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 appears to be a high-quality but no longer cheap large pharmaceutical issuer, with strong profitability and a notable debt burden. On valuation multiples, the picture is generally stretched: P/E, P/S, P/B, and P/FCF are above industry medians, which limits re-rating potential and requires very durable earnings growth to justify current levels. At the same time, the recent dynamics of P/E and P/S over the last few quarters are rather moderately favorable, but this does not eliminate the question of a sector premium. The company’s strength lies in its high operating efficiency: operating margin, net margin, ROA, ROE, and ROI are above the median and have generally improved over the years, confirming the business’s ability to generate profits on the basis of relatively stable revenue. Revenue and gross profit look volatile on a yearly basis, but overall do not show a destructive trend, while EBITDA and operating income remain at comfortable levels. The weak point is the balance sheet: debt/equity is very high, long-term debt is substantial, and liquidity as measured by quick ratio and current ratio is below industry benchmarks, so financial flexibility is limited. This is especially important for an investor, because at a rich market valuation any pause in earnings growth or margin pressure could quickly narrow the upside. Dividend yield remains low and does not look like the main argument for buying, although the fact that dividends are paid does support the investment profile. Equity is growing, but against the backdrop of very high leverage it does not fully offset balance sheet risk. Overall, the fundamentals support a moderately positive but not aggressive view: the business is high-quality and profitable, but the valuation premium and debt profile constrain the target price upside. For an investor, this is a story about resilience and earnings quality, not deep undervaluation.

Amgen Inc.

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Medium index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, flat. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, незначительно упал. Приток средств в лонги снизился, но остается положительным.

Medium index, slightly down. The inflow of funds into longs has decreased, but remains positive.

Amgen demonstrates high profitability and strong margins, but it trades at a premium to the sector and carries a significant debt burden, which limits upside.

Amgen (AMGN) closed at $387.42 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.44% move from the prior day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 1.52%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 2.19%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 1.74%.
Heading into today, shares of the world's largest biotech drugmaker had gained 8.56% over the past month, outpacing the Medical sector's gain of 1.55% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.92%.
The upcoming earnings release of Amgen will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on August 4, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $5.6, signifying a 6.98% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $9.45 billion, up 2.94% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $22.31 per share and a revenue of $37.73 billion, demonstrating changes of +2.15% and +2.67%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Amgen. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.34% lower. Amgen currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).
Digging into valuation, Amgen currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 17.62. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 20.56.
Also, we should mention that AMGN has a PEG ratio of 3.98. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The average PEG ratio for the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry stood at 1.53 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 92, putting it in the top 38% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow AMGN in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Amgen (AMGN) Stock Moves -1.44%: What You Should Know

Key Points
Amgen wants a slice of the weight loss drug market.
Its candidate for capturing that market share might not be up to the task.
Its competitors aren't waiting around for it to catch up, either.
Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) is betting that the convenience of its weight loss treatment will make it a winner, and it might be right. Its candidate MariTide is a monthly injection that aims to directly challenge the anti-obesity drugs made by Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), which in their original formulations are administered by a weekly injection.
If the program's phase 3 clinical trial data look good, Amgen could enter the market and become a major player despite having no real presence now. So should Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk actually start to sweat?
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
There may not be a real threat to the incumbents here
MariTide is an antibody-peptide conjugate, which in this case means that it's an antibody that blocks the receptor for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and also carries two peptides that activate the receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
The conjugate's long half-life is what enables dosing only once a month, which could be a major convenience factor for patients, leading to higher market share than competing drugs. In the 592-participant phase 2 trial, adults with obesity and no type 2 diabetes lost 12.3% to 16.2% of their body weight at 52 weeks, against 2.5% on placebo.
The trouble is that those results don't exactly stack up against the competition.
Per one head-to-head trial comparing different molecules for weight loss, tirzepatide, which is the molecule in Eli Lilly's Zepbound, led to 20.2% weight loss, and semaglutide, which is Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, led to 13.7% weight loss after 72 weeks. MariTide has never been tested against either in a structured trial, but its phase 2 data do not suggest that it would dramatically outperform the leading medicines on the market right now.
Amgen's own language on this topic is instructive. The company's commercial chief, Murdo Gordon, told investors in April that it expects to be the best "monthly or less frequently dosed" agent in obesity.
Getting people to switch will be hard
Amgen will struggle to get patients to shift from their other weight loss therapies if it eventually succeeds in commercializing its candidate.
Amgen appears to share that doubt. In May it began an open-label phase 3 study of about 300 adults, moving off GLP-1 drugs and onto MariTide, with results due in 2028. Even if that trial produces some favorable data, it will probably be far too late to matter because by then both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will likely have even newer and better therapies on the market or approaching commercialization.
Lilly's oral drug orforglipron, now branded Foundayo, was approved on April 1. Getting a once-monthly injection is probably a worse proposition in comparison to taking a daily pill, which many patients already do with other medicines anyway. Separately, Novo Nordisk has already filed for approval with its candidate CagriSema in December 2025.
Again, both of those companies, not to mention a few biotechs, have other weight loss candidates in the pipeline.
Amgen's next major weight loss catalyst is Maritime-1, its 3,501-patient obesity trial, which reaches primary completion on Jan. 21, 2027, with the type 2 diabetes study landing the same day.
Until then, Amgen only has a plausible convenience advantage, and it has no evidence in hand that it is beating any of the other players on efficacy or tolerability. Investors don't need to worry that they're at risk of missing the next hot stock on the basis of its published results so far. And, for their parts, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly don't need to fear Amgen much right now.
Should you buy stock in Amgen right now?
Before you buy stock in Amgen, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Amgen wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $379,662!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,206,116!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 886% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 206% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
Alex Carchidi has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Watch Out, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk: Amgen's Monthly Weight Loss Drug Has 6 Phase 3 Trials Running -- and It's Coming for Your Patients

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLV) where we have detected an approximate $482.1 million dollar inflow -- that's a 1.1% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 258,765,324 to 261,715,324). Among the largest underlying components of XLV, in trading today Merck & Co Inc (Symbol: MRK) is up about 3.1%, Amgen Inc (Symbol: AMGN) is up about 5.5%, and Gilead Sciences Inc (Symbol: GILD) is higher by about 3.7%. 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 $127.96 per share, with $168.53 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $168.21. 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.
Further XLV Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable ETF Inflow Detected - XLV, MRK, AMGN, GILD

AstraZeneca AZN reported second-quarter 2026 core earnings of $2.63 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.50. Earnings rose 21% year over year on a reported basis and 18% at constant exchange rate (CER).
Total revenues of $15.38 billion rose 6% on a reported basis and 5% at CER, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.31 billion.
All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year basis and at CER.
AZN shares began trading on the NYSE on Feb. 2. Earlier, in the United States, investors traded AstraZeneca through a different structure called American Depositary Shares on Nasdaq.
AZN’s Product Sales & Alliance Revenues
Product sales increased 4% to $14.51 billion.
Alliance revenues rose 33% to $874 million, driven by continued revenue growth from partnered medicines. Alliance revenues include royalties and profit share from partnered medicines, such as Enhertu and Tezspire, in geographies where its partner books product sales.
AZN’s Key Oncology Drugs Drive Growth but Miss Estimates
Here, we have discussed AstraZeneca’s total drug revenues by including Alliance and Collaboration revenues in each revenue figure.
In Oncology, Tagrisso recorded revenues of $1.94 billion, up 6% year over year, driven by strong demand across all indications and key regions, partly offset by a more competitive environment in China in a slowing EGFRm TKI market. Tagrisso sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.01 billion.
Lynparza's total revenues declined 3% to $829 million due to unfavorable channel mix and inventory destocking as well as the impact of generic launches in China and volume-based procurement (VBP) implementation. The drug’s sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $832 million.
AstraZeneca markets Lynparza in partnership with Merck MRK. During the quarter, the company did not record any milestone payment from partner Merck related to the drug.
Imfinzi generated sales of $1.85 billion in the quarter, up 27%, driven by strong demand growth across all regions from existing indications and new launches. Imfinzi sales, however, missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.91 billion. Sales of Calquence rose 16% to $1.02 billion in the quarter. Breast cancer drug Truqap generated $233 million in second-quarter 2026 revenues, up 37% year over year, driven by strong demand in second-line biomarker-altered metastatic breast cancer.
Newly approved drug Datroway, for which it has a partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, recorded revenues of $55 million in the second quarter compared with $43 million in the previous quarter.
Year to date, AstraZeneca stock has lost 7.9% against the industry’s 1.8% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AZN’s CVRM Segment Performance
In CVRM, Farxiga recorded product sales of $1.80 billion, down 19%, due to loss of exclusivity in the United States, generic competition in multiple international markets, including China, the United Kingdom and Japan, and the impact of China's VBP program, partly offset by underlying demand growth in Europe. Farxiga sales, however, marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.803 billion.
Brilinta/Brilique sales totaled $80 million in the reported quarter, down 63%, due to the generic launch in Europe and the United States.
Wainua recorded $70 million in product sales during the quarter, up 58% year over year, driven by strong demand growth in transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy and geographic expansion.
AZN’s R&I Segment Performance
In R&I, Symbicort sales declined 8% to $671 million due to increasing generic competition. The drug’s sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $707 million.
Fasenra recorded sales of $570 million in the quarter, up 13% year over year, driven by strong demand growth and market share gains. The recent launch for the EGPA indication also benefited sales in some countries. The drug’s sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $563 million.
Breztri recorded sales of $346 million, up 20% year over year, driven by a consistent share increase in a growing market, partially offset by unfavorable gross-to-net adjustments.
Pulmicort sales grew 9% to $120 million in the reported quarter.
New product Airsupra generated $50 million in product sales in the quarter, up 18% year over year. The product’s U.S. launch momentum remains strong.
New lupus drug Saphnelo recorded sales of $209 million, up 24% year over year, driven by demand growth in the U.S. market and ongoing launches in Europe and the Established RoW.
Tezspire recorded total revenues of $390 million, up 45% year over year, driven by demand growth and launch uptake in multiple markets. AstraZeneca has a partnership with Amgen AMGN for Tezspire. Amgen records product sales in the United States, and AstraZeneca records its share of U.S. gross profits as Alliance revenues. AstraZeneca books product sales in markets outside the United States.
AZN’s Rare Disease, V&I and Other Segment
In the Rare Disease portfolio, Soliris sales fell 28% to $389 million due to conversion to Ultomiris and biosimilar erosion in Europe and the United States.
Ultomiris revenues amounted to $1.31 billion, up 12%, driven by demand growth across indications, geographic expansions in new markets and continued conversion from Soliris.
In Other Medicines, sales of Nexium declined 6% to $234 million.
In V&I Therapies, AstraZeneca recorded $79 million in revenues from Beyfortus, including alliance revenues received from partner Sanofi SNY and sales of the manufactured Beyfortus product to Sanofi. Revenues declined 37% year over year due to the partner’s adjustments of inventory levels.
AstraZeneca PLC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
AZN Reiterates 2026 Guidance
AstraZeneca reconfirmed its financial guidance for 2026.
It continues to expect total revenues to grow by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage at CER.
Core EPS is expected to increase by a low double-digit percentage at CER.
Our Take on AZN’s Results
AstraZeneca delivered a solid quarter, with earnings and revenues exceeding expectations despite mounting generic pressure across several mature brands. However, sales of key oncology medicines — Tagrisso, Imfinzi and Lynparza — all fell short of consensus estimates. At the same time, continued declines in Farxiga, Brilinta, Symbicort and Soliris highlight the growing impact of patent expiries and biosimilar competition.
That said, strong demand for newer growth drivers such as Truqap, Ultomiris, Tezspire and Wainua, along with continued label expansions, helped offset weakness in older products. While AstraZeneca’s diversified portfolio provides stability, future growth will depend on whether its newer medicines can offset the continued decline in older products facing generic competition.
AZN’s Zacks Rank
Currently, AstraZeneca has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

AZN Q2 Earnings and Sales Beat, Key Drugs Offset Generic Pressure

Johnson & Johnson JNJ, via its Innovative Medicine segment, markets a broad portfolio of blockbuster therapies across key areas, including neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology, oncology, pulmonary hypertension and infectious diseases.
J&J’s Innovative Medicines/Pharma segment is the company’s primary growth engine, clearly outperforming its MedTech segment, despite the impact of biosimilar and generic competition on sales of some key drugs like Stelara, Remicade and Zytiga.
J&J’s Innovative Medicine Segment’s Q2 Performance
J&J’s Innovative Medicine segment delivered another quarter of healthy operational growth in the second quarter as sales rose 6.8% on an operational basis (excluding the impact of currency) to $16.38 billion.
On an organic basis, sales rose 6.9% despite the loss of exclusivity (“LOE”) of the multi-billion-dollar product, Stelara.
Higher sales of key products such as Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada due to strong market growth and share gains drove the segment’s growth. New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato contributed significantly to growth. These gains were partly offset by lower sales of Stelara, Remicade, Imbruvica and Zytiga.
Sales of blockbuster multiple myeloma treatment, Darzalex, rose 18.9% to $4.21 billion in the quarter. Tremfya remained another key growth driver, with sales rising 72.5% to $2.05 billion. Erleada sales increased 9.5% to $995 million.
Stelara’s sales fell 55.2% to $740 million. Stelara’s LOE negatively impacted the Innovative Medicines segment’s growth by 760 basis points and total revenues by 460 basis points in the second quarter.
J&J’s Innovative Medicine Segment’s Outlook for H2
J&J expects its Innovative Medicine segment to remain a key growth driver in the second half of 2026. The growth is expected to be driven by its key products, such as Darzalex, Tremfya, Spravato, Carvykti and Erleada, as well as increased contribution from new launches like Icotyde, Rybrevant and Inlexzo, which can offset the ongoing impact of Stelara biosimilar competition. On the second-quarter conference call, J&J said that it is seeing strong launches of all these new drugs, Inlexzo, Icotyde and Imaavy.
However, other than the Stelara LOE impact, J&J expects generic impact for both Simponi and Opsumit to begin in 2026 as the drugs lose patent protection.
Overall, J&J expects continued above-market growth for the Innovative Medicine segment through the remainder of 2026. In fact, Innovative Medicine is expected to remain J&J's primary growth engine for the foreseeable future.
J&J Key Competitors
Immunology and oncology are J&J’s key areas. Other large drugmakers with a strong presence in the oncology market include Novartis, AstraZeneca AZN, AbbVie ABBV, Amgen AMGN, Merck, Bristol-Myers, Roche and Pfizer. In immunology, AbbVie, Amgen, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Pfizer hold a strong position.
JNJ’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
J&J’s shares have outperformed the industry so far this year. The stock has risen 26.7% this year compared with 11.8% appreciation of the industry.
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 21.07 forward earnings, higher than 18.72 for the industry. The stock is also trading above its five-year mean of 15.65.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has risen from $11.58 per share to $11.65 per share over the past 30 days, while that for 2027 earnings has gone up from $12.65 per share to $12.80 over the same time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
J&J has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

J&J's Innovative Medicine Unit Proves Its Resilience in Q2

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLV) where we have detected an approximate $322.2 million dollar inflow -- that's a 0.8% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 256,765,324 to 258,765,324). Among the largest underlying components of XLV, in trading today Merck & Co Inc (Symbol: MRK) is down about 0.8%, Amgen Inc (Symbol: AMGN) is down about 0.1%, and Gilead Sciences Inc (Symbol: GILD) is lower by about 0.6%. 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 $127.96 per share, with $165.605 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $160.48. 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.
Further XLV Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Key Points
Pfizer has an attractive weight loss pipeline.
However, it will be hard to take the lead from other companies in this fast-growing area.
There are other good reasons to invest in the stock.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has not performed well in recent years, as demand for its coronavirus products has plummeted. Meanwhile, several of the company's newer launches haven't made much of an impact on its financial results, while it is racing toward an important patent cliff -- that of Eliquis, an anticoagulant and one of its best-selling drugs -- by the end of the decade. However, management has a plan to turn things around. Pfizer has a deep pipeline that could help it rejuvenate its lineup. One area the company hopes to dominate is the weight management drug market, which is growing rapidly and could exceed $100 billion in sales by the next decade. Could Pfizer become the leader in this niche?
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
Pfizer's weight management candidates
Pfizer had to discontinue the development of some of its internally developed anti-obesity products due to safety concerns. But it beefed up its pipeline thanks to an acquisition. In November, the pharmaceutical leader bought Metsera, a biotech with several promising weight-loss candidates, for $7 billion in cash (excluding potential additional milestone payments). Pfizer inherited Metsera's lead weight-loss asset, MET-097i, a GLP-1 medicine that appears highly promising.
In a pair of phase 2b studies, the investigational medicine demonstrated strong weight-loss efficacy -- patients on MET-097i had a mean placebo-subtracted weight loss of up to 14.1% after 28 weeks -- along with excellent tolerability. Also, MET-097i has the potential for monthly dosing, which might give it a significant advantage over the current leading weight-loss options, which are administered weekly.
MET-097i is now undergoing phase 3 clinical trials. Pfizer does have other candidates it inherited from Metsera. And the drugmaker hasn't given up on all of its internally developed programs either. One of them is an investigational weight-loss pill called PF-07976016 that is currently in phase 2 studies. Oral weight-loss medicines have brought brand-new patients to the anti-obesity market, so this is another promising candidate.
Overall, Pfizer's portfolio features several differentiated products. The company has one of the more promising pipelines in this area.
It won't be easy to take the crown
Pfizer will have to go up against many pharmaceutical giants in this field, including the current leaders, Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO). Both have highly effective drugs in their current lineups as well as deep pipelines. Take Eli Lilly, whose next-gen anti-obesity medicine, retatrutide, posted impressive phase 3 clinical trial results that rival weight loss numbers we typically see in bariatric surgeries. Retatrutide has an advantage: It is a triple agonist, which means it combats obesity by simultaneously activating three distinct hormone receptors.
As of now, there is no such drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retatrutide could be the first. Novo Nordisk isn't too far behind. The company also has several triple agonists in its pipeline, including one that recently posted highly encouraging mid-stage results. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk also have an advantage, having been the biggest players in the adjacent diabetes market over the past few decades. Beyond the two leaders, other drugmakers are also making progress.
For instance, Amgen's (NASDAQ: AMGN) MariTide is undergoing phase 3 studies as a potential treatment for obesity and several other conditions. MariTide is also a long-acting therapy that could be administered monthly (or less frequently).
What does this mean for Pfizer?
It's too soon to know which company will be the biggest winner in the weight loss market, but if I were a betting man, my money wouldn't be on Pfizer -- it would be on Eli Lilly. However, Pfizer does not need to dominate this area to turn its business around. There is room for multiple winners in this field, and the company is well-positioned to be one of them, given its deep pipeline.
Pfizer also has promising candidates in other therapeutic areas that should make meaningful progress over the next few years, especially in oncology. Meanwhile, several of the company's products are still posting decent sales growth. Finally, Pfizer is a terrific dividend stock. It offers a forward yield of 6.9% and has continued to increase its payouts despite the headwinds it has encountered in recent years. That makes it a top pick for investors seeking reliable, blue chip dividend stocks.
Should you buy stock in Pfizer right now?
Before you buy stock in Pfizer, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Pfizer wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $371,842!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,244,783!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 900% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 207% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of July 20, 2026.
Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Could Pfizer Ultimately Be the Biggest Winner in the $100 Billion Weight-Loss Market?

Shares of Merck MRK rose more than 3% on Thursday after the company announced that the FDA approved enlicitide as the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, or bad cholesterol) in adults with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). The drug will be marketed under the brand name Lipfendra.
The agency’s approval also covers patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), an inherited condition in which a person receives a mutated gene associated with high cholesterol from one parent.
The approval is supported by data from two phase III studies, CORALreef Lipids and CORALreef HeFH, which evaluated a 20 mg once-daily dose of the drug over 24 weeks. While data from the CORALreef Lipids study showed that Lipfendra reduced LDL-C by 56% versus placebo in patients with hypercholesterolemia, the CORALreef HeFH study demonstrated a 59% reduction compared to placebo in HeFH patients.
The drug is expected to launch in the coming weeks at a list price of $315 per month, significantly lower than the list prices of currently available PCSK9 injectables, including Amgen’s AMGN Repatha and Novartis’ NVS Leqvio. This competitive pricing was not unexpected, as Merck had previously indicated that it intended to position Lipfendra as an affordable treatment under its agreement with the U.S. government to expand access to medicines and lower costs for citizens. Although the drug's commercial success will ultimately depend on Merck's net pricing strategy and payer adoption, its oral formulation could provide a meaningful competitive advantage over injectable PCSK9 therapies.
MRK’s Stock Performance
Year to date, the company’s shares have risen 21% compared with the industry’s 9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
More on Merck’s Lipfendra
The drug is currently being evaluated in a late-stage cardiovascular outcomes study to determine whether it can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, as well as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Lipfendra could become an important long-term growth driver for Merck. As the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor, the drug has the potential to expand the use of this class by offering a convenient alternative to injectable therapies, potentially improving patient uptake and adherence. If successful, Lipfendra could emerge as a meaningful revenue contributor and help diversify Merck's growth drivers as the company prepares for the loss of exclusivity for its blockbuster cancer therapy, Keytruda, later this decade.
Merck & Co., Inc. Price
MRK’s Zacks Rank
Merck currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops."
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.9% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention.
See them now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

MRK Stock Jumps on FDA Nod for Cholesterol-Lowering Pill

Johnson & Johnson’s JNJ second-quarter 2026 earnings came in at $2.90 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.84. Earnings rose 4.7% from the year-ago period.
Adjusted earnings exclude intangible amortization expense and special items. Including these items, reported earnings were $2.27 per share, down 0.9% year over year.
Sales of this drug and medical devices giant came in at $25.3 billion, which marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $25.2 billion.
Sales rose 6.6% from the year-ago quarter, reflecting an operational increase of 5.6% and a positive currency impact of 1.0%. Organically, excluding the impact of acquisitions/divestitures and currency, sales rose 5.7% on an operational basis.
Second-quarter sales in the domestic market rose 7.3% to $14.53 billion. Excluding the impact of all acquisitions and divestitures on an adjusted operational basis, domestic sales rose 7.4% in the quarter.
International sales rose 5.7% on a reported basis to $10.8 billion, reflecting an operational increase of 3.4% and a positive currency impact of 2.3%. Excluding the impact of all acquisitions and divestitures on an adjusted operational basis, international sales rose 3.5% in the quarter.
JNJ’s Innovative Medicine Sales Maintain Momentum
Innovative Medicine sales rose 7.8% year over year to $16.38 billion. Operational sales increased 6.8%, while adjusted operational growth was 6.9%. U.S. sales advanced 8.9%, and international sales increased 6% on a reported basis. Innovative Medicines sales slightly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $16.16 billion.
Higher sales of key products such as Darzalex, Tremfya and Erleada due to strong market growth and share gains drove the segment’s growth. New drugs like Carvykti, Tecvayli, Talvey, Rybrevant and Spravato contributed significantly to growth. These gains were partly offset by lower sales of Stelara, Remicade, Imbruvica and Zytiga.
J&J’s Oncology Portfolio Delivers Strong Growth
Worldwide oncology sales increased 17.3% to $7.41 billion.
Sales of blockbuster multiple myeloma medicine Darzalex rose 18.9% to $4.21 billion in the quarter. Sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.16 billion.
Imbruvica sales declined 18.6% to $599 million. Rising competitive pressure in the United States due to new oral competition has been hurting Imbruvica's sales for the past few quarters. Imbruvica sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $630.0 million.
Erleada sales increased 9.5% to $995 million. Erleada sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.06 billion.
Among the newer cancer drugs, Carvykti sales surged 49.4% to $657 million, while Tecvayli sales jumped 56.5% to $260 million.
Talvey sales advanced 63.3% to $174 million. Rybrevant/Lazcluze sales climbed 60.8% to $289 million.
JNJ’s Tremfya and Neuroscience Drugs Offset Stelara
Worldwide immunology sales declined 3.7% to $3.84 billion as biosimilar competition continued to put pressure on Stelara, whose sales fell 55.2% to $740 million. However, Stelara sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $654.0 million.
Several biosimilar versions of J&J’s multi-billion-dollar immunology drug, Stelara, were 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.
Tremfya remained the key growth driver, with sales rising 72.5% to $2.05 billion. Tremfya sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 billion.
Remicade revenues decreased 25.8% to $338 million. Simponi and Simponi Aria sales declined 10.5% to $618 million.
Neuroscience sales increased 14% to $2.34 billion. Spravato revenues grew 40.8% to $584 million.
Caplyta, added from last year’s acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies, generated $361 million, up 70.9% year over year.
Invega Sustenna/Xeplion/Invega Trinza/Trevicta sales rose 2.3% to $1.02 billion in the quarter.
JNJ’s PAH and Other Drugs’ Performance
Pulmonary hypertension drug Uptravi recorded second-quarter 2026 sales of $494 million, up 3.8% year over year. Opsumit/Opsynvi sales increased 3.4% to $602 million.
Xarelto sales rose 7.1% to $664 million. Sales of Prezista/Prezcobix/Rezolsta/Symtuza declined 6.3% to $372 million.
J&J’s MedTech Business Posts Broad-Based Gains
MedTech sales increased 4.5% to $8.93 billion, including operational growth of 3.6%. However, MedTech segment sales slightly missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.96 billion.
Excluding the impact of all acquisitions and divestitures, and currency, on an adjusted operational basis, worldwide sales rose 3.7%.
The MedTech business has improved in the past few quarters, driven by strong performance in three focus areas: Cardiovascular, Surgery and Vision.
Cardiovascular sales rose 4% to $2.40 billion. Shockwave revenues advanced 14.6% to $335 million, while electrophysiology sales increased 4.4% to $1.53 billion.
Surgery sales grew 3.9% to $2.65 billion, supported by wound-closure and biosurgery products. Vision revenues increased 6% to $1.45 billion, led by contact lenses. Orthopaedics sales rose 4.9% to $2.42 billion, with trauma revenues increasing 7.6%.
JNJ Slightly Ups 2026 Guidance
J&J raised its 2026 reported sales guidance to $100.8-$101.4 billion from $100.3-$101.3 billion. The sales projection indicates growth in the range of 7.0%-7.6% versus the prior expectation of 6.5%-7.5%. Operational sales growth is expected in the range of 6.5%-7.1% versus the prior expectation of 5.9%-6.9%.
Adjusted operational sales (excluding currency impact, acquisitions/divestitures) growth is expected in the range of 6.2%-6.8% versus the prior expectation of 5.6%-6.6%.
Adjusted earnings per share guidance was raised from a range of $11.45-$11.65 to $11.60- $11.75 per share. Adjusted earnings per share growth is expected in the range of 7.5%-8.9% versus the prior expectation of 6.1%-8.1%.
Our Take on JNJ’s Q2 Results
Johnson & Johnson delivered a solid second-quarter performance, with adjusted earnings and sales topping expectations. Sales of key therapies — Darzalex and Tremfya — surpassed expectations, while Erleada fell short. Stelara sales were also better than expected. MedTech segment sales came in slightly below expectations.
Stelara’s loss of exclusivity (LOE) negatively impacted the Innovative Medicines segment’s growth by 760 basis points in the quarter. Despite Stelara's LOE, the Innovative Medicines unit once again outperformed estimates, driven primarily by strong momentum in oncology. Newer therapies and recent launches made a meaningful contribution to overall sales growth, helping offset biosimilar pressure. Encouraged by the quarter’s performance, J&J raised its 2026 financial guidance for the second time this year.
However, despite the beat and raise quarter, J&J’s shares declined more than 2% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, probably due to the MedTech miss and only a modest beat on overall sales.
J&J’s shares have risen 24% year to date compared with 12.1% appreciation of the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Nonetheless, J&J expects 2026 to be a year of accelerated growth. The company expects both its Innovative Medicines and MedTech segments to deliver stronger growth this year. The company is confident that it can achieve its target of generating more than $100 billion in revenues in 2026. Earlier, it had said that it expects sales to continue to improve in 2027, with a “line of sight” to double-digit growth by the end of the decade. An update is expected on the conference call.
J&J’s Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider
J&J currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Johnson & Johnson Price and Consensus
A better-ranked drugmaker is Exelixis EXEL, which has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Exelixis’s shares have risen 27.2% so far this year. Estimates for its 2026 earnings per share have increased from $3.49 to $3.54 over the past 60 days.
Exelixis’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 17.04%.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

J&J Q2 Earnings Beat on Darzalex, Tremfya Growth, 2026 Outlook Raised

Investors interested in Medical - Biomedical and Genetics stocks are likely familiar with Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (HRMY) and Amgen (AMGN). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks? Let's take a closer look.
There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Currently, Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Amgen has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). Investors should feel comfortable knowing that HRMY likely has seen a stronger improvement to its earnings outlook than AMGN has recently. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.
HRMY currently has a forward P/E ratio of 10.91, while AMGN has a forward P/E of 16.25. We also note that HRMY has a PEG ratio of 0.33. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. AMGN currently has a PEG ratio of 3.58.
Another notable valuation metric for HRMY is its P/B ratio of 2.26. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, AMGN has a P/B of 21.17.
These metrics, and several others, help HRMY earn a Value grade of A, while AMGN has been given a Value grade of C.
HRMY stands above AMGN thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that HRMY is the superior value option right now.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
See Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Amgen Inc.

Options Strategies