Amgen Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers human therapeutics worldwide. The company's principal products include Enbrel to treat plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis; Otezla for the treatment of adult patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers associated with Behçet's disease; Prolia to treat postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; XGEVA for skeletal-related events prevention; Repatha, which reduces the risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary revascularization; Nplate for the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenia; KYPROLIS to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; Aranesp to treat a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells and anemia; EVENITY for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal for men and women; Vectibix to treat patients with wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer; BLINCYTO for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; TEPEZZA to treat thyroid eye disease; and KRYSTEXXA for the treatment of chronic refractory gout. It also markets other products, including Neulasta, MVASI, AMJEVITA/AMGEVITA, TEZSPIRE, Parsabiv, Aimovig, LUMAKRAS/LUMYKRAS, EPOGEN, KANJINTI, TAVNEOS, RAVICTI, UPLIZNA and PROCYSBI. The company serves healthcare providers, including physicians or their clinics, dialysis centers, hospitals, and pharmacies. It distributes its products through pharmaceutical wholesale distributors, as well as direct-to-consumer channels. The company has collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca plc for the development and commercialization of TEZSPIRE; Novartis Pharma AG to develop and commercialize Aimovig; UCB for the development and commercialization of EVENITY; Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. for rocatinlimab development and commercialization; and BeiGene, Ltd. for oncology products expansion and development. Amgen Inc. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.

Amgen Inc.

Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) shares rallied 22.8% in the last trading session to close at $182.64. This move can be attributable to notable volume with a higher number of shares being traded than in a typical session. This compares to the stock's 4.7% gain over the past four weeks.
The stock rallied after the company announced that the FDA has accepted and granted priority review to its supplemental new drug application seeking approval for AXS-05 as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease agitation. A final decision from the FDA is expected on April 30, 2026.
This biopharmaceutical company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.75 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +21.9%. Revenues are expected to be $187.9 million, up 58.2% from the year-ago quarter.
While earnings and revenue growth expectations are important in evaluating the potential strength in a stock, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For Axsome, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.7% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. And a negative trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't usually translate into price appreciation. So, make sure to keep an eye on AXSM going forward to see if this recent jump can turn into more strength down the road.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Axsome is a member of the Zacks Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry. One other stock in the same industry, Amgen (AMGN), finished the last trading session 0.4% lower at $327.31. AMGN has returned -2.9% over the past month.
Amgen's consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming report has remained unchanged over the past month at $4.74. Compared to the company's year-ago EPS, this represents a change of -10.7%. Amgen currently boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Axsome (AXSM) Stock Jumps 22.8%: Will It Continue to Soar?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLV) where we have detected an approximate $467.1 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.2% decrease week over week (from 259,915,324 to 256,915,324). Among the largest underlying components of XLV, in trading today Abbott Laboratories (Symbol: ABT) is trading flat, Amgen Inc (Symbol: AMGN) is down about 0.2%, and Gilead Sciences Inc (Symbol: GILD) is lower by about 0.3%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLV Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLV, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLV's low point in its 52 week range is $127.35 per share, with $158.95 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $155.36. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

XLV, ABT, AMGN, GILD: Large Outflows Detected at ETF

Shareholders of Amgen Inc (Symbol: AMGN) looking to boost their income beyond the stock's 3.1% annualized dividend yield can sell the January 2028 covered call at the $420 strike and collect the premium based on the $16.50 bid, which annualizes to an additional 2.5% rate of return against the current stock price (at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost), for a total of 5.5% annualized rate in the scenario where the stock is not called away. Any upside above $420 would be lost if the stock rises there and is called away, but AMGN shares would have to climb 28.2% from current levels for that to happen, meaning that in the scenario where the stock is called, the shareholder has earned a 33.3% return from this trading level, in addition to any dividends collected before the stock was called.
In general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Amgen Inc, looking at the dividend history chart for AMGN below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 3.1% annualized dividend yield.
Below is a chart showing AMGN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $420 strike highlighted in red:
The chart above, and the stock's historical volatility, can be a helpful guide in combination with fundamental analysis to judge whether selling the January 2028 covered call at the $420 strike gives good reward for the risk of having given away the upside beyond $420. (Do most options expire worthless? This and six other common options myths debunked). We calculate the trailing twelve month volatility for Amgen Inc (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $327.54) to be 27%. For other call options contract ideas at the various different available expirations, visit the AMGN Stock Options page of StockOptionsChannel.com.
In mid-afternoon trading on Wednesday, the put volume among S&P 500 components was 556,468 contracts, with call volume at 1.01M, for a put:call ratio of 0.55 so far for the day. Compared to the long-term median put:call ratio of .65, that represents very high call volume relative to puts; in other words, buyers are preferring calls in options trading so far today. Find out which 15 call and put options traders are talking about today.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

How To YieldBoost Amgen To 5.5% Using Options

Bristol Myers Squibb BMY and Amgen AMGN are among the largest global biotechnology companies with broad and diverse portfolios.
Bristol Myers Squibb is focused on discovering, developing and delivering transformational therapies across oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular, neuroscience and other serious diseases.
Meanwhile, Amgen boasts one of the largest portfolios in the biotech industry, with a strong presence in oncology, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, bone health and rare diseases.
Both biotech giants have built strong footholds in their respective target markets and have consistently delivered value to shareholders. Against this backdrop, selecting one stock over the other is no easy task. A closer examination of their fundamentals, growth prospects, key challenges and valuation metrics can help investors make a more informed decision.
The Case for BMY
BMY’s Growth Portfolio comprises drugs like Opdivo, Opdivo Qvantig, Orencia, Yervoy, Reblozyl, Camzyos, Breyanzi, Opdualag, Zeposia, Abecma, Sotyku, Krazati and Cobenfy.
The recent performance of this portfolio has been strong, maintaining top-line growth for BMY.
Opdivo sales in the United States are being driven by a strong launch in MSI-high colorectal cancer and continued growth in first-line non-small cell lung cancer, while international sales are supported by label expansion of the drug across multiple markets.
The approval of Opdivo Qvantig (nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy) injection for subcutaneous use has boosted BMY’s immuno-oncology portfolio. The initial uptake has been strong and the launch is going well in the United States across all indicated tumor types.
Bristol Myers now expects global Opdivo sales, together with Qvantig, to increase in the high single-digit to low double-digit range in 2025 (previous guidance: mid to high single-digit range in 2025), driven by strong performance year to date.
The stellar performance of the thalassemia drug Reblozyl, for which BMY has a collaboration agreement with Merck MRK, has significantly boosted BMY’s top line. BMY is now annualizing over $2 billion in Reblozyl sales. Revenue growth continues to be strong, primarily due to demand in first-line RS-positive and RS-negative settings as well as improved duration of therapy.
Breyanzi sales are now annualizing over $1 billion, reflecting strong growth in large B-cell lymphoma and expansion in new indications approved last year.
Cardiovascular drug Camzyos sales continue to increase on robust demand.
The FDA approval for xanomeline and trospium chloride (formerly KarXT), an oral medication for the treatment of schizophrenia, in adults (under the brand name Cobenfy), is a significant boost for the company.
The initial uptake is encouraging, with sales of $105 million year to date. Cobenfy is expected to contribute meaningfully to BMY’s top line in the coming years as the company looks to expand the drug’s label into other indications.
However, while BMY is progressing with its growth portfolio, its legacy portfolio is being adversely impacted due to continued generic impact on Revlimid, Pomalyst, Sprycel and Abraxane.
The decline in sales of legacy drugs has adversely impacted the top line. BMY continues to expect the legacy portfolio to decline approximately 15-17% in 2025.
The legacy portfolio also comprises blood thinner medicine Eliquis, for which BMY has a worldwide co-development and co-commercialization agreement with pharma giant Pfizer PFE. Eliquis is the biggest contributor to the top line.
The Case for AMGN
With a vast global footprint, Amgen’s diverse portfolio has positioned it well in the evolving biotech industry with a strong presence in the oncology, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, bone health and rare diseases markets.
Growth products like Evenity, Vectibix, Nplate and Kyprolis and Blincyto have performed well on consistent label expansions. Robust growth from these products has stabilized the company’s revenue base in the face of declining sales from legacy drugs.
However, increasingly competitive pressure is negatively impacting the sales of many products. In the coming quarters, Prolia and Xgeva sales are anticipated to decrease due to the impact of biosimilars entering the market.
Nonetheless, Repatha, a key drug in Amgen’s arsenal, is driving the growth trajectory. The approval of Tezspire/tezepelumab to treat severe asthma has also strengthened the company’s portfolio.
Amgen is evaluating Repatha, Uplizna, Tepezza and Tavneos for additional indications. Amgen also has promising candidates in its pipeline, which represent significant commercial potential. Amgen is conducting a broad phase III program on MariTide across obesity, obesity-related conditions and type-II diabetes.
Amgen also boasts a strong biosimilars portfolio. Approvals of Wezlana and Pavblu have strengthened this portfolio.
With a robust cash balance, Amgen is continually seeking strategic deals to expand its business. The acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics has significantly expanded Amgen's rare disease business by adding several rare disease drugs, including Tepezza, Krystexxa and Uplizna, to its portfolio.
A Look at Estimates: BMY versus AMGN
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BMY’s 2025 sales implies a year-over-year decrease of 0.8%, while that for earnings per share (EPS) suggests a year-over-year increase of 466.09%. EPS estimates for 2025 have moved north in the past 60 days, but the same for 2026 has moved south during the said time frame.
BMY’s Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMGN’s 2025 sales implies a year-over-year increase of 8.78%, and that for EPS suggests a year-over-year improvement of 7.26%. EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have moved north in the past 60 days.
AMGN’s Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance and Valuation of BMY and AMGN
From a price-performance perspective, BMY has fetched slightly better returns than AMGN in the past six months. Shares of AMGN have gained 13.5%, while those of BMY have gained 13.9%. The industry has surged 26% in the said period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, as the biotech industry has very few players with approved drugs, we use the P/E ratio of the large-cap pharma industry to compare these companies. Going by the same, AMGN is more expensive than BMY. AMGN’s shares currently trade at 15.2X forward earnings, higher than 8.99X for BMY but lower than 17.58X for the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AMGN and BMY’s attractive dividend yield is a strong positive for investors. However, BMY’s dividend yield of 4.54% is higher than AMGN’s 2.86%.
Which Stock Is a Better Pick for Now?
Large biotech companies are generally considered safe havens for investors interested in this sector.
However, with both AMGN and BMY currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), choosing one stock over the other is a complex task. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
AMGN’s strong and diverse portfolio should enable it to maintain growth. Key drugs like Evenity and Repatha, as well as newer drugs like Tavneos and Tezspire, continue to drive growth and offset the revenue decline from oncology biosimilars and legacy drugs like Enbrel.
BMY’s efforts to revive the top line in the face of generic challenges for key drugs are commendable. The company has rebounded quite well in the second half of 2025 and newer drugs are now driving revenue growth.
However, AMGN is a better pick at present (despite its pricey valuation) as we believe there is room for growth buoyed by solid fundamentals and recent positive estimate revisions.
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BMY vs AMGN: Which Biotech Stock Is More Resilient Now?

Amgen AMGN is one of the few companies with a late-stage obesity candidate in its pipeline. The company is developing MariTide, an investigational GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, as part of its comprehensive MARITIME phase III program in obesity. With this drug, Amgen intends to take on Eli Lilly LLY and Novo Nordisk NVO, which currently dominate this space with their respective injectable GLP-1 therapies.
A key differentiator for MariTide is its long-acting profile. Unlike currently marketed GLP-1 drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which require weekly injections, MariTide is designed for monthly or potentially even less frequent dosing. Amgen has reported predictable and sustained weight loss, with clinically meaningful improvements in cardiometabolic parameters, in earlier studies, positioning MariTide as a potentially more convenient long-term treatment option in a market increasingly focused on adherence and durability.
Amgen is evaluating MariTide across a broad range of cardiometabolic indications, with obesity at the center of its development strategy. Enrollment has been completed in two pivotal late-stage studies — MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2 — which are evaluating the drug in patients with obesity, with and without type II diabetes, respectively. Roughly 5,000 patients were enrolled across these studies in a relatively short time frame, underscoring strong investigator and patient interest in the program.
Apart from obesity, MariTide is also being studied in phase III studies for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure, as well as in obstructive sleep apnea. These indications could significantly expand the drug’s commercial potential if weight loss translates into downstream cardiometabolic and cardiovascular benefits, as suggested by earlier-stage data.
Market Leaders Continue to Raise the Bar
Despite MariTide’s differentiated dosing profile, the obesity treatment landscape is evolving rapidly. Recently, Novo Nordisk secured FDA approval for the pill version of Wegovy, marking approval for the first GLP-1 RA approved in an oral form for weight management. Compared with injectable formulations, the pill offers a far more convenient administration option, significantly lowering treatment burden and potentially improving patient adherence. Novo Nordisk expects to launch the Wegovy pill in early next month and has priced the drug at $149 per month for patients without insurance.
Eli Lilly is also moving quickly in this direction. Earlier this month, LLY submitted a regulatory filing seeking approval for its oral obesity candidate, orforglipron, setting the stage for a potential launch next year. The arrival of effective oral GLP-1 therapies raises the bar for differentiation and could reshape patient and physician preferences across the obesity market.
That said, this push for oral pills does not signal a retreat from injectables for either market leader. Eli Lilly continues to invest aggressively across next-generation obesity therapies with diverse mechanisms of action. Its pipeline includes orforglipron, a once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1, as well as retatrutide, a triple-hormone (GIP/GLP-1/glucagon) agonist being developed as a next-generation injectable.
Novo Nordisk is similarly expanding its next wave of obesity treatments. It is advancing a next-generation therapy called amycretin, both as an injectable and an oral formulation. NVO plans to initiate a phase III program for amycretin in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing its strategy of maintaining leadership across multiple modalities rather than relying on a single product class.
AMGN’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of Amgen have outperformed the industry year to date, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Amgen is trading at a discount to the industry. Based on the price/earnings (P/E) ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 15.20 times forward earnings compared to the industry's average of 17.56. The stock is trading above its five-year mean of 13.76.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have risen in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Amgen currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
#1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA)
The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow.
One under-the-radar chipmaker is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. It specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.
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Can Amgen's MariTide Take on Leaders in the Obesity Space?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLV) where we have detected an approximate $411.5 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.0% decrease week over week (from 262,565,324 to 259,915,324). Among the largest underlying components of XLV, in trading today Intuitive Surgical Inc (Symbol: ISRG) is down about 0.7%, Amgen Inc (Symbol: AMGN) is up about 0.2%, and Medtronic PLC (Symbol: MDT) is lower by about 0.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLV Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLV, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLV's low point in its 52 week range is $127.35 per share, with $158.95 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $155.28. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF Experiences Big Outflow

Both Novo Nordisk NVO and Amgen AMGN are large-cap, innovation-driven healthcare leaders with global scale, strong balance sheets, and a track record of turning scientific breakthroughs into blockbuster medicines. They benefit from steady global demand, strong pricing power, and deep research budgets that help them develop new drugs and extend product lifecycles. This makes both stocks appealing as relatively resilient plays within the healthcare sector.
NVO is widely recognized as the market leader in the GLP-1 space, marketing its semaglutide drugs under brand names Ozempic (pre-filled pen) and Rybelsus (oral tablet) for type II diabetes (T2D), and Wegovy (injection) for chronic weight management. On the other hand, Amgen boasts a strong presence in oncology, cardiovascular (CV) disease, inflammation, bone health, and rare disease markets. It has some key pipeline assets, with a focus on the lead obesity candidate, MariTide.
The key comparison comes down to focus on growth versus diversification. Novo Nordisk is heavily focused on diabetes and obesity treatments, giving it strong momentum tied to a single, fast-growing market. However, Amgen spreads its business across multiple therapeutic areas, which can reduce risk and support consistent cash flow. This faceoff is ideal for investors deciding whether to prioritize concentrated growth potential or a more balanced, income-friendly biotech strategy.
Let's examine the fundamentals of the two stocks to make a prudent choice.
The Case for NVO Stock
Novo Nordisk has achieved tremendous success in the cardiometabolic treatment space, all thanks to its semaglutide medicines, Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, which are its primary top-line drivers. As of September 2025-end, Novo Nordisk remained the market leader with a total GLP-1 volume market share of 59% globally, across diabetes and obesity care.
NVO has been investing heavily to expand its manufacturing capacity as part of its strategic move to strengthen its leadership in the diabetes and obesity care market for its GLP-1 products.
Novo Nordisk is pursuing new indications for its semaglutide drugs, including CV and other indications. Rybelsus recently became the first oral therapy approved in the United States to lower the risk of major adverse CV events in high-risk T2D patients, regardless of prior CV history. Wegovy’s label includes CV, HFpEF, and osteoarthritis indications, while Ozempic remains the only GLP-1 approved to slow kidney disease and reduce CV death in patients with diabetes. Higher-dose Wegovy injections are also under review in the United States and EU, and NVO is seeking to expand Ozempic’s label to include peripheral artery disease.
The FDA has also approved NVO’s 25 mg oral semaglutide (Wegovy pill) for obesity and CV disease, marking the first GLP-1 pill approved in the United States. With its launch expected soon, the therapy could significantly expand access beyond injectables and unlock a new growth driver for the company.
Novo Nordisk is advancing its next-generation obesity pipeline. It recently submitted a regulatory filing seeking the approval of CagriSema injection, a follow-up drug to Wegovy, for obesity. Meanwhile, its mid-stage asset, amycretin, recently showed strong weight-loss efficacy in a phase II study and is slated to enter phase III in 2026. The company has bolstered its pipeline through several major collaborations and acquisition deals.
Beyond GLP-1s, NVO is building its Rare Disease franchise, advancing Mim8 in hemophilia A, and securing both EU and U.S. approvals for Alhemo to treat hemophilia A and B, with or without inhibitors. Meanwhile, the FDA has granted accelerated approval for Wegovy in treating MASH with fibrosis. Novo Nordisk and rival Eli Lilly LLY signed drug pricing agreements with the Trump administration last month, offering to cut prices of their respective GLP-1 medicines in exchange for Medicare access for the drugs and a three-year exemption from tariffs on pharmaceutical imports.
However, Novo Nordisk has been facing rising competitive and operational headwinds. Weaker-than-expected sales of Ozempic and Wegovy have weighed on growth, driven by intensifying competition from Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide-based therapies — Mounjaro for T2D and Zepbound for obesity — as well as the growing use of compounded semaglutide in the United States. These pressures have already led to two downward revisions to 2025 guidance, underscoring the near-term challenges facing the franchise. To streamline operations, NVO also announced a restructuring program in September, including job cuts, aimed at delivering about DKK 8 billion in annual savings by 2026.
The Case for AMGN Stock
Amgen’s diverse portfolio and global reach position it well in a changing pharma landscape. Key medicines like Evenity, Repatha and Blincyto, as well as newer medicines like Tavneos and Tezspire, are driving sales, more than offsetting declining revenues from oncology biosimilars and mature products like Enbrel. New biosimilar launches are also contributing to top-line growth.
The 2023 acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics has significantly expanded Amgen's rare disease business by adding several rare disease drugs, including Tepezza, Krystexxa and Uplizna, to its portfolio. Amgen is also pursuing label expansions for its marketed drugs to broaden their approved uses and expand the addressable patient population.
Amgen’s key pipeline candidate is GIPR/GLP-1 receptor MariTide, which is being evaluated for obesity as part of its comprehensive MARITIME phase III program. Enrollment has been completed in two phase III studies, MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2, evaluating MariTide in patients with obesity, with or without T2D, respectively. Enrollment is ongoing in two other phase III studies, MARITIME-CV and MARITIME-HF, for the study of atherosclerotic CV disease and heart failure, respectively. Amgen also recently initiated two other phase III studies of the candidate in obstructive sleep apnea.
Unlike the currently marketed obesity drugs like Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which require weekly injections, MariTide is being tested for monthly dosing. A less frequent dosing regimen is expected to reduce treatment burden and thereby boost patient adherence. In prior clinical studies, the candidate has shown predictable and sustained weight loss and a meaningful impact on cardiometabolic parameters.
Beyond obesity, Amgen has promising late-stage pipeline drugs across several therapeutic areas, which represent significant commercial potential. These include bemarituzumab (for first-line gastric cancer), rocatinlimab (for eczema and prurigo nodularis) and olpasiran (for atherosclerotic CV disease).
Amgen also boasts a strong biosimilars portfolio, which includes Bekemv (biosimilar of AstraZeneca’s Soliris), Wezlana (J&J’s Stelara) and Pavblu (Regeneron’s Eylea). It is also developing biosimilar versions of blockbuster oncology drugs like Bristol Myers’ Opdivo, Merck’s Keytruda and Roche’s Ocrevus in phase III studies.
However, pricing headwinds and competitive pressure are negatively impacting the sales of many products. Sales of best-selling drugs, Prolia and Xgeva, are expected to decline in the upcoming quarters due to generic erosion following the loss of patent protection.
How Do Estimates Compare for NVO & AMGN?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Novo Nordisk’s 2025 sales and earnings per share (EPS) implies a year-over-year increase of 13.72% and 8.84%, respectively. EPS estimates for both 2025 and 2026 have been trending downward over the past 60 days.
NVO Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amgen’s 2025 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year increase of 8.78% and 7.21%, respectively. AMGN’s EPS estimates, on the other hand, have been trending upward over the past 60 days for both 2025 and 2026.
AMGN Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance and Valuation of NVO & AMGN
In the past six months, shares of NVO have plummeted 32%, while those of AMGN have gained 19.6%. In comparison, the industry has gained 19.3%, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Amgen is more expensive than Novo Nordisk, going by the price/earnings ratio. NVO’s shares currently trade at 13.53 times forward earnings, lower than 15.33 for AMGN.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NVO vs. AMGN: Which Stock Holds the Edge?
Novo Nordisk carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), whereas Amgen carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present, which makes AMGN stock the clear winner.
Novo Nordisk has faced significant market turbulence in recent months as it navigates multiple near-term headwinds, including intensifying competition from Eli Lilly, the growing presence of compounded semaglutide alternatives, recent guidance cuts, and leadership transitions. Together, these pressures have dampened investor sentiment and driven a sharp decline in the company’s share price over the past six months. Until NVO demonstrates renewed demand momentum, stabilizes market share, and shows that restructuring can meaningfully improve margins, investors would be better served by reducing exposure or selling the stock outright.
Amgen stands out as the better choice for investors seeking stability and balance. Its business is diversified across different therapeutic areas, which reduces reliance on any single drug or market. This supports steadier cash flows and lowers risk. Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 are moving higher, signaling improving fundamentals. The stock has also outperformed in recent months, reflecting stronger investor confidence. With a deep late-stage pipeline, a growing rare-disease franchise, and a more predictable outlook, Amgen offers a more dependable risk-reward profile than Novo Nordisk at this stage.
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Novo Nordisk vs. Amgen: Which Healthcare Stock Is the Smarter Choice?

After a weak first half, the drug and biotech sector has recovered in the past 2-3 months, with most large drugmakers signing drug pricing agreements with the Trump administration. After a cautious start, dealmaking activity by big pharma surged in the second half, which also boosted investor confidence in the sector. The Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry has outperformed the S&P 500 index in the past three months, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Innovation is also at its peak for the industry, with key spaces like obesity, cell and gene therapy, inflammation, rare disease, neuroscience and next-gen oncology treatments attracting investor attention. The industry, however, faces its share of headwinds like regular pipeline setbacks, patent cliffs and regulatory risks. Despite the headwinds, rapid innovation, increased use of AI in drug development, positive pipeline/regulatory developments and continued M&A momentum signal a favorable growth outlook for 2026. In this article, we discuss five big drugmakers — Eli Lilly LLY, J&J JNJ, AbbVie ABBV, Amgen AMGN and AstraZeneca AZN — that have outperformed the industry this year, as seen in the chart below, and the factors that are likely to drive their growth in 2026.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Eli Lilly
Lilly has seen tremendous success with its popular tirzepatide medicines, diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medicine, Zepbound.
Despite being on the market for slightly more than three years, Mounjaro and Zepbound have become key top-line drivers for Lilly, with demand rising rapidly. Launches of Mounjaro and Zepbound in new international markets and improved supply from ramped-up production in the United States led to strong sales growth in 2025. Mounjaro and Zepbound are expected to continue to see strong demand in 2026. Lilly’s other new drugs, like Kisunla, Omvoh and Jaypirca, are also contributing to its top-line growth with the trend expected to continue in 2026.
Lilly is investing broadly in obesity and has several new molecules currently in clinical development, including two late-stage candidates, orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 small molecule, and retatrutide, a GGG tri-agonist. Lilly has announced positive data across six studies on orforglipron in obesity and type II diabetes. An oral pill like orforglipron has the potential to be a more convenient alternative to injectable treatments like Zepbound and rival Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. Lilly filed regulatory applications for orforglipron in obesity this month, setting up the timeline for a potential launch next year. Earlier this week, an oral version of NVO’s Wegovy was approved by the FDA as the first oral GLP-1 in the United States.
Lilly’s triple-acting incretin, retatrutide (which combines GLP-1, GIP and glucagon), delivered significant weight loss with substantial relief from osteoarthritis pain in a phase III study in patients with obesity and knee osteoarthritis pain. Data from the phase III study were announced earlier this month.
LLY is also working to diversify beyond GLP-1 drugs by expanding into cardiovascular, oncology, and neuroscience areas. In 2025, it announced several M&A deals to strengthen its pipeline.
Lilly has its share of problems. Prices of most of Lilly’s products are declining in the United States. Potential competition in the GLP-1 diabetes/obesity market is a key headwind.
Lilly has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The stock has risen 39.3% year to date. Estimates for Eli Lilly’s 2026 earnings have improved from $30.78 per share to $33.61 per share in the past 60 days.
J&J
J&J has recorded a strong operational performance so far in 2025, backed by double-digit growth in revenues from key brands and contributions from new launches
Sales in J&J’s Innovative Medicine unit rose 3.4% in the first nine months of 2025 on an organic basis despite the loss of exclusivity (LOE) of its multi-billion-dollar product, Stelara, and the negative impact of the Part D redesign. Growth is being driven by J&J’s key drugs like Darzalex, Erleada and Tremfya. New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato also contributed significantly to growth.
In 2026, J&J expects accelerated growth in the Innovative Medicine segment to be driven by its key products as well as new drugs and recently launched products, including Tremfya in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Rybrevant plus Lazcluze in non-small cell lung cancer and the newly approved drug, Inlexzo in bladder cancer.
J&J’s MedTech business has improved in the past two quarters, driven by the acquired cardiovascular businesses, Abiomed and Shockwave, as well as Surgical Vision and wound closure in Surgery. Improvements in J&J’s electrophysiology business also drove the growth.
In 2026, J&J expects better growth in the MedTech business than 2025 levels, driven by increased adoption of newly launched products across all MedTech platforms and increased focus on higher-growth markets. J&J expects to launch new products like Shockwave C2 Aero catheter and Tecnis intraocular lens in the United States, as well as make a regulatory submission for the OTTAVA robotic surgical system in 2026. These new products may also contribute to growth in 2026.
The pending separation of its Orthopaedics franchise in the MedTech segmentshould improve its MedTech unit’s growth and margins, as the Orthopaedics franchise has been a slow-growth business for J&J.
The company has rapidly advanced its pipeline this year, attaining significant clinical and regulatory milestones that will help drive growth through the back half of the decade. J&J has also been on an acquisition spree, with the acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies this year strengthening its presence in the neurological and psychiatric drug market.
Despite headwinds like softness in the MedTech unit in China, the legal battle surrounding its talc lawsuits, the Stelara patent cliff and the impact of Part D redesign, J&J looks quite confident that it will be able to navigate these challenges.
J&J has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
The stock has risen 43.3% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has risen from $11.46 per share to $11.49 per share over the past 60 days.
AbbVie
Sales of AbbVie’s blockbuster drug, Humira, are declining due to loss of exclusivity and biosimilar erosion. However, AbbVie has successfully navigated Humira's loss of exclusivity by launching two other successful new immunology medicines, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are performing extremely well, bolstered by approvals in new indications.
Skyrizi and Rinvoq generated combined sales of $18.5 billion in the first nine months of 2025.
Strong immunology market growth, market share gains and momentum from new indications, such as the recent launch of Skyrizi in UC, as well as the potential for five new indications for Rinvoq over the next few years, are expected to drive these drugs’ growth.
Strong sales performance of drugs like Rinvoq, Skyrizi, Venclexta and Vraylar, coupled with significant contributions from newer drugs like Ubrelvy, Elahere, Epkinly and Qulipta, should keep driving the company’s top line in 2026. However, AbbVie is seeing decreasing sales of the Aesthetics unit due to macro challenges and low consumer sentiment, especially in the United States, which will continue be a headwind in 2026.
Boosted by its new product launches, AbbVie expects a high single-digit CAGR through 2029, as it has no significant LOE events for the rest of this decade. A substantial portion of this growth is expected to be driven by the robust performance of Skyrizi and Rinvoq.
AbbVie has been on an inorganic growth track over the past couple of years to bolster its early-stage pipeline, which should drive long-term growth. Particularly, it is signing several M&A deals in the immunology space, its core area, while also entering into some early-stage alliances in oncology and neuroscience.
AbbVie has a Zacks Rank #3. So far this year, the stock has risen 28.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has risen from $14.41 to $14.42 per share over the past 60 days.
Amgen
Amgen’s revenues from key medicines like Repatha, Evenity and Blincyto and new drugs like Tavneos and Tezspire are driving the top line. Rare disease drugs and new biosimilar launches are also contributing to top-line growth. These drugs are making up for declining revenues from mature drugs like Enbrel. Amgen expects key drugs like Repatha, Evenity, Tezspire and oncology and rare disease drugs, as well as biosimilars, to continue to drive top-line growth in 2026.
Amgen has successfully launched some new biosimilar products this year, which generated impressive sales in the first nine months of 2025. Amgen’s new biosimilar launches will play a key role in mitigating the impact of Amgen’s upcoming LOE over the next few years. Patents for RANKL antibodies (including sequences) for Prolia and Xgeva expired in February 2025 in the United States, while the same expired in some European countries in November 2025. Though their sales were steady in the third quarter, sales of these best-selling drugs are expected to erode in the fourth quarter and in 2026, as some biosimilars have been launched in the U.S. market
Amgen has several key pipeline assets, with its primary focus on obesity candidate, MariTide,a GIPR/GLP-1 receptor, being developed as a single dose in a convenient autoinjector device with a monthly and possibly less frequent dosing. This key feature differentiates it from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk’s popular GLP-1-based obesity drugs, Zepboundand Wegovy, which are weekly injections. In clinical studies, it has shown predictable and sustained weight loss and a meaningful impact on cardiometabolic parameters. Several pipeline data readouts are expected over the next six to 12 months, which could be important catalysts for the stock.
Amgen has a Zacks Rank #3. So far this year, the stock has risen 27.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earningshas increased from $21.43 to $21.62 per share over the past 60 days.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca has several blockbuster medicines in its portfolio with sales exceeding $1 billion, including Tagrisso, Fasenra, Farxiga, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence and Ultomiris. These drugs are driving the company’s top line, backed by increasing demand trends, which are expected to continue in 2026.
Newer drugs like Wainua, Airsupra, Saphnelo, Datroway (partnered with Daiichi Sankyo) and Truqap have also contributed to top-line growth in 2025, more than offsetting the loss of exclusivity of some mature brands like Brilinta, Pulmicort and Soliris. The rare disease business also improved in the third quarter.
Backed by its new products and pipeline drugs, AstraZeneca believes it can post industry-leading top-line growth in the 2025-2030 period. AstraZeneca expects to generate $80 billion in total revenues by 2030. By the said time frame, AstraZeneca plans to launch 20 new medicines, with nine new medicines already launched/approved. It believes that many of these new medicines will have the potential to generate more than $5 billion in peak-year revenues. The company is also on track to achieve a mid-30s percentage core operating margin by 2026.
AstraZeneca faces its share of challenges, like the impact of Part D redesign on U.S. oncology sales and ongoing investigations at its China subsidiary. Generic/biosimilar competition in the United States and Europe is hurting sales of key drugs like Brilinta and Soliris.
AstraZeneca has a Zacks Rank #3. So far this year, the stock has risen 10.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has been stable at $5.15 per share over the past 60 days.
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5 Big Drug Stocks That May Continue to Outperform in 2026

(RTTNews) - Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMRX) announced late Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Biologics Licensing Applications or BLAs for Boncresa (denosumab-mobz), a biosimilar referencing Prolia, and Oziltus (denosumab-mobz), a biosimilar referencing XGEVA. The company added that it expects to commercialize six biosimilars across eight presentations by 2027.
Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits bone resorption and is widely used across oncology and osteoporosis-related conditions.
Under a partnership deal, Spain-based mAbxience, a Fresenius Kabi majority-owned group with partial ownership from Insud Pharma, is responsible for development and manufacturing of Denosumab, while Amneal holds exclusive U.S. commercialization rights.
According to IQVIA, U.S. annual sales for Amgen Inc.'s Prolia and XGEVA for the 12 months ended October 2025 were approximately $5.3 billion.
Under the approval, both drugs are required to be administered by a healthcare provider. Patients should be advised to maintain serum calcium levels and to seek medical attention for an allergic reaction.
Prolia has a Boxed Warning for severe hypocalcemia in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, which can be life-threatening. For XGEVA, the most serious reported adverse drug reaction was dyspnea, with other reactions including fatigue, nausea, and hypophosphatemia.
Chirag and Chintu Patel, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Amneal, said, "Biosimilars are the next wave of affordable medicines in the U.S., expanding access to life-changing biologics for millions of patients. With the addition of two denosumab biosimilars, Amneal now has five commercial biosimilars, strengthening our position in this rapidly growing category. We view biosimilars as a major long-term growth vector within our Affordable Medicines segment."
On the Nasdaq, Amneal Pharma shares closed Monday's regular trading 2% higher at $12.82. In the after-hours, the shares gained 0.9% further to trade at $12.93.
For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Amneal Pharma, MAbxience: FDA Approves Denosumab Biosimilars Referencing Amgen's Prolia And XGEVA

Johnson & Johnson’s JNJ stock has been consistently trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) since the end of June. It achieved the golden cross in mid-July. The 50-day moving average is a short-term indicator, while the 200-day moving average is a longer-term indicator. When the 50-day moving average crosses above the 200-day moving average on a stock’s price chart, it's known as a "golden cross," a bullish signal suggesting potential for a prolonged upward trend. The 50-day SMA has been above the 200-day SMA since it achieved the golden cross in July. This scenario confirms that J&J’s medium-term momentum continues to outpace the long-term trend, reinforcing bullish sentiment.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock’s strong price performance has been driven by its strong operational performance so far in 2025, backed by double-digit growth in revenues from key brands and contributions from new launches. The company expects accelerated momentum in 2026.
Let’s understand J&J’s strengths and weaknesses to better analyze how to play the stock after it reaches this important support level.
JNJ’s Innovative Medicine Showing Consistent Strength
J&J’s Innovative Medicine unit is showing a growth trend. The segment’s sales rose 3.4% in the first nine months of 2025 on an organic basis despite the loss of exclusivity (LOE) of its multi-billion-dollar product, Stelara, and the negative impact of the Part D redesign. The third quarter was the segment’s second consecutive quarter of sales of more than $15 billion despite Stelara’s LOE. Growth is being driven by J&J’s key drugs like Darzalex, Erleada and Tremfya. New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato also contributed significantly to growth.
In 2026, J&J expects accelerated growth in the Innovative Medicine segment to be driven by its key products as well as new drugs and recently launched products, including Tremfya in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Rybrevant plus Lazcluze in non-small cell lung cancer and the newly approved drug, Inlexzo in bladder cancer.
J&J’s Significant Pipeline Progress This Year
J&J has rapidly advanced its pipeline this year, attaining significant clinical and regulatory milestones that will help drive growth through the back half of the decade. This year, it gained approval for new products like Inlexzoh/TAR-200, a first-of-its-kind drug-releasing system, for treating high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and Imaavy (nipocalimab) for treating generalized myasthenia gravis. J&J believes that nipocalimab has a pipeline-in-a-product potential. Regulatory applications were recently filed for another key candidate, icotrokinra, for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. J&J believes that icotrokinra has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of plaque psoriasis with a once-a-day pill.
Three of J&J’s new cancer drugs are Carvykti, a BCMA CAR-T therapy for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; Tecvayli, for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; and Talvey, a novel bispecific therapy for heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. These drugs have also begun to contribute to top-line growth. Combined, they generated $2.14 billion in sales in the first nine months of 2025.
J&J’s acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies this year added antidepressant drug, Caplyta, to its neuroscience portfolio, which is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression in both bipolar 1 and 2, and major depressive disorder.
J&J believes 10 of its new products/pipeline candidates in the Innovative Medicine segment have the potential to deliver peak sales of $5 billion, including Talvey, Tecvayli, Imaavy, newly acquired Caplyta, Inlexzo, Rybrevant, plus Lazcluze and icotrokinra.
J&J’s MedTech Segment Sales Improving
J&J’s MedTech business has improved in the past two quarters, driven by the acquired cardiovascular businesses, Abiomed and Shockwave, as well as Surgical Vision and wound closure in Surgery. Improvements in J&J’s electrophysiology business also drove growth.
Moreover, the potential separation of its Orthopaedics franchise into a standalone orthopedics-focused company, called DePuy Synthes, should improve its MedTech unit’s growth and margins. The Orthopaedics franchise has been a slow-growth business for J&J.
In 2026, J&J expects better growth in the MedTech business than in 2025, driven by increased adoption of newly launched products across all MedTech platforms and increased focus on higher-growth markets. J&J expects to launch new products like the Shockwave C2 Aero catheter and the Tecnis intraocular lens in the United States, as well as a regulatory submission for the OTTAVA robotic surgical system in 2026. These new products may also contribute to growth in 2026.
However, the company continues to face headwinds in China. Sales in China are being hurt by the impact of the volume-based procurement (VBP) program, which is a government-driven cost containment effort in China. J&J expects continued impacts from VBP issues in China as the program continues to expand across provinces and products.
Patent Expiration of J&J’s Drug Stelara & Other Headwinds
J&J lost U.S. patent exclusivity of Stelara in 2025. Stelara was a key top-line driver for J&J, accounting for around 18% of J&J’s Innovative Medicine unit’s sales in 2024, before it lost patent exclusivity in 2025.
Several biosimilar versions of Stelara have been launched in the United States in 2025. According to patent settlements and license agreements, Amgen AMGN, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries TEVA, Samsung Bioepis/Sandoz and some other companies have launched Stelara biosimilars. The launch of generics is significantly eroding Stelara’s sales and hurting J&J’s sales and profits in 2025. Stelara sales declined around 40% in the first nine months of 2025.
In addition, sales in 2025 are being hurt by the impact of the Medicare Part D redesign under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Part D redesign is mainly affecting sales of drugs like Stelara, Tremfya, Erleada and pulmonary hypertension drugs. J&J expects a negative impact of approximately $2 billion in sales due to the Medicare Part D redesign in 2025.
J&J faces more than 73,000 lawsuits for its talc-based products, primarily baby powders. The lawsuits allege that its talc products contain asbestos, which caused many women to develop ovarian cancer. J&J insists that its talc-based products are safe and do not cause cancer. The company permanently discontinued the sales of the talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder.
In April, a bankruptcy court in Texas rejected J&J’s proposed bankruptcy plan to settle its talc lawsuits after a two-week trial in Houston. J&J has gone back to the traditional tort system to fight the lawsuits individually, with its bankruptcy strategy to settle the lawsuits failing for the third time.
J&J Stock Price, Valuation and Estimates
J&J’s shares have outperformed the industry in the past year. The stock has risen 42.1% in the past year compared with a 15.2% increase in the industry. The stock has also outperformed the sector and the S&P 500 Index, as seen in the chart below.
JNJ Stock Outperforms Industry, Sector & S&P 500
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, J&J is slightly expensive. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 17.98 forward earnings, higher than 17.27 for the industry. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 15.65.
JNJ Stock Valuation
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has risen from $10.86 per share to $10.87 per share and from $11.46 per share to $11.49 per share for 2026 over the past 60 days.
JNJ Estimate Movement
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Invest in J&J Stock
J&J expects sales growth in both segments to be higher in 2026. It also boasts strong cash flows and has consistently increased its dividends for 63 consecutive years.
Despite headwinds like softness in the MedTech unit, the legal battle surrounding its talc lawsuits, the Stelara patent cliff and the impact of Part D redesign, J&J looks quite confident that it will be able to navigate these challenges.
J&J’s price appreciation this year, rising estimates and consistent earnings and sales growth suggest one may consider investing in this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock for now. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.