(69)	1,677	5
Net earnings (loss)	88.4			88.6		88.6	(0.2)
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	(2.8)				(2.8)	(2.8)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.5
Issuance of common stock	20.3	$ 0.5	19.8			20.3
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards (shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(9.5)	$ (0.1)	(9.4)			(9.5)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 12.5		12.5			12.5
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.4)	(0.4)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (50.8)	$ (0.4)	(8.6)	(41.8)		(50.8)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2019	91.2	91.2
Balance at end of period at Mar. 29, 2019	$ 1,740.1	$ 91.2	$ 813.6	$ 902.3	$ (71.8)	$ 1,735.3	$ 4.8

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTI

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Description of Business Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (“VMS”) and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) designs, manufactures, sells and services hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and brachytherapy. Software solutions include informatics software for information management, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, practice management and decision-making support for comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. The Company also develops, designs, manufactures, sells and services proton therapy products and systems for cancer treatment. Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2018 (the “ 2018 Annual Report”). In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements herein include adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , results of operations and statements of comprehensive earnings (loss) for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 , statements of cash flows for the six months ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 , and statements of equity for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 . The results of operations for the six months ended March 29, 2019 , are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the amounts in the prior year in order to conform to the current year's presentation. Fiscal Year The fiscal years of the Company as reported are the 52- or 53-week periods ending on the Friday nearest September 30. Fiscal year 2019 is the 52-week period ending September 27, 2019 . Fiscal year 2018 was the 52-week period that ended on September 28, 2018 . The fiscal quarters ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 , were both 13-week periods. Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include those of VMS and its wholly-owned and majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. Intercompany balances, transactions and stock holdings have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant Accounting Policies There have been no material changes to the Company's significant accounting policies provided in "Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company's 2018 Annual Report. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") guidance on which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The Company adopted this amendment prospectively, and it did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance on the accounting related to defined benefit plans and other post-retirement benefits. This amendment requires the service cost component of net periodic pension and post-retirement benefit cost to be presented in the same line item as other employee compensation costs, while the other components must be presented separately as other income (expense), net. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flow. The amendment requires entities to include restricted cash in cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the amendment retrospectively, and prior period amounts on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been recast to conform with the current period presentation as shown in the reconciliation provided below. See Note 3, "Other Financial Information," for a reconciliation of the cash balances within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Six Months Ended March 30, 2018 (In millions) As Previously Reported Adjustments As Adjusted Cash used in investing activities $ (55.1 ) $ 0.1 $ (55.0 ) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period $ 716.2 $ 2.3 $ 718.5 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 739.9 $ 2.4 $ 742.3 In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance for tax accounting for intra-entity asset transfers. The amendment removes the prohibition against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 10, "Income Taxes," for more information about the impact of the adoption. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The amendment was issued to reduce the diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the amendment retrospectively, and it did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance related to recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The amendment addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. Most prominent among the changes is the requirement for changes in the fair value of the Company's equity investments to be recognized through net earnings rather than other comprehensive income. Under the amendment, equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value are eligible for the measurement alternative, which will require the Company to measure these investments at cost, with adjustments for changes in price or impairments reflected through net earnings. The Company adopted the amendment prospectively for its privately-held investments for which the measurement alternative was elected, and adopted the amendment on a modified retrospective basis for all other financial instruments. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective In November 2018, the FASB amended its guidance to clarify revenue accounting for collaborative arrangements. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 and will be applied retrospectively to the date of the initial application of ASC 606. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In October 2018, the FASB amended its guidance which will add the Overnight Index Swap rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB amended its guidance for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement and aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This new standard also requires customers to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement. This new standard becomes effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, with early adoption permitted. This new standard can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which changed the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, adding and modifying certain disclosures. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB amended its guidance that will allow companies to reclassify disproportionate tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to retained earnings. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to the impairment of financial instruments. The amendment adds a new impairment model that is based on expected losses, rather than incurred losses. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2021 with early adoption permitted beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS	BUSINESS COMBINATIONS Business Combination in Fiscal Year 2019 In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company acquired a privately-held software company for a purchase price of $28.5 million . The acquisition primarily consisted of $22.0 million in goodwill and $6.5 million in finite-lived intangible assets. The Company has integrated this acquisition into its Oncology Systems reporting unit. The goodwill for this acquisition is not deductible for income tax. Measurement Period Adjustments In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company recorded a measurement period adjustment of $9.6 million to the fair value of the purchase consideration of a business combination that occurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 and a corresponding decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability, a decrease to the finite-lived intangible assets of $5.4 million , and a decrease of $4.7 million to goodwill. Other Information The excess of purchase price over the fair value amounts assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed represents the goodwill amount. The Company believes the factors that contributed to goodwill in its completed acquisitions include synergies not available to market participants, as well as the acquisition of a talented workforce. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed has been determined on a preliminary basis, and the Company will finalize these amounts as it obtains the information necessary to complete the measurement process. Any changes resulting from facts and circumstances that existed as of the date of a business combination may result in certain adjustments. The Company expects to finalize these amounts no later than one year from the date of each business combination. Management applied significant judgment in determining the fair value of intangible assets, which involved the use of significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the revenue growth rates, the economic lives, and the discount rate. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the operating results from the date the business was acquired. The impact of the completed business combination to the periods presented was not material. Pro forma results of operations for the completed business combination have not been presented because the effects were not material to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company incurred acquisition-related expenses of $2.2 million and $3.3 million during the three months ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018 , respectively, and $4.6 million and $4.8 million during the six months ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION	OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION Contracts with Customers The following table provides the Company's unbilled receivables and deferred revenues from contracts with customers: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Unbilled receivables - current $ 333.6 $ 362.8 Unbilled receivables - long-term (1) 60.5 36.3 Deferred revenues - current (757.9 ) (729.7 ) Deferred revenues - long-term (2) (65.7 ) (38.6 ) Total net unbilled receivables (deferred revenues) $ (429.5 ) $ (369.2 ) (1) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in other long-term liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the six months ended March 29, 2019 , unbilled receivables, net of deferred revenues, decreased by $60.3 million primarily due to the contractual timing of billings occurring after the revenues were recognized, as well as the timing of milestone payments. During the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , the Company recognized revenues of $124.4 million and $337.8 million , respectively, which were included in the deferred revenues balance at September 28, 2018 . During the three and six months ended March 30, 2018 , the Company recognized revenues of $107.4 million and $300.5 million , which were included in the deferred revenues balance at September 29, 2017 . Unfulfilled Performance Obligations The following table represents the Company's unfulfilled performance obligations as of March 29, 2019 , and the estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to these unfulfilled performance obligations: Fiscal Years of Revenue Recognition (In millions) Remainder of 2019 2020 2021 Thereafter Unfulfilled Performance Obligations $ 1,143.7 $ 2,287.3 $ 854.6 $ 2,195.7 The table above includes both product and service unfulfilled performance obligations, which includes a component of service performance obligations which have not been invoiced. The fiscal years presented reflect management’s best estimate of when the Company will transfer control to the customer and may change based on timing of shipment, readiness of customers’ facilities for installation, installation requirements, and availability of products or customer acceptance terms. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash The following table summarizes the Company's cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Cash and cash equivalents $ 546.3 $ 504.8 Restricted cash - current (1) 4.0 3.1 Restricted cash - long-term (2) 8.6 8.5 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 558.9 $ 516.4 (1) Included in prepaid and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Inventories The following table summarizes the Company's inventories: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Raw materials and parts $ 331.0 $ 304.1 Work-in-process 67.0 50.6 Finished goods 80.0 83.4 Total inventories $ 478.0 $ 438.1 Other Long-Term Liabilities The following table summarizes the Company's other long-term liabilities: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Long-term income taxes payable $ 181.2 $ 189.1 Deferred income taxes 29.0 31.4 Long-term deferred revenues 65.7 38.6 Other 55.4 65.2 Total other long-term liabilities $ 331.3 $ 324.3 Other Income (Expense), Net The following table summarizes the Company's other income (expense), net: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Gain (loss) on sale of equity investments $ (0.2 ) $ — $ 21.8 $ — Loss on hedges related to acquisition-related activities — (16.4 ) — (16.4 ) Net foreign currency exchange gain (loss) (0.5 ) (0.2 ) 0.8 0.2 Other 0.9 1.8 0.6 1.2 Total other income (expense), net $ 0.2 $ (14.8 ) $ 23.2 $ (15.0 )

FAIR VALUE

FAIR VALUE	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE	FAIR VALUE Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis In the tables below, the Company has segregated all assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. Fair Value Measurement Using Quoted Prices in Significant Significant Total Type of Instruments (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Balance (In millions) Assets at March 29, 2019: Cash equivalents: Money market funds $ 4.0 $ — $ — $ 4.0 Available-for-sale securities: (1) MPTC Series B-1 Bonds — 26.1 — 26.1 MPTC Series B-2 Bonds — 24.1 — 24.1 APTC securities — 6.3 — 6.3 GPTC securities — 8.5 — 8.5 Total assets measured at fair value $ 4.0 $ 65.0 $ — $ 69.0 Liabilities at March 29, 2019: Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ (17.8 ) $ (17.8 ) Total liabilities measured at fair value $ — $ — $ (17.8 ) $ (17.8 ) Assets at September 28, 2018: Cash equivalents: Money market funds $ 44.1 $ — $ — $ 44.1 Available-for- sale securities: MPTC Series B-1 Bonds (2) — 25.1 — 25.1 MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1) — 23.1 — 23.1 APTC securities (2) — 6.4 — 6.4 GPTC securities (2) — 7.9 — 7.9 Total assets measured at fair value $ 44.1 $ 62.5 $ — $ 106.6 Liabilities at September 28, 2018: Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ (24.4 ) $ (24.4 ) Total liabilities measured at fair value $ — $ — $ (24.4 ) $ (24.4 ) (1) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in prepaid and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets because the Company had the ability and intent to sell this security in the next twelve months. The Company classifies its money market funds as Level 1 because they have daily liquidity, quoted prices for the underlying investments can be obtained, and there are active markets for the underlying investments. The Company's Level 2 available-for-sale securities consist of bonds for the Maryland Proton Therapy Center ("MPTC"), Alabama Proton Therapy Center (“APTC”), and Georgia Proton Treatment Center ("GPTC"). The observable inputs for these securities are comparable bond issues, broker/dealer quotations for the same or similar investments in active markets, and other observable inputs such as yields, credit risks, default rates, and volatility. As of March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , the carrying amount of the Company's Level 1 money market funds and Level 2 available-for-sale securities approximated their respective fair values. See Note 14, "Proton Solutions Loans and Investments," for further information about the available-for-sale securities. The Company measures the fair value of its Level 3 contingent consideration liabilities based on the income approach by using a discounted cash flow model with key assumptions that include estimated sales units or revenues of the acquired business, the probability of completing certain milestone targets during the earn-out period, volatility, and estimated discount rates corresponding to the periods of expected payments. If the estimated sales units, revenues or probability of completing certain milestones were to increase or decrease during the respective earn-out period, the fair value of the contingent consideration would increase or decrease, respectively. If the estimated discount rates were to increase or decrease, the fair value of contingent consideration would decrease or increase, respectively. Changes in volatility may result in an increase or decrease in the fair value of contingent consideration. The Company's contingent consideration is from its business combinations and is included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table presents the reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): (In millions) Contingent Balance at September 28, 2018 $ (24.4 ) Business combination (5.3 ) Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year 11.9 Balance at March 29, 2019 $ (17.8 ) There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between fair value measurement levels during either the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , or the three and six months ended March 30, 2018 . Transfers between fair value measurement levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments The fair values of certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including bank deposits included in cash equivalents, trade and unbilled receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, revolving loan to California Proton Therapy Center ("CPTC"), Rinecker Proton Therapy Center ("RPTC") senior secured debt, and accounts payable approximate their carrying amounts due to their short maturities. As of March 29, 2019 , the fair value of the Term Loan with CPTC approximated its carrying value of $44.0 million . The carrying value is based on the present value of expected future cash payments discounted at a rate reflecting the nature and duration of the loans, risks involved with CPTC, and its industry. As a result, the Term Loan is categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 14, "Proton Solutions Loans and Investments," for further information. The Company's equity investments in privately-held companies were $41.1 million and $37.2 million at March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , respectively. Equity investments without readily determinable fair value are measured at cost and will be adjusted through net earnings when they are deemed to be impaired or when there is an adjustment from observable price changes. During the three and six months ended March 29, 2019, there were no impairment charges or adjustments resulting from observable price changes for equity investments without readily determinable fair value. The fair value of the outstanding long-term notes receivable, including accrued interest, approximated their carrying value of $31.6 million and $29.7 million at March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , respectively, because they are based on terms of recent comparable transactions and are categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value is based on the income approach by using the discounted cash flow model with key assumptions that include discount rates corresponding to the terms and risks as well as underlying cash flow assumptions. See Note 14, "Proton Solutions Loans and Investments,"

RECEIVABLES

RECEIVABLES	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
RECEIVABLES	RECEIVABLES The following table summarizes the Company's trade and unbilled receivables, net and notes receivable: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Trade and unbilled receivables, gross $ 1,139.6 $ 1,093.0 Allowance for doubtful accounts (43.9 ) (41.1 ) Trade and unbilled receivables, net $ 1,095.7 $ 1,051.9 Short-term $ 1,029.2 $ 1,009.9 Long-term (1) $ 66.5 $ 42.0 Notes receivable $ 31.6 $ 29.8 Short-term (2) $ — $ 0.1 Long-term (1) (3) $ 31.6 $ 29.7 (1) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (3) Balances include accrued interest and are recorded in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. A financing receivable represents a financing arrangement with a contractual right to receive money, on demand or on fixed or determinable dates, and that is recognized as an asset on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s financing receivables consist of trade receivables with contractual maturities of more than one year and notes receivable. A small portion of the Company's financing trade receivables are included in short-term trade accounts receivable. As of March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , the allowance for doubtful accounts is entirely related to short-term trade and unbilled receivables. See Note 14, "Proton Solutions Loans and Investments,"

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS	GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS The following table reflects the activity of goodwill by reportable operating segment: (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Balance at September 28, 2018 $ 242.1 $ 51.5 $ 293.6 Business combination 22.0 — 22.0 Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year (4.7 ) — (4.7 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments — (1.6 ) (1.6 ) Balance at March 29, 2019 $ 259.4 $ 49.9 $ 309.3 See Note 2, "Business Combinations," for more information. The following table reflects the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company's intangible assets: March 29, 2019 September 28, 2018 (In millions) Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Technologies and patents $ 136.2 $ (76.8 ) $ 59.4 $ 139.6 $ (73.9 ) $ 65.7 Customer contracts and supplier relationship 44.4 (22.0 ) 22.4 44.9 (19.1 ) 25.8 Other 6.1 (5.9 ) 0.2 6.6 (5.8 ) 0.8 Total intangible with finite lives 186.7 (104.7 ) 82.0 191.1 (98.8 ) 92.3 In-process research and development with indefinite lives 8.8 — 8.8 8.8 — 8.8 Total intangible assets $ 195.5 $ (104.7 ) $ 90.8 $ 199.9 $ (98.8 ) $ 101.1 Amortization expense for intangible assets was $6.7 million and $4.1 million during the three months ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018 , respectively, and $11.4 million and $10.4 million during the six months ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018 , respectively. As of March 29, 2019 , the Company estimates its remaining amortization expense for intangible assets with finite lives will be as follows (in millions): Fiscal Years: Remaining Amortization Expense Remainder of 2019 $ 10.4 2020 18.8 2021 15.2 2022 14.1 2023 13.4 Thereafter 10.1 Total remaining amortization for intangible assets $ 82.0

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDG

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES	DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES The Company measures all derivatives at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of those derivatives depends upon the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. Cash Flow Hedging Activities As of March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , the Company did not have any outstanding foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges. During the three and six months ended March 30, 2018 , the Company recognized an unrealized loss of $0.6 million and $0.9 million , respectively, on foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges in other comprehensive earnings. The effect of cash flow hedge accounting on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) was as follows: Location and Amount Recognized in Earnings on Cash Flow Hedging Relationships Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 30, 2018 March 30, 2018 (In millions) Revenues Revenues Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) in which the effects of fair value and cash flow hedges are recorded $ 729.9 $ 1,408.4 Loss on cash flow hedge relationships: Foreign currency forward contracts: Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings (loss) $ (1.0 ) $ (0.9 ) Balance Sheet Hedging Activities The Company also hedges balance sheet exposures from its various subsidiaries and business units where the U.S. Dollar is the functional currency. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, changes in their fair values are recognized in other income (expense), net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss). Changes in the values of these hedging instruments are offset by changes in the values of foreign-currency-denominated assets and liabilities. At March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , the fair value of the Company's derivatives not designated as hedging instruments was not material. The Company had the following outstanding foreign currency forward contracts relating to balance sheet hedging activities: March 29, 2019 (In millions) Notional Notional Australian Dollar $ 28.8 $ — Brazilian Real 10.4 — British Pound 32.7 0.7 Chinese Yuan — 12.6 Canadian Dollar 4.0 — Euro 209.2 8.2 Hungarian Forint 4.3 0.8 Indian Rupee 20.5 — Japanese Yen 69.7 — New Zealand Dollar 1.4 — Polish Zloty 15.4 — South African Rand 15.3 — Swedish Krona 7.9 — Swiss Franc — 66.6 Taiwan Dollar 16.6 — Thai Baht 3.9 — Totals $ 440.1 $ 88.9 The following table presents the gains (losses) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) related to the foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings on Derivative Instruments Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings (Loss) on Derivative Instruments Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Other income (expense), net $ 3.6 $ (7.5 ) $ 6.4 $ (12.2 )

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Product Warranty The following table reflects the changes in the Company’s accrued product warranty: Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, Accrued product warranty, at beginning of period $ 44.8 $ 41.3 Charged to cost of revenues 27.7 26.3 Actual product warranty expenditures (25.7 ) (26.5 ) Accrued product warranty, at end of period $ 46.8 $ 41.1 Accrued product warranty was included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Lessor Arrangements The Company leases some of its equipment to certain customers on operating leases generally over a period of 15 years. As of March 29, 2019 , the Company had $19.2 million and $2.9 million included in property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation, respectively, related to equipment leased to customers. As of September 28, 2018 , the Company had $19.2 million and $1.3 million included in property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation, respectively, related to equipment leased to customers. The Company recorded income of $2.1 million and $4.2 million during the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , respectively, on these equipment leases. Contingencies Environmental Remediation Liabilities The Company’s operations and facilities, past and present, are subject to environmental laws, including laws that regulate the handling, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous substances. Certain of those laws impose cleanup liabilities on the Company in connection with its past and present operations. Those include facilities sold as part of the Company’s electron devices business in 1995 and thin film systems business in 1997. As a result, the Company oversees various environmental cleanup projects and receives reimbursements from third parties for a portion of the costs of its cleanup activities. As of March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , the Company had accrued $5.2 million and $5.4 million , respectively, net of third parties' indemnification obligations, for environmental remediation liabilities. The Company believes its reserve is adequate; however, as the scope of the Company’s obligations becomes more clearly defined, the Company may modify the reserve, and charge or credit future earnings accordingly. Based on information currently known to management, management believes the costs of these environmental-related matters are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company in any one fiscal year. The Company also reimburses certain third parties for cleanup activities. The amount the Company spent on environmental cleanup costs, third-party claim costs, project management costs and legal costs in the three and six months March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018 , was not material. Other Matters On October 16, 2018, Best Medical International, Inc. sued the Company in U.S. District Court in the District of Delaware, alleging infringement of four patents related to treatment planning. The Company intends to defend the suit vigorously. This lawsuit is in the initial stages, and at this time, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this matter or estimate a range of possible exposure. Therefore, no amounts have been accrued. From time to time, the Company is a party to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings, claims and government inspections or investigations and other legal matters, both inside and outside the United States, arising in the ordinary course of its business or otherwise. The Company accrues amounts, to the extent they can be reasonably estimated, that it believes are adequate to address any liabilities related to legal proceedings and other loss contingencies that the Company believes will result in a probable loss (including, among other things, probable settlement value). A loss or a range of loss is disclosed when it is reasonably possible that a material loss will be incurred and can be estimated or when it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss, when material, will exceed the recorded provision.

RETIREMENT PLANS

RETIREMENT PLANS	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
RETIREMENT PLANS	RETIREMENT PLANS The Company sponsors five defined benefit pension plans for regular full-time employees in Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Company also sponsors a post-retirement benefit plan that provides healthcare benefits to certain eligible retirees in the United States. The components of net defined benefit costs were as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Defined Benefit Plans Service cost $ 1.8 $ 1.7 $ 3.6 $ 3.3 Interest cost 1.0 0.8 1.9 1.6 Expected return on plan assets (1.6 ) (2.0 ) (3.2 ) (4.0 ) Amortization of prior service cost (0.2 ) (0.2 ) (0.4 ) (0.3 ) Recognized actuarial loss 0.5 0.7 1.1 1.4 Net periodic benefit cost $ 1.5 $ 1.0 $ 3.0 $ 2.0

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES The Company’s effective tax rate was 21.7% and 23.4% for the three months ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018 , respectively, and 23.2% and 117.9% for the six months ended March 29, 2019 and March 30, 2018 , respectively. The decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , compared to the year-ago periods, was primarily because the prior periods included the tax effect of a change in law due to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act"), which was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The current periods also includes the impact of several provisions of the Act that take effect for the Company for the first time in the fiscal year ending September 27, 2019, including a new minimum tax on certain foreign earnings (the Global Intangible Low-taxed Income, or "GILTI"), a new tax on certain payments to foreign related parties (the Base Erosion and Anti-avoidance Tax), a new incentive for foreign-derived intangible income, changes to the limitation on the deductibility of certain executive compensation, and new limitations on the deductibility of interest expense. The Company has elected to account for GILTI as a period cost rather than on a deferred basis. The current periods also reflects the fact that, as the Company has a September fiscal year end, the lower 21% federal rate is now fully phased in; that is, it is applicable to our domestic earnings for the full fiscal year ending September 27, 2019. As part of the transition to a modified territorial system, the Act imposed a one-time transition tax on the unremitted earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries. The Company recorded a discrete tax expense related to the one-time transition tax of $2.3 million during the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 , which brought the cumulative amount to $166.9 million . The Company has elected to pay this tax over the eight -year period allowed for in the Act. On December 22, 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. This guidance allowed registrants a “measurement period,” not to exceed one year from the date of enactment, to complete their accounting for the tax effects of the Act. The Company relied on this guidance to refine its estimates of the impact of the Act during the measurement period. The measurement period ended during our period ended December 28, 2018. As a result, the Company considers its accounting for the tax effects of the Act to be complete based on its interpretation of the law and subsequent guidance that has been issued. However, it is expected that the U.S. Treasury will continue to issue regulations and other guidance on the application of certain provisions of the Act that may impact our interpretation of the rules and our calculation of the tax impact of the transition tax or other provisions of the Act. The Company adopted the FASB guidance related to intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. This standard changes the treatment of the tax effect of transfers of property other than inventory among the entities within a registrant's consolidated group. Under the prior standard, the tax effect related to the transfer of property other than inventory from one member of the group to another was recorded to prepaid income taxes, which is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under the new standard, the tax effect related to the transfer of property other than inventory from one member of the group to another is recorded as a discrete item to taxes on earnings in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss). The Company recorded a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $0.2 million as of September 29, 2018, as a result of adopting the new standard. The Company expects that the new standard may cause its effective tax rate to be more volatile and less predictable going forward. The Company’s effective income tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily because the Company’s foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are, on average, lower than the U.S. federal rate, and because the Company’s domestic earnings are subject to state income taxes. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits did not materially change during the six months ended March 29, 2019

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Equity [Abstract]
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Share Repurchase Program In November 2016, the VMS Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional 8.0 million shares of VMS common stock commencing on January 1, 2017. Share repurchases under the Company's authorizations may be made in open market purchases, in privately negotiated transactions (including accelerated share repurchase programs), or under Rule 10b5-1 share repurchase plans, and may be made from time to time in one or more blocks. All shares that were repurchased under the Company's share repurchase programs have been retired. As of March 29, 2019 , approximately 2.9 million shares of VMS common stock remained available for repurchase under the November 2016 authorization. The Company repurchased shares of VMS common stock during the periods presented as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions, except per share amounts) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Number of shares 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.8 Average repurchase price per share $ 120.89 $ 110.52 $ 115.71 $ 109.06 Total cost $ 50.8 $ 36.0 $ 85.6 $ 92.7 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component and related tax effects are summarized as follows: (In millions) Net Unrealized Gains Cumulative Accumulated Balance at September 28, 2018 $ (35.2 ) $ (30.1 ) $ (65.3 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications — (7.1 ) (7.1 ) Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings 0.7 — 0.7 Tax expense (0.1 ) — (0.1 ) Balance at March 29, 2019 $ (34.6 ) $ (37.2 ) $ (71.8 ) (In millions) Net Unrealized Gains Net Cumulative Accumulated Balance at September 29, 2017 $ (44.1 ) $ — $ (24.7 ) $ (68.8 ) Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications — (0.9 ) 9.7 8.8 Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings (loss) 0.9 0.9 — 1.8 Tax expense (0.2 ) — — (0.2 ) Balance at March 30, 2018 $ (43.4 ) $ — $ (15.0 ) $ (58.4 ) The amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings (loss) into the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss), with line item location, during each period were as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) Components Loss Before Taxes Loss Before Taxes Line Item in Statements of Earnings (Loss) Unrealized loss on defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans $ (0.3 ) $ (0.5 ) $ (0.7 ) $ (0.9 ) Other income (expense), net Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging instruments — (1.0 ) — (0.9 ) Revenues Total amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings (loss) $ (0.3 ) $ (1.5 ) $ (0.7 ) $ (1.8 )

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS	EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS The table below summarizes the share-based compensation expense recognized for employee stock awards and employee stock purchase plan shares: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Cost of revenues - Product $ 0.8 $ 0.8 $ 1.5 $ 1.5 Cost of revenues - Service 1.0 1.0 2.1 2.0 Research and development 1.1 1.2 2.2 2.4 Selling, general and administrative 9.6 7.5 17.2 15.3 Total share-based compensation expense $ 12.5 $ 10.5 $ 23.0 $ 21.2 Income tax benefit for share-based compensation $ (2.2 ) $ (2.6 ) $ (4.5 ) $ (4.7 ) The fair value of options granted was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted average assumptions: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Employee Stock Option Plans Expected term (in years) 3.76 3.83 3.76 3.83 Risk-free interest rate 2.5 % 2.4 % 2.6 % 2.2 % Expected volatility 23.6 % 19.2 % 23.1 % 19.0 % Expected dividend — % — % — % — % Weighted average fair value at grant date $ 29.16 $ 21.48 $ 27.85 $ 20.73 The option component of employee stock purchase plan shares was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted average assumptions: Six Months Ended March 29, March 30, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Expected term (in years) 0.50 0.50 Risk-free interest rate 2.5 % 1.2 % Expected volatility 18.6 % 17.9 % Expected dividend — % — % Weighted average fair value at grant date $ 22.82 $ 20.97 Activity under the Company’s employee stock plans related to stock options is presented below: Options Outstanding (In millions, except per share amounts) Number of Weighted Weighted Aggregate (1) Balance at September 28, 2018 2.3 $ 85.82 Granted 0.5 126.45 Cancelled or expired (2) — 99.68 Exercised (0.5 ) 74.12 Balance at March 29, 2019 2.3 $ 96.77 5.0 $ 103.5 Exercisable at March 29, 2019 1.1 $ 79.36 3.8 $ 69.4 (1) The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value, which is computed based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of VMS common stock of $141.72 as of March 29, 2019 , the last trading date of the second quarter of fiscal year 2019 , and which represents the amount that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options and sold the shares received upon exercise as of that date. (2) The cancelled and expired shares were not material for disclosure. As of March 29, 2019 , there was $23.7 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options and performance stock options granted under the Company's employee stock plans. This unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years. The activity for restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance units is summarized as follows: (In millions, except per share amounts) Number of Weighted Average Balance at September 28, 2018 0.8 $ 89.17 Granted 0.3 127.05 Vested (0.3 ) 81.50 Cancelled or expired (0.1 ) 82.14 Balance at March 29, 2019 0.7 $ 108.24 As of March 29, 2019 , unrecognized compensation expense totaling $54.5 million was related to awards of restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance units granted under the Company's employee stock plans. This unrecognized share-based compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.1

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER SHARE	EARNINGS PER SHARE The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions, except per share amounts) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Net earnings (loss) $ 88.4 $ 73.2 $ 192.3 $ (39.0 ) Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (0.2 ) — 0.5 0.1 Net earnings (loss) attributable to Varian $ 88.6 $ 73.2 $ 191.8 $ (39.1 ) Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 91.0 91.5 91.0 91.6 Dilutive effect of potential common shares 0.9 1.1 1.0 — Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 91.9 92.6 92.0 91.6 Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Varian - basic $ 0.97 $ 0.80 $ 2.11 $ (0.43 ) Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Varian - diluted $ 0.96 $ 0.79 $ 2.09 $ (0.43 ) Anti-dilutive employee share-based awards, excluded 0.5 0.6 1.0 3.2

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVE

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVESTMENTS	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVESTMENTS	PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVESTMENTS In limited cases, the Company participates, along with other investors and at market terms, in the financing of proton therapy centers. Over time, the Company has divested some of its investments, including investments in CPTC, New York Proton Center ("NYPC"), GPTC and the Delray Radiation Therapy Center. The following table lists the Company's notes receivable including accrued interest, senior secured debt, available-for-sale securities, loans outstanding and future commitments for funding the development, construction and operation of various proton therapy centers: March 29, 2019 September 28, 2018 (In millions) Balance Commitment Balance Commitment Notes Receivable and Secured Debt: NYPC loan (1) $ 29.9 $ — $ 28.0 $ — RPTC senior secured debt (2) 24.2 — 24.9 — Proton International LLC loan (1) 1.7 — 1.7 — $ 55.8 $ — $ 54.6 $ — Available-For-Sale Securities: MPTC Series B-1 Bonds (3) $ 26.1 $ — $ 25.1 $ — MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1) 24.1 — 23.1 — GPTC securities (3) 8.5 — 7.9 — APTC securities (3) 6.3 — 6.4 — $ 65.0 $ — $ 62.5 $ — CPTC Loans and Investment: Short-term revolving loan (2) $ 4.7 $ 2.5 $ 3.7 $ 3.5 Term loan (1) 44.0 — 44.0 — Equity investment in CPTC (1) — — 2.2 — $ 48.7 $ 2.5 $ 49.9 $ 3.5 (1) Included in other assets at March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in prepaid and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (3) Included in other assets at March 29, 2019 and prepaid and other current assets at September 28, 2018 , on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Alabama Proton Therapy Center ("APTC") Securities In December 2017, the Company purchased $6.0 million in Subordinate Revenue Bonds, which financed the APTC. The Subordinate Revenue Bonds carry an interest rate of 8.5% and pay interest semi-annually. The Company is scheduled to start receiving annual principal payments on the Subordinate Revenue Bonds beginning on November 1, 2022. The Subordinate Revenue Bonds will mature on October 1, 2047. Rinecker Proton Therapy Center ("RPTC") Senior Secured Debt In July 2017, the Company purchased the outstanding senior secured debt related to the RPTC in Munich, Germany for 21.5 million Euros or $24.5 million . By purchasing the senior secured debt, the Company has a right to 89 million Euros in claims against all of RPTC's assets. In September 2017, the management of RPTC filed for bankruptcy in Germany. In January 2018, the final insolvency proceedings commenced, and upon finalization of bankruptcy proceedings, the Company believes it is probable it will recover the outstanding senior secured debt balance and trade accounts receivable, net. At both March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , the Company had $4.5 million in trade receivables, net, from RPTC, which does not include any unbilled receivables. Georgia Proton Treatment Center ("GPTC") Security In July 2017 and July 2018, the Company purchased a total of $16.1 million in Senior Capital Appreciation Bonds ("Senior Bonds"), which financed the GPTC. In September 2018, the Company sold $8.5 million , including accrued interest, of its current carrying value of its Senior Bonds for $8.3 million in cash. The Senior Bonds carry an interest rate of 8.0% per annum with interest accruing up to the Senior Bonds face amount of $11.3 million on January 1, 2023 and then will pay cash interest semi-annually. The Company is scheduled, based upon the original terms, to start receiving annual principal payments on the Senior Bonds beginning on January 1, 2024. The Senior Bonds will mature on January 1, 2028. In addition to the Senior Bonds, the Company had $5.5 million and $12.5 million as of March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , respectively, in trade and unbilled receivables, which included $5.3 million and $11.7 million , respectively, in unbilled receivables from GPTC. New York Proton Center ("NYPC") Loan In July 2015, the Company committed to loan up to $91.5 million to MM Proton I, LLC. In June 2016, the Company assigned $73.0 million of this loan to Deutsche Bank AG. The remaining balance is comprised of an $18.5 million “Subordinate Loan” with a six-and-a-half-year term at up to 13.5% interest. The principal balance and accrued interest on the Subordinate Loan are due in full at maturity in January 2022. In addition to the outstanding loan, the Company had $24.0 million and $24.1 million as of March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , respectively, in unbilled receivables from NYPC. Maryland Proton Treatment Center ("MPTC") Securities In August 2018, MPTC refinanced its then outstanding subordinated debt, including accrued interest, and notes receivable balances. As part of the refinancing, in exchange for its then outstanding subordinated loan, the Company received $22.9 million in Subordinate Revenue Bonds ("MPTC Series B-2 Bonds") that carry an interest rate of 8.5% per annum with interest accruing up to the MPTC Series B-2 Bonds face amount of $33.9 million until January 1, 2022 and then will pay cash interest semi-annually. The MPTC Series B-2 Bonds will mature on January 1, 2049. In exchange for its outstanding notes receivable, the Company also received $6.0 million in cash and $25.0 million in Subordinate Revenue Bonds ("MPTC Series B-1 Bonds") that carry an interest rate of 7.5% with interest accruing up to the MPTC Series B-1 Bonds face amount of $32.0 million on January 1, 2022 and then will pay cash interest semi-annually. The MPTC Series B-1 Bonds will mature on January 1, 2048. The MPTC Series B-1 Bonds are senior in right and time to the MPTC Series B-2 Bonds. At March 29, 2019 , the Company had zero net trade and unbilled receivables from MPTC. At September 28, 2018 , the Company had $0.5 million in trade receivables, net, from MPTC. Variable Interest Entities The Company has determined that MM Proton I, LLC and RPTC are variable interest entities and that the Company holds a significant variable interest of each of the entities through its participation in the loan facilities and its agreements to supply and service the proton therapy equipment. The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of any of these entities. The Company has no voting rights, has no approval authority or veto rights for these centers' budget, and does not have the power to direct patient recruitment, clinical operations and management of these Centers, which the Company believes are the matters that most significantly affect their economic performance. The Company’s exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with MM Proton I, LLC and RPTC is limited to the carrying amounts of the above-mentioned assets on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. California Proton Therapy Center ("CPTC") Loans and Investment Between September 2011 and November 2015, the Company, ORIX and J.P. Morgan (the "Lenders”) funded loans (“Original CPTC Loans”) to the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, California. ORIX is the loan agent. In March 2017, California Proton Treatment Center, LLC ("Original CPTC") filed for bankruptcy and concurrently entered into a Debtor-in-Possession facility (the "DIP Facility") with the Lenders where the Company's pro-rata share of the DIP Facility was $7.3 million . In September 2017, the Lenders and Scripps signed a Transition Agreement to transition the operations of the center from Scripps to Proton Doctors Professional Corporation. As a result of these events, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $51.4 million to its Original CPTC Loans in fiscal year 2017. Pursuant to an order of the Bankruptcy Court, the California Proton Treatment Center ("Original CPTC") conducted an auction of the Scripps Proton Therapy Center. On December 6, 2017 (“Closing Date”), the Bankruptcy Court approved the sale of Scripps Proton Therapy Center to California Proton Therapy Center, LLC (“CPTC”), an entity owned by the Lenders. The Lenders purchased all assets and assumed $112.0 million of Original CPTC’s outstanding liabilities. On December 13, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court dismissed the bankruptcy filing of Original CPTC. On the Closing Date, the Lenders entered into a Credit Agreement with Original CPTC of which the terms of the Original CPTC Loans, DIP Facility and accrued interest (collectively “Former Loans”) have been modified. In addition to the partially satisfied Original CPTC Loans reinstated by the Bankruptcy Court, the Company received a 47.08% equity ownership in CPTC. Original CPTC has assigned all its Former Loans to CPTC at an amount of $112.0 million , the partially satisfied loan balance. Per the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company's portion of the $112.0 million is $53.5 million ; the remainder is allocated between ORIX and J.P. Morgan. The $53.5 million is composed of four tranches: Tranche A of $2.0 million , Tranche B of $7.2 million , Tranche C of $15.6 million , and Tranche D of $28.7 million (collectively the "Term Loan"). The maturity date of the Term Loan is three years from the Closing Date. The Term Loan is secured by the assets of CPTC. In addition, the Lenders have committed to lend up to $15.0 million in a Revolving Loan with a maturity date of one year from the Closing Date. In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, as provided in the initial agreement, the Lenders granted a one year extension to the term of the Revolving Loan. The Company's share of the funding commitment from the Revolving Loan is $7.2 million , and as of March 29, 2019 , the Company has funded $4.7 million . All of the tranches accrue paid-in-kind interest at 7.5% per annum, except the Tranche B and the Revolving Loan, which accrue paid-in-kind interest at 10% per annum. The seniority of these loans is as follows: Revolving Loan, Tranche A, Tranche B, Tranche C and Tranche D. If CPTC is in default, the interest rate of the Tranche A, C and D will increase to 9.5% and the interest rate on the Tranche B and the Revolving Loan will increase to 12.0% . Considering Original CPTC’s financial difficulties, the modification of the original terms of the Former Loans, and the Lenders agreement to grant a concession on the Original CPTC Loans, the Company classified the transaction above as a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). The Company does not have any unamortized fees from the Former Loans and any prepayment penalties. The Company, using a discounted cash flow approach, determined that the fair value of CPTC's equity as of Closing Date was $20.1 million . The Company's 47.08% ownership percentage amounts to a $9.5 million equity interest in CPTC. Since the common stock received was in addition to a loan receivable partially satisfied through the bankruptcy proceedings, in accordance with the TDR accounting guidance, the Company recorded the equity interest at fair value and as an offset to the reinstated loan balance. The equity investment in CPTC was accounted for under the equity method of accounting, and the Company accounted for its equity method share of the income or loss of CPTC on a quarter lag basis. In March 2019, the Company sold its equity interest, with a carrying value of zero, in CPTC for a nominal amount. Therefore, beginning in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company no longer records losses related to the CPTC equity investment. As of March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , the Company had recorded $1.7 million and $1.8 million , respectively, in trade receivables, net, from CPTC.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT INFORMATION	SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company has two reportable operating segments: Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions. The operating segments were determined based on how the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), views and evaluates the Company’s operations. The CODM allocates resources to and evaluates the financial performance of each operating segment primarily based on operating earnings. Description of Segments The Oncology Systems segment designs, manufactures, sells and services hardware and software products for treating cancer with conventional radiation therapy, and advanced treatments such as fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy (“IMRT”), image-guided radiation therapy (“IGRT”), volumetric modulated arc therapy ("VMAT"), stereotactic radiosurgery (“SRS”), stereotactic body radiotherapy (“SBRT”) and brachytherapy as well as associated quality assurance equipment. Products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software, information management, treatment planning and image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support and practice management software. Oncology Systems’ products enable radiation oncology departments in hospitals and clinics to perform conventional radiotherapy treatments and offer advanced treatments such as IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT, as well as to treat patients using brachytherapy techniques, which involve temporarily implanting radioactive sources. The Company’s Oncology Systems products are also used by surgeons and radiation oncologists to perform stereotactic radiosurgery and by medical oncology departments to manage chemotherapy treatments. Oncology Systems’ customers worldwide include university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians’ offices and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment develops, designs, manufactures, sells and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy, a form of external beam radiotherapy using proton beams for the treatment of cancer. The following information is provided for the purpose of achieving an understanding of operations but may not be indicative of the financial results of the reported segments were they independent organizations. In addition, comparisons of the Company’s operations to similar operations of other companies may not be meaningful. The Company allocates corporate costs to its operating segments based on the relative revenues of Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions. The Company allocates these costs excluding certain corporate related costs, transactions or adjustments that the Company's CODM considers to be non-operational, such as restructuring and impairment charges, significant litigation charges or benefits and legal costs, and acquisition-related expenses and benefits. Although the Company excludes these amounts from segment operating earnings, they are included in the condensed consolidated operating earnings and included in the reconciliation below. The following table summarizes select financial results for each reportable segment: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Revenues Oncology Systems $ 746.8 $ 698.0 $ 1,449.3 $ 1,347.4 Proton Solutions 32.6 31.9 71.1 61.0 Total Company $ 779.4 $ 729.9 $ 1,520.4 $ 1,408.4 Earnings before taxes Oncology Systems $ 131.7 $ 143.1 $ 255.8 $ 281.3 Proton Solutions (20.0 ) (17.5 ) (28.8 ) (32.7 ) Total reportable segments 111.7 125.6 227.0 248.6 Unallocated corporate (1.9 ) (16.5 ) (5.5 ) (17.9 ) Operating earnings 109.8 109.1 221.5 230.7 Interest income, net 3.0 1.3 5.7 2.4 Other income (expense), net 0.2 (14.8 ) 23.2 (15.0 ) Total Company $ 113.0 $ 95.6 $ 250.4 $ 218.1 Disaggregation of Revenues The Company disaggregates its revenues from contracts by major product categories and by geographic region for each of its reportable operating segments, as the Company believes this best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. See details in the tables below. Revenues by Product Type Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Hardware $ 339.1 $ 27.9 $ 367.0 $ 652.7 $ 61.5 $ 714.2 Software (1) 144.2 — 144.2 275.4 — 275.4 Service 263.5 4.7 268.2 521.2 9.6 530.8 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Hardware $ 311.6 $ 30.1 $ 341.7 $ 604.7 $ 57.4 $ 662.1 Software (1) 126.7 — 126.7 241.8 — 241.8 Service 259.7 1.8 261.5 500.9 3.6 504.5 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4 (1) Includes software support agreements that are recorded in revenues from service, and software licenses that are recorded in revenues from product in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss). Revenues by Geographical Region Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Americas $ 357.1 $ 14.2 $ 371.3 $ 687.9 $ 33.8 $ 721.7 EMEA 245.3 16.2 261.5 479.8 32.7 512.5 APAC 144.4 2.2 146.6 281.6 4.6 286.2 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 North America (1) $ 329.2 $ 14.2 $ 343.4 $ 638.3 $ 33.8 $ 672.1 International 417.6 18.4 436.0 811.0 37.3 848.3 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Americas $ 321.2 $ 19.0 $ 340.2 $ 658.6 $ 38.3 $ 696.9 EMEA 241.2 12.6 253.8 424.7 22.1 446.8 APAC 135.6 0.3 135.9 264.1 0.6 264.7 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4 North America (1) $ 299.6 $ 19.0 $ 318.6 $ 625.9 $ 38.3 $ 664.2 International 398.4 12.9 411.3 721.5 22.7 744.2 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4 (1) North America primarily includes United Statements and Canada. Timing of Revenue Recognition Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Products transferred at a point in time $ 402.6 $ — $ 402.6 $ 769.2 $ — $ 769.2 Products and services transferred over time 344.2 32.6 376.8 680.1 71.1 751.2 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Products transferred at a point in time $ 363.7 $ — $ 363.7 $ 702.0 $ — $ 702.0 Products and services transferred over time 334.3 31.9 366.2 645.4 61.0 706.4 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;padding-top:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">SUBSEQUENT EVENTS</font></div></div>

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN_2

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2018 (the “ 2018 Annual Report”). In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements herein include adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 29, 2019 , and September 28, 2018 , results of operations and statements of comprehensive earnings (loss) for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 , statements of cash flows for the six months ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 , and statements of equity for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018 . The results of operations for the six months ended March 29, 2019
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year The fiscal years of the Company as reported are the 52- or 53-week periods ending on the Friday nearest September 30. Fiscal year 2019 is the 52-week period ending September 27, 2019 . Fiscal year 2018 was the 52-week period that ended on September 28, 2018 . The fiscal quarters ended March 29, 2019 , and March 30, 2018
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of ConsolidationThe condensed consolidated financial statements include those of VMS and its wholly-owned and majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. Intercompany balances, transactions and stock holdings have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	Use of EstimatesThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") guidance on which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The Company adopted this amendment prospectively, and it did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance on the accounting related to defined benefit plans and other post-retirement benefits. This amendment requires the service cost component of net periodic pension and post-retirement benefit cost to be presented in the same line item as other employee compensation costs, while the other components must be presented separately as other income (expense), net. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flow. The amendment requires entities to include restricted cash in cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the amendment retrospectively, and prior period amounts on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows have been recast to conform with the current period presentation as shown in the reconciliation provided below. See Note 3, "Other Financial Information," for a reconciliation of the cash balances within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Six Months Ended March 30, 2018 (In millions) As Previously Reported Adjustments As Adjusted Cash used in investing activities $ (55.1 ) $ 0.1 $ (55.0 ) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period $ 716.2 $ 2.3 $ 718.5 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 739.9 $ 2.4 $ 742.3 In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance for tax accounting for intra-entity asset transfers. The amendment removes the prohibition against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 10, "Income Taxes," for more information about the impact of the adoption. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the FASB guidance related to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. The amendment was issued to reduce the diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the amendment retrospectively, and it did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective	Recent Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective In November 2018, the FASB amended its guidance to clarify revenue accounting for collaborative arrangements. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 and will be applied retrospectively to the date of the initial application of ASC 606. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In October 2018, the FASB amended its guidance which will add the Overnight Index Swap rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB amended its guidance for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement and aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This new standard also requires customers to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement. This new standard becomes effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, with early adoption permitted. This new standard can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance which changed the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, adding and modifying certain disclosures. The standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB amended its guidance that will allow companies to reclassify disproportionate tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to retained earnings. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued an amendment to its accounting guidance related to the impairment of financial instruments. The amendment adds a new impairment model that is based on expected losses, rather than incurred losses. The amendment will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of fiscal year 2021 with early adoption permitted beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN_3

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Classification and Presentation of Restricted Cash in the Statement of Cash Flows	Six Months Ended March 30, 2018 (In millions) As Previously Reported Adjustments As Adjusted Cash used in investing activities $ (55.1 ) $ 0.1 $ (55.0 ) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period $ 716.2 $ 2.3 $ 718.5 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 739.9 $ 2.4 $ 742.3

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Ta

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Unbilled Accounts Receivable and Deferred Revenues from Contracts with Customers:	The following table provides the Company's unbilled receivables and deferred revenues from contracts with customers: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Unbilled receivables - current $ 333.6 $ 362.8 Unbilled receivables - long-term (1) 60.5 36.3 Deferred revenues - current (757.9 ) (729.7 ) Deferred revenues - long-term (2) (65.7 ) (38.6 ) Total net unbilled receivables (deferred revenues) $ (429.5 ) $ (369.2 ) (1) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2)
Schedule of Unfulfilled Performance Obligations	The following table represents the Company's unfulfilled performance obligations as of March 29, 2019 , and the estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to these unfulfilled performance obligations: Fiscal Years of Revenue Recognition (In millions) Remainder of 2019 2020 2021 Thereafter Unfulfilled Performance Obligations $ 1,143.7 $ 2,287.3 $ 854.6 $ 2,195.7
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:	The following table summarizes the Company's cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Cash and cash equivalents $ 546.3 $ 504.8 Restricted cash - current (1) 4.0 3.1 Restricted cash - long-term (2) 8.6 8.5 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 558.9 $ 516.4 (1) Included in prepaid and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2)
Inventories:	The following table summarizes the Company's inventories: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Raw materials and parts $ 331.0 $ 304.1 Work-in-process 67.0 50.6 Finished goods 80.0 83.4 Total inventories $ 478.0 $ 438.1
Other long-term liabilities:	The following table summarizes the Company's other long-term liabilities: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Long-term income taxes payable $ 181.2 $ 189.1 Deferred income taxes 29.0 31.4 Long-term deferred revenues 65.7 38.6 Other 55.4 65.2 Total other long-term liabilities $ 331.3 $ 324.3
Other Income (Expense), Net:	The following table summarizes the Company's other income (expense), net: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Gain (loss) on sale of equity investments $ (0.2 ) $ — $ 21.8 $ — Loss on hedges related to acquisition-related activities — (16.4 ) — (16.4 ) Net foreign currency exchange gain (loss) (0.5 ) (0.2 ) 0.8 0.2 Other 0.9 1.8 0.6 1.2 Total other income (expense), net $ 0.2 $ (14.8 ) $ 23.2 $ (15.0 )

FAIR VALUE (Tables)

FAIR VALUE (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	In the tables below, the Company has segregated all assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date. Fair Value Measurement Using Quoted Prices in Significant Significant Total Type of Instruments (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Balance (In millions) Assets at March 29, 2019: Cash equivalents: Money market funds $ 4.0 $ — $ — $ 4.0 Available-for-sale securities: (1) MPTC Series B-1 Bonds — 26.1 — 26.1 MPTC Series B-2 Bonds — 24.1 — 24.1 APTC securities — 6.3 — 6.3 GPTC securities — 8.5 — 8.5 Total assets measured at fair value $ 4.0 $ 65.0 $ — $ 69.0 Liabilities at March 29, 2019: Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ (17.8 ) $ (17.8 ) Total liabilities measured at fair value $ — $ — $ (17.8 ) $ (17.8 ) Assets at September 28, 2018: Cash equivalents: Money market funds $ 44.1 $ — $ — $ 44.1 Available-for- sale securities: MPTC Series B-1 Bonds (2) — 25.1 — 25.1 MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1) — 23.1 — 23.1 APTC securities (2) — 6.4 — 6.4 GPTC securities (2) — 7.9 — 7.9 Total assets measured at fair value $ 44.1 $ 62.5 $ — $ 106.6 Liabilities at September 28, 2018: Contingent consideration $ — $ — $ (24.4 ) $ (24.4 ) Total liabilities measured at fair value $ — $ — $ (24.4 ) $ (24.4 ) (1) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2)
Reconciliation for Assets Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	The following table presents the reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): (In millions) Contingent Balance at September 28, 2018 $ (24.4 ) Business combination (5.3 ) Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year 11.9 Balance at March 29, 2019 $ (17.8 )

RECEIVABLES (Tables)

RECEIVABLES (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
Schedule of Trade and Unbilled Receivables, Net and Notes Receivable	The following table summarizes the Company's trade and unbilled receivables, net and notes receivable: (In millions) March 29, September 28, Trade and unbilled receivables, gross $ 1,139.6 $ 1,093.0 Allowance for doubtful accounts (43.9 ) (41.1 ) Trade and unbilled receivables, net $ 1,095.7 $ 1,051.9 Short-term $ 1,029.2 $ 1,009.9 Long-term (1) $ 66.5 $ 42.0 Notes receivable $ 31.6 $ 29.8 Short-term (2) $ — $ 0.1 Long-term (1) (3) $ 31.6 $ 29.7 (1) Included in other assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (3)

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Activity of Goodwill by Reportable Operating Segment	The following table reflects the activity of goodwill by reportable operating segment: (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Balance at September 28, 2018 $ 242.1 $ 51.5 $ 293.6 Business combination 22.0 — 22.0 Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year (4.7 ) — (4.7 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments — (1.6 ) (1.6 ) Balance at March 29, 2019 $ 259.4 $ 49.9 $ 309.3
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	The following table reflects the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company's intangible assets: March 29, 2019 September 28, 2018 (In millions) Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Technologies and patents $ 136.2 $ (76.8 ) $ 59.4 $ 139.6 $ (73.9 ) $ 65.7 Customer contracts and supplier relationship 44.4 (22.0 ) 22.4 44.9 (19.1 ) 25.8 Other 6.1 (5.9 ) 0.2 6.6 (5.8 ) 0.8 Total intangible with finite lives 186.7 (104.7 ) 82.0 191.1 (98.8 ) 92.3 In-process research and development with indefinite lives 8.8 — 8.8 8.8 — 8.8 Total intangible assets $ 195.5 $ (104.7 ) $ 90.8 $ 199.9 $ (98.8 ) $ 101.1
Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets	The following table reflects the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company's intangible assets: March 29, 2019 September 28, 2018 (In millions) Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Technologies and patents $ 136.2 $ (76.8 ) $ 59.4 $ 139.6 $ (73.9 ) $ 65.7 Customer contracts and supplier relationship 44.4 (22.0 ) 22.4 44.9 (19.1 ) 25.8 Other 6.1 (5.9 ) 0.2 6.6 (5.8 ) 0.8 Total intangible with finite lives 186.7 (104.7 ) 82.0 191.1 (98.8 ) 92.3 In-process research and development with indefinite lives 8.8 — 8.8 8.8 — 8.8 Total intangible assets $ 195.5 $ (104.7 ) $ 90.8 $ 199.9 $ (98.8 ) $ 101.1
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	As of March 29, 2019 , the Company estimates its remaining amortization expense for intangible assets with finite lives will be as follows (in millions): Fiscal Years: Remaining Amortization Expense Remainder of 2019 $ 10.4 2020 18.8 2021 15.2 2022 14.1 2023 13.4 Thereafter 10.1 Total remaining amortization for intangible assets $ 82.0

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HE_2

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Effect of Cash Flow Hedge Accounting on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)	The effect of cash flow hedge accounting on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) was as follows: Location and Amount Recognized in Earnings on Cash Flow Hedging Relationships Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 30, 2018 March 30, 2018 (In millions) Revenues Revenues Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) in which the effects of fair value and cash flow hedges are recorded $ 729.9 $ 1,408.4 Loss on cash flow hedge relationships: Foreign currency forward contracts: Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings (loss) $ (1.0 ) $ (0.9 )
Schedule of Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Positions	The Company had the following outstanding foreign currency forward contracts relating to balance sheet hedging activities: March 29, 2019 (In millions) Notional Notional Australian Dollar $ 28.8 $ — Brazilian Real 10.4 — British Pound 32.7 0.7 Chinese Yuan — 12.6 Canadian Dollar 4.0 — Euro 209.2 8.2 Hungarian Forint 4.3 0.8 Indian Rupee 20.5 — Japanese Yen 69.7 — New Zealand Dollar 1.4 — Polish Zloty 15.4 — South African Rand 15.3 — Swedish Krona 7.9 — Swiss Franc — 66.6 Taiwan Dollar 16.6 — Thai Baht 3.9 — Totals $ 440.1 $ 88.9
Gains (Losses) Related to Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts that are Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	The following table presents the gains (losses) recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) related to the foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings on Derivative Instruments Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings (Loss) on Derivative Instruments Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Other income (expense), net $ 3.6 $ (7.5 ) $ 6.4 $ (12.2 )

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued Product Warranty	The following table reflects the changes in the Company’s accrued product warranty: Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, Accrued product warranty, at beginning of period $ 44.8 $ 41.3 Charged to cost of revenues 27.7 26.3 Actual product warranty expenditures (25.7 ) (26.5 ) Accrued product warranty, at end of period $ 46.8 $ 41.1

RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)

RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Schedule of Net Defined Benefit Costs	The components of net defined benefit costs were as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Defined Benefit Plans Service cost $ 1.8 $ 1.7 $ 3.6 $ 3.3 Interest cost 1.0 0.8 1.9 1.6 Expected return on plan assets (1.6 ) (2.0 ) (3.2 ) (4.0 ) Amortization of prior service cost (0.2 ) (0.2 ) (0.4 ) (0.3 ) Recognized actuarial loss 0.5 0.7 1.1 1.4 Net periodic benefit cost $ 1.5 $ 1.0 $ 3.0 $ 2.0

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Share Repurchases	The Company repurchased shares of VMS common stock during the periods presented as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions, except per share amounts) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Number of shares 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.8 Average repurchase price per share $ 120.89 $ 110.52 $ 115.71 $ 109.06 Total cost $ 50.8 $ 36.0 $ 85.6 $ 92.7
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) and Related Tax Effects	The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component and related tax effects are summarized as follows: (In millions) Net Unrealized Gains Cumulative Accumulated Balance at September 28, 2018 $ (35.2 ) $ (30.1 ) $ (65.3 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications — (7.1 ) (7.1 ) Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings 0.7 — 0.7 Tax expense (0.1 ) — (0.1 ) Balance at March 29, 2019 $ (34.6 ) $ (37.2 ) $ (71.8 ) (In millions) Net Unrealized Gains Net Cumulative Accumulated Balance at September 29, 2017 $ (44.1 ) $ — $ (24.7 ) $ (68.8 ) Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications — (0.9 ) 9.7 8.8 Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings (loss) 0.9 0.9 — 1.8 Tax expense (0.2 ) — — (0.2 ) Balance at March 30, 2018 $ (43.4 ) $ — $ (15.0 ) $ (58.4 )
Schedule of Amounts Reclassified Out of Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)	The amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings (loss) into the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss), with line item location, during each period were as follows: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) Components Loss Before Taxes Loss Before Taxes Line Item in Statements of Earnings (Loss) Unrealized loss on defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans $ (0.3 ) $ (0.5 ) $ (0.7 ) $ (0.9 ) Other income (expense), net Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging instruments — (1.0 ) — (0.9 ) Revenues Total amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings (loss) $ (0.3 ) $ (1.5 ) $ (0.7 ) $ (1.8 )

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS (Tables)

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation Expense	The table below summarizes the share-based compensation expense recognized for employee stock awards and employee stock purchase plan shares: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Cost of revenues - Product $ 0.8 $ 0.8 $ 1.5 $ 1.5 Cost of revenues - Service 1.0 1.0 2.1 2.0 Research and development 1.1 1.2 2.2 2.4 Selling, general and administrative 9.6 7.5 17.2 15.3 Total share-based compensation expense $ 12.5 $ 10.5 $ 23.0 $ 21.2 Income tax benefit for share-based compensation $ (2.2 ) $ (2.6 ) $ (4.5 ) $ (4.7 )
Fair Value of Employee Stock Option Plans With Weighted Average Assumptions	The fair value of options granted was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted average assumptions: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Employee Stock Option Plans Expected term (in years) 3.76 3.83 3.76 3.83 Risk-free interest rate 2.5 % 2.4 % 2.6 % 2.2 % Expected volatility 23.6 % 19.2 % 23.1 % 19.0 % Expected dividend — % — % — % — % Weighted average fair value at grant date $ 29.16 $ 21.48 $ 27.85 $ 20.73
Option Component of ESPP Shares with Weighted Average Assumptions	The option component of employee stock purchase plan shares was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model with the following weighted average assumptions: Six Months Ended March 29, March 30, Employee Stock Purchase Plan Expected term (in years) 0.50 0.50 Risk-free interest rate 2.5 % 1.2 % Expected volatility 18.6 % 17.9 % Expected dividend — % — % Weighted average fair value at grant date $ 22.82 $ 20.97
Activity Under Employee Stock Plans	Activity under the Company’s employee stock plans related to stock options is presented below: Options Outstanding (In millions, except per share amounts) Number of Weighted Weighted Aggregate (1) Balance at September 28, 2018 2.3 $ 85.82 Granted 0.5 126.45 Cancelled or expired (2) — 99.68 Exercised (0.5 ) 74.12 Balance at March 29, 2019 2.3 $ 96.77 5.0 $ 103.5 Exercisable at March 29, 2019 1.1 $ 79.36 3.8 $ 69.4 (1) The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value, which is computed based on the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of VMS common stock of $141.72 as of March 29, 2019 , the last trading date of the second quarter of fiscal year 2019 , and which represents the amount that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options and sold the shares received upon exercise as of that date. (2)
Activity for Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units and Performance Units	The activity for restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance units is summarized as follows: (In millions, except per share amounts) Number of Weighted Average Balance at September 28, 2018 0.8 $ 89.17 Granted 0.3 127.05 Vested (0.3 ) 81.50 Cancelled or expired (0.1 ) 82.14 Balance at March 29, 2019 0.7 $ 108.24

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions, except per share amounts) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Net earnings (loss) $ 88.4 $ 73.2 $ 192.3 $ (39.0 ) Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (0.2 ) — 0.5 0.1 Net earnings (loss) attributable to Varian $ 88.6 $ 73.2 $ 191.8 $ (39.1 ) Denominator: Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 91.0 91.5 91.0 91.6 Dilutive effect of potential common shares 0.9 1.1 1.0 — Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 91.9 92.6 92.0 91.6 Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Varian - basic $ 0.97 $ 0.80 $ 2.11 $ (0.43 ) Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Varian - diluted $ 0.96 $ 0.79 $ 2.09 $ (0.43 ) Anti-dilutive employee share-based awards, excluded 0.5 0.6 1.0 3.2

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND IN_2

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVESTMENTS (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
Schedule of Loans and Investments to Fund PT Centers	The following table lists the Company's notes receivable including accrued interest, senior secured debt, available-for-sale securities, loans outstanding and future commitments for funding the development, construction and operation of various proton therapy centers: March 29, 2019 September 28, 2018 (In millions) Balance Commitment Balance Commitment Notes Receivable and Secured Debt: NYPC loan (1) $ 29.9 $ — $ 28.0 $ — RPTC senior secured debt (2) 24.2 — 24.9 — Proton International LLC loan (1) 1.7 — 1.7 — $ 55.8 $ — $ 54.6 $ — Available-For-Sale Securities: MPTC Series B-1 Bonds (3) $ 26.1 $ — $ 25.1 $ — MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1) 24.1 — 23.1 — GPTC securities (3) 8.5 — 7.9 — APTC securities (3) 6.3 — 6.4 — $ 65.0 $ — $ 62.5 $ — CPTC Loans and Investment: Short-term revolving loan (2) $ 4.7 $ 2.5 $ 3.7 $ 3.5 Term loan (1) 44.0 — 44.0 — Equity investment in CPTC (1) — — 2.2 — $ 48.7 $ 2.5 $ 49.9 $ 3.5 (1) Included in other assets at March 29, 2019 and September 28, 2018 , on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (2) Included in prepaid and other current assets on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. (3) Included in other assets at March 29, 2019 and prepaid and other current assets at September 28, 2018 , on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Operating Results Information for Each Business Segment	The following table summarizes select financial results for each reportable segment: Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) March 29, March 30, March 29, March 30, Revenues Oncology Systems $ 746.8 $ 698.0 $ 1,449.3 $ 1,347.4 Proton Solutions 32.6 31.9 71.1 61.0 Total Company $ 779.4 $ 729.9 $ 1,520.4 $ 1,408.4 Earnings before taxes Oncology Systems $ 131.7 $ 143.1 $ 255.8 $ 281.3 Proton Solutions (20.0 ) (17.5 ) (28.8 ) (32.7 ) Total reportable segments 111.7 125.6 227.0 248.6 Unallocated corporate (1.9 ) (16.5 ) (5.5 ) (17.9 ) Operating earnings 109.8 109.1 221.5 230.7 Interest income, net 3.0 1.3 5.7 2.4 Other income (expense), net 0.2 (14.8 ) 23.2 (15.0 ) Total Company $ 113.0 $ 95.6 $ 250.4 $ 218.1
Schedule of Disaggregation of Revenue	The Company disaggregates its revenues from contracts by major product categories and by geographic region for each of its reportable operating segments, as the Company believes this best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. See details in the tables below. Revenues by Product Type Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Hardware $ 339.1 $ 27.9 $ 367.0 $ 652.7 $ 61.5 $ 714.2 Software (1) 144.2 — 144.2 275.4 — 275.4 Service 263.5 4.7 268.2 521.2 9.6 530.8 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Hardware $ 311.6 $ 30.1 $ 341.7 $ 604.7 $ 57.4 $ 662.1 Software (1) 126.7 — 126.7 241.8 — 241.8 Service 259.7 1.8 261.5 500.9 3.6 504.5 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4 (1) Includes software support agreements that are recorded in revenues from service, and software licenses that are recorded in revenues from product in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss). Revenues by Geographical Region Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Americas $ 357.1 $ 14.2 $ 371.3 $ 687.9 $ 33.8 $ 721.7 EMEA 245.3 16.2 261.5 479.8 32.7 512.5 APAC 144.4 2.2 146.6 281.6 4.6 286.2 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 North America (1) $ 329.2 $ 14.2 $ 343.4 $ 638.3 $ 33.8 $ 672.1 International 417.6 18.4 436.0 811.0 37.3 848.3 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Americas $ 321.2 $ 19.0 $ 340.2 $ 658.6 $ 38.3 $ 696.9 EMEA 241.2 12.6 253.8 424.7 22.1 446.8 APAC 135.6 0.3 135.9 264.1 0.6 264.7 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4 North America (1) $ 299.6 $ 19.0 $ 318.6 $ 625.9 $ 38.3 $ 664.2 International 398.4 12.9 411.3 721.5 22.7 744.2 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4 (1) North America primarily includes United Statements and Canada. Timing of Revenue Recognition Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Products transferred at a point in time $ 402.6 $ — $ 402.6 $ 769.2 $ — $ 769.2 Products and services transferred over time 344.2 32.6 376.8 680.1 71.1 751.2 Total Revenues $ 746.8 $ 32.6 $ 779.4 $ 1,449.3 $ 71.1 $ 1,520.4 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In millions) Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Oncology Systems Proton Solutions Total Products transferred at a point in time $ 363.7 $ — $ 363.7 $ 702.0 $ — $ 702.0 Products and services transferred over time 334.3 31.9 366.2 645.4 61.0 706.4 Total Revenues $ 698.0 $ 31.9 $ 729.9 $ 1,347.4 $ 61.0 $ 1,408.4

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUN_4

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Adjustments from Amounts Previously Reported (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cash used in investing activities	$ (34.6)	$ (55)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	516.4	718.5
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$ 558.9	742.3
Adjustments
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cash used in investing activities		0.1
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period		2.3
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period		2.4
As Previously Reported
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cash used in investing activities		(55.1)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period		716.2
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period		$ 739.9

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Details)

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price			$ 28.5
Goodwill acquired			22
Finite-lived intangible assets	$ 6.5		6.5
Measurement period adjustment to reduce FV of purchase price consideration			(9.6)
Measurement period adjustment to decrease finite-lived intangible assets			(5.4)
Measurement period adjustment to decrease goodwill			(4.7)
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes	0		0
Acquisition-related expenses	$ 2.2	$ 3.3	$ 4.6	$ 4.8

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - U

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Unbilled Receivables and Deferred Revenues from Contracts with Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Sep. 28, 2018
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Unbilled receivables - current	$ 333.6		$ 333.6		$ 362.8
Unbilled receivables - long-term (1)	60.5		60.5		36.3
Deferred revenues - current	(757.9)		(757.9)		(729.7)
Deferred revenues - long-term (2)	(65.7)		(65.7)		(38.6)
Total net unbilled receivables (deferred revenues)	(429.5)		(429.5)		$ (369.2)
Decrease in unbilled receivables net of deferred revenues			(60.3)
Recognized revenue included in deferred revenue balance	$ 124.4	$ 107.4	$ 337.8	$ 300.5

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION -_2

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Unfulfilled Performance Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2019-03-30
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Unfulfilled Performance Obligations	$ 1,143.7
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2019-09-28
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Unfulfilled Performance Obligations	2,287.3
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2020-10-03
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Unfulfilled Performance Obligations	$ 854.6
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-10-02
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Unfulfilled Performance Obligations		$ 2,195.7

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - C

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018	Mar. 30, 2018	Sep. 29, 2017
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 546.3	$ 504.8
Restricted cash - current (1)	4	3.1
Restricted cash - long-term (2)	8.6	8.5
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 558.9	$ 516.4	$ 742.3	$ 718.5

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION -_3

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Components of Inventories (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Raw materials and parts	$ 331	$ 304.1
Work-in-process	67	50.6
Finished goods	80	83.4
Total inventories	$ 478	$ 438.1

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION -_4

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Components of Other Long-Term Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Long-term income taxes payable	$ 181.2	$ 189.1
Deferred income taxes	29	31.4
Long-term deferred revenues	65.7	38.6
Other	55.4	65.2
Total other long-term liabilities	$ 331.3	$ 324.3

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - O

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Other Income (Expense), Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Other Financial Information [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on sale of equity investments	$ (0.2)	$ 0	$ 21.8	$ 0
Loss on hedges related to acquisition-related activities	0	(16.4)	0	(16.4)
Net foreign currency exchange gain (loss)	(0.5)	(0.2)	0.8	0.2
Other	0.9	1.8	0.6	1.2
Total other income (expense), net	$ 0.2	$ (14.8)	$ 23.2	$ (15)

FAIR VALUE - Assets and Liabili

FAIR VALUE - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	$ 65	$ 62.5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Total assets measured at fair value	69	106.6
Contingent consideration	(17.8)	(24.4)
Total liabilities measured at fair value	(17.8)	(24.4)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | MPTC Series B-1 Bonds
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	26.1	25.1
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1)
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	24.1	23.1
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | APTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	6.3	6.4
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | GPTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	8.5	7.9
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Total assets measured at fair value	4	44.1
Contingent consideration	0	0
Total liabilities measured at fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments | MPTC Series B-1 Bonds
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments | MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1)
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments | APTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments | GPTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Total assets measured at fair value	65	62.5
Contingent consideration	0	0
Total liabilities measured at fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs | MPTC Series B-1 Bonds
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	26.1	25.1
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs | MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1)
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	24.1	23.1
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs | APTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	6.3	6.4
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs | GPTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	8.5	7.9
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Total assets measured at fair value	0	0
Contingent consideration	(17.8)	(24.4)
Total liabilities measured at fair value	(17.8)	(24.4)
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs | MPTC Series B-1 Bonds
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs | MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1)
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs | APTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs | GPTC Securities
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale securities	0	0
Money Market Funds | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Cash equivalents	4	44.1
Money Market Funds | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Cash equivalents	4	44.1
Money Market Funds | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Cash equivalents	0	0
Money Market Funds | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs
Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Cash equivalents	$ 0	$ 0

FAIR VALUE - Reconciliation for

FAIR VALUE - Reconciliation for Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring - Contingent Consideration $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Contingent Consideration, beginning balance	$ (24.4)
Business combination	(5.3)
Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year	11.9
Contingent Consideration, ending balance	$ (17.8)

FAIR VALUE - Additional Informa

FAIR VALUE - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity investments in privately-held companies	$ 41,100,000	$ 41,100,000	$ 37,200,000
Impairment charges or adjustments from observable price changes for equity investments without readily determinable fair value	0	0
Notes Receivable
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term	31,600,000	31,600,000	29,700,000
C P T C | Term Loan
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Modified former loans receivable	$ 44,000,000	$ 44,000,000	$ 44,000,000

RECEIVABLES (Details)

RECEIVABLES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade and unbilled receivables, gross	$ 1,139.6	$ 1,093
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(43.9)	(41.1)
Trade and unbilled receivables, net	1,095.7	1,051.9
Short-term	1,029.2	1,009.9
Long-term	66.5	42
Notes Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Notes receivable	31.6	29.8
Short-term	0	0.1
Long-term	$ 31.6	$ 29.7

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET_2

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Activity of Goodwill by Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	$ 293.6
Business combination	22
Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year	(4.7)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1.6)
Balance, ending	309.3
Oncology Systems
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	242.1
Business combination	22
Measurement period adjustment to a business combination in prior year	(4.7)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0
Balance, ending	259.4
Proton Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	51.5
Business combination	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1.6)
Balance, ending	$ 49.9

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET_3

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Gross Carrying Amount and Accumulated Amortization of Intangible Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	$ 186.7	$ 191.1
Accumulated Amortization	(104.7)	(98.8)
Net Carrying Amount	82	92.3
In-process research and development with indefinite lives	8.8	8.8
Total intangible assets	195.5	199.9
Total intangible assets, net	90.8	101.1
Technologies and patents
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	136.2	139.6
Accumulated Amortization	(76.8)	(73.9)
Net Carrying Amount	59.4	65.7
Customer contracts and supplier relationship
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	44.4	44.9
Accumulated Amortization	(22)	(19.1)
Net Carrying Amount	22.4	25.8
Other
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	6.1	6.6
Accumulated Amortization	(5.9)	(5.8)
Net Carrying Amount	$ 0.2	$ 0.8

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET_4

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense			$ 11.4	$ 10.4
Continuing Operations
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 6.7	$ 4.1	$ 11.4	$ 10.4

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSET_5

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Future Amortization Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Remainder of 2019	$ 10.4
Future amortization expense, fiscal year 2020	18.8
Future amortization expense, fiscal year 2021	15.2
Future amortization expense, fiscal year 2022	14.1
Future amortization expense, fiscal year 2023	13.4
Thereafter	10.1
Net Carrying Amount	$ 82	$ 92.3

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HE_3

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - Additional Information (Detail) - Foreign Exchange Contract - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Unrealized loss on foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges	$ (600,000)	$ (900,000)
Cash Flow Hedging | Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount			$ 0	$ 0

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HE_4

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - Effective Portion of Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019		Mar. 30, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) in which the effects of fair value and cash flow hedges are recorded	$ 779.4	$ 729.9	$ 1,520.4		$ 1,408.4
Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings (loss)	$ 0	(0.7)	$ 0	[1]	(0.6)	[1]
Revenues
Derivative [Line Items]
Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) in which the effects of fair value and cash flow hedges are recorded		729.9			1,408.4
Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings (loss)		$ (1)			$ (0.9)
[1]	Tax expense or benefit related to the periods presented are not material.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HE_5

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - Outstanding Foreign Currency Forward Contracts that Were Entered into to Hedge Balance Sheet Exposures (Detail) - Mar. 29, 2019 - Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instrument - Foreign exchange forward contracts ¥ in Millions, $ in Millions	CNY (¥)	USD ($)
Notional Value Sold
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		$ 440.1
Notional Value Sold | Australian Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		28.8
Notional Value Sold | Brazilian Real
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		10.4
Notional Value Sold | British Pound
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		32.7
Notional Value Sold | Chinese Yuan
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value | ¥	¥ 0
Notional Value Sold | Canadian Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		4
Notional Value Sold | Euro
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		209.2
Notional Value Sold | Hungarian Forint
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		4.3
Notional Value Sold | Indian Rupee
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		20.5
Notional Value Sold | Japanese Yen
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		69.7
Notional Value Sold | New Zealand Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		1.4
Notional Value Sold | Polish Zloty
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		15.4
Notional Value Sold | South African Rand
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		15.3
Notional Value Sold | Swedish Krona
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		7.9
Notional Value Sold | Swiss Franc
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Sold | Taiwan Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		16.6
Notional Value Sold | Thai Baht
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		3.9
Notional Value Purchased
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		88.9
Notional Value Purchased | Australian Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Brazilian Real
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | British Pound
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0.7
Notional Value Purchased | Chinese Yuan
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value | ¥	¥ 12.6
Notional Value Purchased | Canadian Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Euro
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		8.2
Notional Value Purchased | Hungarian Forint
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0.8
Notional Value Purchased | Indian Rupee
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Japanese Yen
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | New Zealand Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Polish Zloty
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | South African Rand
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Swedish Krona
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Swiss Franc
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		66.6
Notional Value Purchased | Taiwan Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		0
Notional Value Purchased | Thai Baht
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Value		$ 0

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HE_6

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - Gains (Losses) Related to Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts that are Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings (Loss) on Derivative Instruments	$ 0	$ (16.4)	$ 0	$ (16.4)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | Foreign exchange forward contracts | Other income (expense), net
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings (Loss) on Derivative Instruments	$ 3.6	$ (7.5)	$ 6.4	$ (12.2)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES -

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Accrued Product Warranty (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Accrued product warranty, at beginning of period	$ 44.8	$ 41.3
Charged to cost of revenues	27.7	26.3
Actual product warranty expenditures	(25.7)	(26.5)
Accrued product warranty, at end of period	$ 46.8	$ 41.1

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES_2

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail)	Oct. 16, 2018patent	Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2018USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount accrued for environmental remediation expense		$ 5,200,000	$ 5,400,000
Threatened Litigation | Best Medical International, Inc. Litigation
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed | patent	4
Estimated litigation accrual		$ 0

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES_3

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Lessor Arrangements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Lease term	15 years	15 years
Rental income	$ 2.1	$ 4.2
Equipment
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Leased equipment	19.2	19.2	$ 19.2
Accumulated depreciation	$ 2.9	$ 2.9	$ 1.3

RETIREMENT PLANS - Additional I

RETIREMENT PLANS - Additional Information (Detail)	Mar. 29, 2019plan
Foreign Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Number of plans	5

RETIREMENT PLANS - Schedule of

RETIREMENT PLANS - Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs (Detail) - Defined Benefit Plans - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 1.8	$ 1.7	$ 3.6	$ 3.3
Interest cost	1	0.8	1.9	1.6
Expected return on plan assets	(1.6)	(2)	(3.2)	(4)
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.2)	(0.2)	(0.4)	(0.3)
Recognized actuarial loss	0.5	0.7	1.1	1.4
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 1.5	$ 1	$ 3	$ 2

INCOME TAXES - Additional Infor

INCOME TAXES - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Sep. 29, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	21.70%	23.40%	23.20%	117.90%
Provisional discrete tax expense related to the one-time transition tax			$ 2.3
Cumulative discrete tax expense related to the one-time transition tax	$ 166.9		$ 166.9
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle					$ 0.2

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Addition

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Additional Information (Detail) - November 2016 - shares	Mar. 29, 2019	Nov. 30, 2016
Stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized by VMS Board of Directors to be repurchased (in shares)		8,000,000
Remaining authorization (shares)	2,900,000

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Shares R

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Shares Repurchased During Period (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Number of shares (in shares)	0.4	0.3	0.7	0.8
Average repurchase price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 120.89	$ 110.52	$ 115.71	$ 109.06
Total cost	$ 50.8	$ 36	$ 85.6	$ 92.7

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Schedule

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) and Related Tax Effects (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 1,588.7	$ 1,521.9
Balance at end of period	1,740.1	1,456.6
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Defined Benefit Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(35.2)	(44.1)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	0	0
Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings	0.7	0.9
Tax expense	(0.1)	(0.2)
Balance at end of period	(34.6)	(43.4)
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period		0
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(0.9)
Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings		0.9
Tax expense		0
Balance at end of period		0
Cumulative Translation Adjustment
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(30.1)	(24.7)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(7.1)	9.7
Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Balance at end of period	(37.2)	(15)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(65.3)	(68.8)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(7.1)	8.8
Amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive earnings	0.7	1.8
Tax expense	(0.1)	(0.2)
Balance at end of period	$ (71.8)	$ (58.4)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Schedu_2

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Schedule of Amounts Reclassified Out of Other Comprehensive Earnings (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 779.4	$ 729.9	$ 1,520.4	$ 1,408.4
Operating earnings	109.8	109.1	221.5	230.7
Unrealized loss on defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	(0.3)	(0.5)	(0.7)	(0.9)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Operating earnings	(0.3)	(1.5)	(0.7)	(1.8)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging instruments
Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 0	$ (1)	$ 0	$ (0.9)

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Net Shar

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Net Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 12.5	$ 10.5	$ 23	$ 21.2
Income tax benefit for share-based compensation	(2.2)	(2.6)	(4.5)	(4.7)
Cost of revenues - Product
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	0.8	0.8	1.5	1.5
Cost of revenues - Service
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	1	1	2.1	2
Research and development
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	1.1	1.2	2.2	2.4
Selling, general and administrative
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation expense	$ 9.6	$ 7.5	$ 17.2	$ 15.3

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Fair Val

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Fair Value with Weighted Average Assumptions (Detail) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (in years)			15 days	15 days
Risk-free interest rate			2.50%	1.20%
Expected volatility			18.60%	17.90%
Expected dividend			0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average fair value at grant date (dollars per share)			$ 22.82	$ 20.97
Employee Stock Option Plans
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (in years)	3 years 9 months 3 days	3 years 9 months 29 days	3 years 9 months 3 days	3 years 9 months 29 days
Risk-free interest rate	2.50%	2.40%	2.60%	2.20%
Expected volatility	23.60%	19.20%	23.10%	19.00%
Expected dividend	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average fair value at grant date (dollars per share)	$ 29.16	$ 21.48	$ 27.85	$ 20.73

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Addition

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)
Stock options
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to outstanding stock awards	$ 23.7
Weighted average period unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized, years	2 years 2 months 12 days
Restricted stocks, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance units
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to outstanding stock awards	$ 54.5
Weighted average period unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized, years	2 years 1 month 6 days

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Activity

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Activity Under Employee Stock Plans (Detail) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Number of Shares
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) | shares	2.3
Granted (in shares) | shares	0.5
Cancelled or expired (in shares) | shares	0
Exercised (in shares) | shares	(0.5)
Balance at end of period (in shares) | shares	2.3
Exercisable (in shares) | shares	1.1
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Balance at beginning of period (in dollars per share)	$ 85.82
Granted (in dollars per share)	126.45
Cancelled or expired (in dollars per share)	99.68
Exercised (in dollars per share)	74.12
Balance at end of period (in dollars per share)	96.77
Exercisable (in dollars per share)	$ 79.36
Weighted Average Remaining Term (in years)
Balance at end of period (in years)	5 years
Exercisable (in years)	3 years 9 months 18 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Balance at end of period | $	$ 103.5
Exercisable | $	$ 69.4
Share price (in dollars per share)	$ 141.72

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Activi_2

EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS - Activity for Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units and Performance Units (Detail) shares in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019$ / sharesshares
Number of Shares
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) | shares	0.8
Granted (in shares) | shares	0.3
Vested (in shares) | shares	(0.3)
Cancelled or expired (in shares) | shares	(0.1)
Balance at end of period (in shares) | shares	0.7
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Balance at beginning of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 89.17
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	127.05
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	81.50
Cancelled or expired (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	82.14
Balance at end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 108.24

EARNINGS PER SHARE - Computatio

EARNINGS PER SHARE - Computation of Net Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 88.4	$ 73.2	$ 192.3	$ (39)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.2)	0	0.5	0.1
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Varian	$ 88.6	$ 73.2	$ 191.8	$ (39.1)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	91	91.5	91	91.6
Dilutive effect of potential common shares (in shares)	0.9	1.1	1	0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	91.9	92.6	92	91.6
Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Varian - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 0.80	$ 2.11	$ (0.43)
Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Varian - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.79	$ 2.09	$ (0.43)
Anti-dilutive employee shared based awards, excluded (in shares)	0.5	0.6	1	3.2

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND IN_3

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVESTMENTS - Loans and Commitments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 29, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018	Dec. 06, 2017
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	$ 0	$ 0
Available-for-sale securities	65	62.5
C P T C
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	2.5	3.5
Equity investment in CPTC	0	2.2	$ 9.5
Loans and Investments	48.7	49.9
Loans Receivable
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Notes receivable and secured debt	55.8	54.6
Commitment	0	0
Revolving Loan | C P T C
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	2.5	3.5
Short-term revolving loan	4.7	3.7
Term Loan | C P T C
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	0	0
Term loan	44	44
NYPC loan (1) | Loans Receivable
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Long-term	29.9	28
Commitment	0	0
RPTC senior secured debt (2) | Loans Receivable
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Short-term	24.2	24.9
Commitment	0	0
Proton International LLC loan (1) | Loans Receivable
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Long-term	1.7	1.7
Commitment	0	0
MPTC Series B-1 Bonds (3)
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	0	0
Available-for-sale securities	26.1	25.1
MPTC Series B-2 Bonds (1)
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	0	0
Available-for-sale securities	24.1	23.1
GPTC Securities
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	0	0
Available-for-sale securities	8.5	7.9
APTC Securities
Long-term notes receivable and Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Commitment	0	0
Available-for-sale securities	$ 6.3	$ 6.4

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND IN_4

PROTON SOLUTIONS LOANS AND INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) € in Millions, $ in Millions

Dec. 06, 2017USD ($)tranche

Jul. 31, 2015USD ($)

Sep. 28, 2018USD ($)

Aug. 31, 2018USD ($)

Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)

Jul. 31, 2017USD ($)

Jul. 31, 2017EUR (€)

Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)

Mar. 29, 2019USD ($)

Mar. 30, 2018USD ($)

Sep. 29, 2017USD ($)

Jul. 31, 2018USD ($)

Jan. 01, 2023USD ($)

Jan. 01, 2022USD ($)

Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)

Jun. 30, 2016USD ($)

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Payments to acquire available-for-sale securities

$ 0

$ 6

Fair Value

$ 62.5

$ 65

65

Sale of available-for-sale security

0

8

Loss from equity investments

$ (2.2)

$ (0.9)

APTC Securities

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Payments to acquire available-for-sale securities

$ 6

Interest rate (as a percent)

8.50%

8.50%

C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Equity ownership interest (percent)

47.08%

47.08%

47.08%

Fair value of CPTC's equity

$ 20.1

Equity method investment

9.5

2.2

$ 0

$ 0

RPTC Securities

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Claims filed against assets of Company in bankruptcy | €

€ 89

Accounts receivable, includes unbilled accounts receivable

4.5

4.5

4.5

Georgia Proton Therapy Center

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Accounts receivable, includes unbilled accounts receivable

12.5

5.5

5.5

Unbilled receivables from variable interest entity

11.7

5.3

5.3

New York Proton Center

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Accounts receivable, includes unbilled accounts receivable

24.1

24

24

MPTC loans (1)

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Accounts receivable, includes unbilled accounts receivable

0.5

0

0

Cash received

$ 6

C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Accounts receivable, includes unbilled accounts receivable

1.8

1.7

1.7

Impairment charges

$ 51.4

Liabilities assumed by lenders

112

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Additional financing

$ 7.3

Loans Receivable | Proton Center, Munich

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Payments to acquire outstanding senior debt

$ 24.5

€ 21.5

Loans Receivable | NYPC loan (1)

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Maximum lending commitment

$ 91.5

Loans Receivable | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

$ 112

Revolving Loan | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Loans

3.7

4.7

4.7

Senior First Lien Loan | NYPC loan (1)

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Maximum lending commitment

$ 73

Senior Subordinated Loans | NYPC loan (1)

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Interest rate (as a percent)

13.50%

Maximum lending commitment

$ 18.5

Term (in years)

6 years 6 months

Term Loan | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

44

$ 44

$ 44

Term Loan | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Credit facility term (in years)

3 years

Term Loan | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

$ 53.5

Number of Tranches | tranche

4

Paid-in-kind interest receivable (percent)

7.50%

7.50%

Term Loan | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C | Tranche A loan

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

$ 2

Interest receivable, default rate (percent)

9.50%

Term Loan | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C | Tranche B loan

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

7.2

Paid-in-kind interest receivable (percent)

10.00%

10.00%

Interest receivable, default rate (percent)

12.00%

Term Loan | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C | Tranche C Loans

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

15.6

Interest receivable, default rate (percent)

9.50%

Term Loan | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C | Tranche D Loans

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Modified former loans receivable

$ 28.7

Interest receivable, default rate (percent)

9.50%

Available-for-sale Securities | Georgia Proton Therapy Center

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Payments to acquire available-for-sale securities

$ 16.1

Interest rate (as a percent)

8.00%

Securities sold

8.5

Sale of available-for-sale security

$ 8.3

Available-for-sale Securities | MPTC Series B-1 Bonds [Member]

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Interest rate (as a percent)

7.50%

7.50%

Fair Value

25

Available-for-sale Securities | MPTC Series B-2 Bonds [Member]

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Interest rate (as a percent)

8.50%

8.50%

Fair Value

$ 22.9

Forecast | Georgia Proton Therapy Center

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Fair Value

$ 11.3

Forecast | Available-for-sale Securities | MPTC Series B-1 Bonds [Member]

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Fair Value

$ 32

Forecast | Available-for-sale Securities | MPTC Series B-2 Bonds [Member]

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Fair Value

$ 33.9

Revolving Loan | Loans Receivable | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Extension to the term (in years)

1 year

Maximum lending commitment

$ 15

Credit facility term (in years)

1 year

Revolving Loan | Loans Receivable | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Maximum lending commitment

$ 7.2

Other income (expense), net | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | C P T C

Long term notes receivable and available for sale securities [Line Items]

Loss from equity investments

$ 0

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Additiona

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Additional Information (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of segments	2

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operating

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operating Results Information for Each Reportable Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 779.4	$ 729.9	$ 1,520.4	$ 1,408.4
Earnings before taxes	109.8	109.1	221.5	230.7
Interest income, net	3	1.3	5.7	2.4
Other income (expense), net	0.2	(14.8)	23.2	(15)
Earnings before taxes	113	95.6	250.4	218.1
Oncology Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	746.8	698	1,449.3	1,347.4
Proton Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	32.6	31.9	71.1	61
Unallocated corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before taxes	(1.9)	(16.5)	(5.5)	(17.9)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before taxes	111.7	125.6	227	248.6
Operating Segments | Oncology Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	746.8	698	1,449.3	1,347.4
Earnings before taxes	131.7	143.1	255.8	281.3
Operating Segments | Proton Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	32.6	31.9	71.1	61
Earnings before taxes	$ (20)	$ (17.5)	$ (28.8)	$ (32.7)

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggreg

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 779.4	$ 729.9	$ 1,520.4	$ 1,408.4
Products transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	402.6	363.7	769.2	702
Products and Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	376.8	366.2	751.2	706.4
Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	371.3	340.2	721.7	696.9
EMEA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	261.5	253.8	512.5	446.8
APAC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	146.6	135.9	286.2	264.7
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	343.4	318.6	672.1	664.2
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	436	411.3	848.3	744.2
Hardware
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	367	341.7	714.2	662.1
Software
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	144.2	126.7	275.4	241.8
Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	268.2	261.5	530.8	504.5
Oncology Systems
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	746.8	698	1,449.3	1,347.4
Oncology Systems | Products transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	402.6	363.7	769.2	702
Oncology Systems | Products and Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	344.2	334.3	680.1	645.4
Oncology Systems | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	357.1	321.2	687.9	658.6
Oncology Systems | EMEA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	245.3	241.2	479.8	424.7
Oncology Systems | APAC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	144.4	135.6	281.6	264.1
Oncology Systems | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	329.2	299.6	638.3	625.9
Oncology Systems | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	417.6	398.4	811	721.5
Oncology Systems | Hardware
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	339.1	311.6	652.7	604.7
Oncology Systems | Software
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	144.2	126.7	275.4	241.8
Oncology Systems | Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	263.5	259.7	521.2	500.9
Proton Solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	32.6	31.9	71.1	61
Proton Solutions | Products transferred at a point in time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Proton Solutions | Products and Services transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	32.6	31.9	71.1	61
Proton Solutions | Americas
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	14.2	19	33.8	38.3
Proton Solutions | EMEA
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	16.2	12.6	32.7	22.1
Proton Solutions | APAC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2.2	0.3	4.6	0.6
Proton Solutions | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	14.2	19	33.8	38.3
Proton Solutions | International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	18.4	12.9	37.3	22.7
Proton Solutions | Hardware
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	27.9	30.1	61.5	57.4
Proton Solutions | Software
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Proton Solutions | Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4.7	$ 1.8	$ 9.6	$ 3.6