Eli Lilly on Wednesday posted fourth-quarter earnings and income and 2026 steering that blew previous estimates, as demand for its blockbuster weight reduction drug Zepbound and diabetes therapy Mounjaro soars.
The pharmaceutical big anticipates its 2026 income will are available between $80 billion and $83 billion. Analysts anticipated income of $77.62 billion, in line with LSEG.
Lilly additionally initiatives adjusted earnings to be between $33.50 and $35 per share for the yr. That compares with analysts’ estimate of $33.23 per share, in line with LSEG.
The steering is available in stark distinction to the outlook of rival Novo Nordisk, which can be grappling with decrease costs within the U.S. following landmark offers each firms struck with President Donald Trump to slash weight problems and diabetes drug prices. Not like Lilly, Novo warned on Tuesday that it sees gross sales and revenue declining as a lot as 13% this yr, as costs fall within the U.S. and exclusivity expires for its blockbuster weight problems and diabetes medication in China, Brazil and Canada.
In the meantime, the midpoint of Lilly’s income steering sees gross sales rising by 25% this yr.
The sturdy outlook comes days after Lilly CEO Dave Ricks instructed CNBC in an unique interview that he expects upcoming authorities Medicare protection of weight problems therapies to develop the U.S. marketplace for these medication this yr, saying it is a “huge multiplier on the eligible pool” of sufferers.
In an earnings presentation Wednesday, Lilly cited a number of elements that it’ll profit from this yr, together with Medicare protection, continued worldwide demand for Mounjaro and Zepbound, and the anticipated launch of its GLP-1 tablet for weight problems within the second quarter, pending U.S. approval.
However Lilly stated it will likely be hit by a world pricing decline by a low- to mid-teens share, pushed by the take care of Trump, new direct-to-consumer charges for Zepbound and decrease Medicaid pricing on some older merchandise, amongst different elements.
Lilly is working to keep up its dominance within the booming marketplace for these medication, known as GLP-1s, as Novo sees an explosive U.S. launch for its new Wegovy tablet for weight problems. Forward of that rollout in January, Lilly’s share of the U.S. weight problems and diabetes drug market elevated to 60.5% within the fourth quarter, up 2.6% from the earlier quarter, in line with the presentation. Novo’s market share within the fourth quarter was 39.1%.
Mounjaro raked in $7.41 billion in income for the quarter, up 110% from the identical interval a yr in the past. U.S. gross sales for Mounjaro had been $4.1 billion, rising 57%, as demand climbed however realized costs had been decrease. These numbers surpassed what analysts had been anticipating for the quarter, in line with StreetAccount.
Zepbound, which entered the market roughly three years in the past, posted $4.2 billion in U.S. income for the fourth quarter. That is up 122% from the year-earlier interval, as demand for the drug additionally rose whereas realized costs dropped. Analysts had been anticipating $3.91 billion in U.S. gross sales for Zepbound, in line with StreetAccount.
Here is what Eli Lilly reported for the fourth quarter in contrast with what Wall Avenue was anticipating, based mostly on a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: $7.54 adjusted vs. $6.67 anticipated
- Income: $19.29 billion vs. $17.96 billion anticipated
Eli Lilly shares climbed greater than 7% in premarket buying and selling.
The corporate posted fourth-quarter income of $19.29 billion, up 43% from the identical interval a yr in the past.
Income within the U.S. climbed to $12.9 billion. Eli Lilly stated that was pushed by a 50% enhance in quantity — or the variety of prescriptions or items offered — for its merchandise, primarily for Mounjaro and Zepbound. That was partially offset by decrease realized costs of these medication, the corporate stated.
The pharmaceutical big booked web revenue of $6.64 billion, or $7.39 per share, for the fourth quarter. That compares with web revenue of $4.41 billion, or $4.88 per share, a yr earlier.
Excluding one-time objects related to the worth of intangible property and different changes, Eli Lilly posted earnings of $7.54 per share for the fourth quarter.
Novo and Lilly’s offers with Trump are anticipated to ultimately enhance the variety of prescriptions however in the end harm complete gross sales.
Underneath the agreements, Lilly and Novo will slash the costs of these therapies for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in 2026 and supply them on to customers at a reduction on the Trump administration’s direct-to-consumer platform, TrumpRx, which has but to launch.
In return, each firms can even get a three-year exemption from tariffs.
Within the interview with CNBC on Friday, Lilly’s Ricks acknowledged that below the drug pricing deal, there can be “a step down in pricing” early this yr. However he stated quantity progress of the corporate’s medication “will ramp on the again half of the yr.”
