Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. It also provides oncology products, including Alimta, Cyramza, Erbitux, Jaypirca, Retevmo, Tyvyt, and Verzenio. In addition, the company offers Olumiant for rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, severe alopecia areata, and COVID-19; Taltz for plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis; Omvoh for ulcerative colitis; Cymbalta for depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain; Ebglyss for severe atopic dermatitis; and Emgality for migraine prevention and episodic cluster headache. Further, it provides Cialis for erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia; and Forteo for osteoporosis. The company operates Lilly Seaport Innovation Center (LSC), a research and development facility in the Boston Seaport to advancing Lilly's efforts in RNA and DNA-based therapies as well as discovering new drug targets to create life-changing medicines across several disease states, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, and chronic pain. It has collaborations with Incyte Corporation; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Genentech, Inc.; Biologics, Inc., AbCellera Biologics Inc.; and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1876 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

У Eli Lilly фундаментальная картина остаётся сильной, но оценка уже очень требовательна к будущему росту. Выручка, EBITDA, операционная и чистая прибыль заметно выросли по годам, что подтверждает устойчивое расширение бизнеса и высокое качество исполнения. Маржа валовой прибыли держится около 83%, а операционная и чистая маржа находятся на очень высоких уровнях и продолжают улучшаться, что для фармсектора является сильным плюсом. ROE, ROA и ROI существенно выше отраслевых медиан, поэтому компания генерирует исключительную отдачу на капитал и активы. При этом P/E, P/S, P/B и P/FCF остаются кратно выше медианы отрасли, то есть рынок уже закладывает в цену значительную часть будущего успеха. Это означает, что даже при хорошем росте прибыли потенциал переоценки ограничен, а риск разочарования в темпах роста выше среднего. Долговая нагрузка заметная: debt/equity и долгосрочный долг высоки, хотя динамика leverage в последние периоды улучшается, что немного смягчает риск. Ликвидность приемлемая, но не комфортная для столь дорогой оценки: current ratio и quick ratio ниже отраслевых ориентиров, поэтому запас прочности по оборотному капиталу ограничен. Дивидендная доходность очень низкая и не является существенным фактором поддержки инвестиционного кейса. Баланс в целом растёт: увеличиваются активы, собственный капитал и прибыль, что подтверждает фундаментальное укрепление компании. Однако сочетание выдающейся рентабельности с очень высокими мультипликаторами говорит скорее о качественном, но уже дорогом активе, чем о явной недооценке. Для целевой цены это скорее умеренно негативный сигнал: сильные операционные результаты поддерживают оценку, но текущий уровень мультипликаторов ограничивает пространство для дальнейшего повышения.

Eli Lilly and Company

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Слабый индекс, значительно упал. Рынок на стороне быков.

Weak index, significantly down. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, значительно упал. Отток средств из лонгов увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Medium index, significantly down. The outflow of funds from longs has increased and is at a high level.

LLY демонстрирует выдающуюся рентабельность и рост прибыли, но торгуется с очень высокими мультипликаторами и умеренными рисками по долгу и ликвидности.

(RTTNews) - Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) announced positive results from the Phase 3 BRUIN CLL-322 clinical trial evaluating Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib), a non-covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, in combination with venetoclax and rituximab versus venetoclax and rituximab alone in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
The study met its primary endpoint of independent review committee (IRC)-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Results showed that adding pirtobrutinib to the two-year venetoclax plus rituximab regimen reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 45%.
Overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint, was not yet mature at the time of this analysis. Final testing of OS superiority is planned for a future date. Another secondary endpoint, time to next treatment (TTNT), consistently favored the pirtobrutinib combination regimen.
The overall safety profile of the regimen was consistent with the known safety profiles of each medicine. Importantly, little additive toxicity was observed with the addition of pirtobrutinib to venetoclax and rituximab.
BRUIN CLL-322 is the first Phase 3 study to demonstrate superiority over a venetoclax-containing control arm in CLL. With the majority of patients previously treated with a covalent BTK inhibitor, the trial reflects current practice patterns and underscores the potential of pirtobrutinib in advancing treatment outcomes.
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.

Lilly's Jaypirca Combo Reduces Risk Of Progression By 45% In Phase 3 CLL Trial

Eli Lilly (LLY) closed the most recent trading day at $1,133.00, moving -2.41% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.5%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.7%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 0.31%.
The drugmaker's shares have seen an increase of 15.32% over the last month, surpassing the Medical sector's gain of 5.49% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.23%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Eli Lilly in its upcoming release. On that day, Eli Lilly is projected to report earnings of $9.01 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 42.79%. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $20.44 billion, up 31.39% from the year-ago period.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $35.67 per share and revenue of $85.6 billion, indicating changes of +47.34% and +31.33%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Eli Lilly. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.06% lower. Eli Lilly presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Eli Lilly is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 32.54. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 15.58 for its industry.
Meanwhile, LLY's PEG ratio is currently 1.27. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Large Cap Pharmaceuticals was holding an average PEG ratio of 2.71 at yesterday's closing price.
The Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry is part of the Medical sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 113, this industry ranks in the top 47% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.
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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.

Eli Lilly (LLY) Stock Sinks As Market Gains: What You Should Know

Key Points
Pfizer aims to enter the weight loss drug market, and one platform should be the workhorse of this effort.
That workhorse, called berobenatide, is performing as well as the company’s been hoping.
It could prove very marketable despite Eli Lilly’s and Novo Nordisk’s commanding lead in this race.
Pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) are still the two titans of the weight loss drug market, to be sure. Lilly sold $13.5 billion worth of GLP-1-based Zepbound last year, while Novo reported revenue of more than $30 billion (U.S.) from its anti-obesity drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, with its weight loss arm experiencing year-over-year sales growth of more than 26%.
As is so often the case, though, would-be competitors aren't simply letting market leaders have unfettered access to a market that Morgan Stanley now believes will grow to a stunning $150 billion per year by 2035.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Drugmaker Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) is throwing its hat into the ring as well, recently offering a developmental update that should concern Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and the shareholders of this weight-loss drug duopoly. Let's see what this could mean for all three companies.
Less is more
It's called berobenatide. In many ways, it's like the aforementioned Wegovy and Zepbound, as it leverages the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor pathway to induce weight loss. And it's administered by subcutaneous injection.
There is one big way Pfizer's anti-obesity drug berobenatide -- also known as PF-08653944 -- differs from Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound, though. That is, whereas Lilly's and Novo's treatments are injected weekly, Pfizer's GLP-1 receptor agonist requires only a monthly injection to achieve comparable weight-loss results.
That's what the developmental update, unveiled recently at the 86th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, suggests, anyway. As the company's corresponding press release explains, the drug's phase 2b trials successfully "highlight the potential for monthly delivery in a patient-friendly presentation with a very low 0.5 mL injection volume that provides convenience and scalability advantages" for patients with or without type 2 diabetes. It's also about as well tolerated as alternatives.
There are some measurable trade-offs, of course. While this particular study showed a typical weight loss of 15.9% at the 32-week mark, patients might do slightly better with Novo Nordisk's or Eli Lilly's GLP-1 options as part of a clinically managed or carefully followed treatment regimen.
However, given that its average weight loss reflects a wide range of inputs that may or may not be affected by deviations from a dosing or diet regimen, some patients could conceivably achieve better personal results. Some observers also argue that berobenatide may produce better net weight loss in the long run simply because it's easier to stick to its corresponding weight-loss plan.
The trial's results also affirm the idea that this drug may be effective at maintaining a lower weight once a user's weight-loss goal has been met.
The rest of the story is even more compelling
It's an obvious win for Pfizer. But even a late-phase 2b win for a single drug in its R&D pipeline isn't exactly game-changing for the company. There's still phase 3 testing to be done, which is not only time-consuming, but puts previous-stage results to the test on a wider scale. Veteran investors know all too well that the FDA can often spot something it doesn't like late in a drug's development that it didn't notice before.
Just understand that this same anti-obesity treatment -- berobenatide -- isn't just in one single mid-stage trial right now. It's currently undergoing a handful of similar trials as a weight-loss drug and a type 2 diabetes treatment, some of which are phase 3 trials -- the final stage before seeking regulatory approval. The market's already familiar with this drug and its safety profile. The recent update of its efficacy as a once-monthly, low-dose injection simply bolsters the overall optimism surrounding this drug, ultimately acquired with Pfizer's 2025 acquisition of drugmaker Metsera.
In a similar vein, Pfizer's update on phase 2b testing of low monthly doses of berobenatide gives the company another chance to tout that it actually has 10 different trials of this drug in or entering phase 3 by the end of this year. Moreover, it's got more than 20 anti-obesity treatments currently in the works at various stages of development.
Connect the dots. Pfizer is positioning to compete with Lilly and Novo. And it will be able to do so, even if only a handful of these trials meet their phase 3 targets.
Much to think about, and far too much to simply ignore
Just keep your expectations in check. Multiple trials means multiple launches of the drug, each with a narrowly range of approved uses. Pfizer's obesity business will only build slowly and won't begin making major contributions to the top and bottom lines for at least a few years.
As CEO Albert Bourla commented in the company's recent Q1earnings conference call "Starting in 2029, we will enter a five-year period of high single-digit revenue CAGR," with much of its growth from that point on being driven by recent acquisitions like Matsera. The three years between now and then, however, are going to remain mostly unimpressive as the company continues to struggle with the sharp wind-down of its once-red-hot COVID-19 drug business.
The market has a funny way of predicting and reflecting those predictions in stock prices -- well in advance, though.
Whatever the case, even what's just moderately bullish for Pfizer is more bearish for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Pfizer is introducing competition to the weight-loss drug market, which is already seeing slowing growth. If nothing else, the eventual launch of berobenatide will further erode the already-waning pricing power of Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound. And Pfizer isn't the only outfit working on an alternative anti-obesity drug either.
Given that Lilly and Novo shares have been priced at a premium largely on the potential of their weight-loss drugs, Pfizer's update is an important reminder that nothing lasts forever. Shareholders of either company will most definitely want to keep close tabs on the ongoing development of berobenatide. It's a brewing problem, to be sure.
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.
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James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Eli Lilly and Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends 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.

Pfizer's New Weight-Loss Data Just Gave Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Investors Something to Worry About

Key Points
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly's GLP-1 products and new drugs are powering its dividend growth.
Parker-Hannifin is a Dividend King that has increased its dividend for 71 consecutive years.
Microsoft is a tech powerhouse that consistently raises its dividend by 10% or more.
Income investors love Dividend Kings, that select group of stocks that have increased their dividends for 50 or more consecutive years. They love them for their stability, their fiscal management, and their ability to generate free cash flow.
They're great, but if you're looking to keep up with inflation, maybe it makes more sense to find dividend stocks that have kept up their increases at above-inflationary rates. Those with increases of 50% or more over the past five years but with relatively low payout ratios, so they can continue to keep raising their dividends. Yes, their yields are average or below, but they provide dependable dividend growth and share-price growth.
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Three stocks come to mind and they're not coming out of the blue. Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), motion control and technologies conglomerate Parker-Hannifin (NYSE: PH), and tech behemoth Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) have generously boosted dividends by 50% or more over the past five years while growing earnings per share (EPS) by 100% or more, while still keeping payout ratios below 27%.
Why I like all three stocks:
Eli Lilly is growing fat on GLP-1 profits
The healthcare company's blockbuster is tirzepatide, a GLP-1 drug sold as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. In the first quarter, Lilly's revenue was reported as $19.8 billion, up 56% year over year, and EPS rose by 156% over the same period a year ago to $8.55. Those numbers could rise now that Foundayo, a daily GLP-1 pill, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with weight-related medical problems.
The company's pipeline has 42 phase 3 trials and 32 phase 2 trials, including other potential blockbusters in that mix, such as Alzheimer's treatment donanemab and another GLP-1 drug, retatrutide, which, besides its weight-loss efficacy, could treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH) and severe metabolic dysfunction.
Lilly just increased its dividend by 15.3% to $1.73 per quarterly share. It has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years and by 104% over the past five years. The payout ratio is only 22.4%, and the company predicts 2026 revenue between $82 billion to $85 billion, up 28% at the midpoint, and EPS from $35.50 to $37, an increase of 49.7% at the midpoint.
Parker-Hannifan's wide moat drives dividend growth
While many Dividend Kings offer predictable but sluggish low-single-digit raises, Parker-Hannifin stands out with surprisingly aggressive growth. In April, the industrial company increased its dividend by 11% to $2 per share, marking the 70th consecutive year of dividend increases. Its 5-year dividend growth rate sits near 94%.
As a global leader in motion and control technologies, Parker is a quiet backbone of trends such as near-shoring in global supply chains, factory electrification, and clean technology infrastructure. Because its components are mission-critical but account for a tiny fraction of a client's total project cost, the company possesses immense pricing power.
Parker-Hannifin's business portfolio has evolved to provide longer-cycle, high-margin end markets that buffer it against short-term economic downturns. Its Aerospace Systems segment continues to be a big growth segment, as it saw revenue rise 15.5% year over year in the third quarter to $1.8 billion, while overall revenue increased by 11% over the same period a year ago to a record $5.5 billion. Adjusted EPS rose 18% over the same period a year ago to a record $8.17. Cash flow was a record $2.6 billion. That cash flow keeps the payout ratio a relatively low 26.6%.
Microsoft is that rare income-growth combo
Everyone thinks of Microsoft as a growth stock, which it is, thanks to its role in the AI revolution. Its partnership with OpenAI and its huge cloud infrastructure enable it to integrate AI capabilities across its software platform. The tech company has a highly resilient Productivity and Business Processes segment that, thanks to Office 365, Windows commercial, and LinkedIn, operates primarily on a subscription model.
However, Microsoft has a strong record of dividend growth, including a 10% bump last September to $0.91 per quarterly share, the 21st consecutive year it has increased its dividend and usually by 10% or more. It can do that because it steadily grows its businesses. In the third quarter, it reported revenue of $82.9 billion, up 18% year over year, and EPS of 4.27, up 23% over the same quarter in 2025.
Other companies are spending massively to scale data centers, which is driving more revenue for the company's Intelligent Cloud (Azure) and other cloud services, which reported year-over-year revenue growth of 40% in the quarter. Because its customers face incredibly high switching costs once embedded in Microsoft's server and software ecosystem, this cloud revenue represents a durable, wide-moat competitive advantage that will power top-line growth for the next decade.
Should you buy stock in Eli Lilly right now?
Before you buy stock in Eli Lilly, 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 Eli Lilly 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 $438,283!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,257,427!*
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James Halley has positions in Microsoft and Parker-Hannifin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Eli Lilly and Microsoft. 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.

These 3 Stocks With Fast-Growing Dividends Can Help You Beat Inflation

Key Points
The company is expanding both approved and pipeline therapies.
New indications could expand the market for existing drugs.
Long-term cash flow growth could support future dividend increases.
That's significantly higher than many other blue-chip healthcare stocks, including Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), and Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), all of which yield dividends of roughly 2% or less.
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But dividends don't increase just because management wants them to. They rise because the business generates enough cash to support them.
Following the money
This week, AbbVie presented new data from its blood cancer portfolio at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress.
This is one of the world's largest medical conferences focused on blood cancers and disorders, bringing together thousands of physicians, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare professionals to present new clinical trial data and discuss emerging treatments.
The reason EHA is important is that companies often use the conference to release new data on cancer drugs, particularly therapies targeting blood cancers. Positive results presented at EHA can support regulatory approvals, label expansions, partnerships, and future revenue growth. That's why AbbVie showcased its new clinical results there.
The company's most recent presentations included data on approved therapies as well as several pipeline candidates. In total, AbbVie showcased 21 presentations spanning multiple blood cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, follicular lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
AbbVie generated about $61 billion in revenue during 2025, and while immunology drugs receive most of the attention, oncology remains an important contributor.
The company's oncology portfolio generated about $6.7 billion in revenue in 2025. That's not insignificant.
That revenue helps fund research and development, debt reduction, share repurchases, and dividends.
Indeed, oncology helps diversify AbbVie's business.
Diversifying the pipeline
You may remember the company's dependence on Humira.
At its peak, Humira was one of the best-selling drugs in pharmaceutical history, generating about $21 billion in annual revenue.
That concentration created a significant risk because patents eventually expire. And when Humira lost U.S. exclusivity in 2023, and biosimilar generics entered the market, Humira revenue began declining rapidly.
Management saw this challenge coming years in advance and responded by aggressively building new growth platforms across immunology, oncology, and neuroscience.
Today, drugs such as Skyrizi and Rinvoq (used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and arthritis) are helping offset Humira's decline, while the company's oncology portfolio provides another important source of revenue and cash flow. The result is a much more diversified business than just a few years ago.
Today, AbbVie generates revenue across immunology, neuroscience, and oncology. That has reduced dependence on any single product and created a more resilient cash flow profile.
And that's why the EHA presentations are relevant.
AbbVie is actively expanding the use of existing drugs while advancing newer therapies that could eventually offset declines from older products. The company highlighted encouraging efficacy data across multiple studies, including late-stage programs and investigational treatments targeting difficult-to-treat blood cancers.
Of course, you can't guarantee successful drug development.
Clinical setbacks happen, and not every program succeeds. It's just part of the overall process of developing new therapies.
Still, AbbVie's oncology portfolio is no longer dependent on a single drug. The company now has multiple approved products, several late-stage opportunities, and a broader pipeline than it did just a few years ago.
Now consider that the latest clinical updates will strengthen the revenue engine supporting the dividend over the long term.
AbbVie's oncology business already generates billions of dollars annually, and management continues working to ensure that oncology remains a growth driver rather than a mature business.
That's why the company continues investing heavily in expanding existing therapies into new indications while advancing next-generation treatments for blood cancers and solid tumors.
Every successful clinical trial creates the potential for new approvals, larger patient populations, and longer revenue runways. And because cancer treatments often command premium pricing and can remain on the market for many years, successful oncology drugs can become meaningful cash-generating assets.
And ultimately, it's cash flow that pays dividends.
Should you buy stock in AbbVie right now?
Before you buy stock in AbbVie, 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 AbbVie 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 $442,220!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,230,114!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 12, 2026.
Jeff Siegel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie, Amgen, and Eli Lilly. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. 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.

AbbVie Reports Promising New Clinical Updates. Here's What It Means for the Company's Dividend.

Key Points
Viking is developing candidates in the high-growth weight loss drug market.
The company’s lead candidate is involved in late-stage studies.
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) has seen its stock stumble in recent times -- for example, it's slipped over the past year. But over five years, shares of the biotech company have climbed more than 300%. This is amid excitement about the company's potential in a market that's on track to reach nearly $100 billion in just a few years. I'm talking about the weight loss drug market.
Viking hasn't yet commercialized a drug, but it has a promising candidate in late-stage trials, so it may be very close to the finish line in this valuable market. All of this means the biotech, which specializes in developing candidates for metabolic and endocrine disease, might generate revenue -- and at significant levels -- in just a few years.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Though investors haven't rushed into the stock in recent months, this could soon change. Viking has catalysts just ahead: The company expects to report data from a maintenance dosing study of its weight loss drug candidate in the third quarter, and it aims to launch a phase 3 trial for the oral version of its candidate in the fourth quarter.
Considering this, is Viking stock going to $100? Let's find out.
Blockbuster weight loss drugs
We'll start with some details about Viking's lead candidate, VK2735. This is an investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, much like the popular drugs sold by market leaders Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. These drugs act on hormonal pathways involved in digestion, and as a result, they help control appetite and blood sugar levels. The Lilly and Novo drugs have become blockbusters, and demand has been consistently high for these products -- this is thanks to their efficacy, safety, and ease of use.
Though these pharma giants dominate the space, as mentioned, it is a high-growth market, so there is room for others to enter. And even if a company such as Viking doesn't take leadership -- and I wouldn't expect it to unseat a massive pharma company like Lilly or Novo -- it still could bring in blockbuster revenue. That could be quite a huge step for a young biotech.
And Viking does offer its own twist, differentiating itself from current GLP-1 drugs. At the moment, Lilly offers a dual GLP-1/GIP drug in injectable format and a GLP-1 drug in oral format. Novo's obesity drugs are GLP-1s. (Dual GLP-1/GIP drugs interact with two hormonal pathways, while GLP-1s interact with only one hormonal pathway.)
Injectable and oral formulations
Viking is developing VK2735 in both injectable and oral formats. So, if approved, it would be the first dual GLP-1/GIP drug available in oral format -- and the first dual available in both injectable and oral formats. One big advantage of this is that patients can shift from one formulation to the other -- for example, starting with the oral treatment and then using the injectable for maintenance once they've reached their desired weight.
The phase 3 trial for Viking's injectable is ongoing, and as mentioned, the phase 3 study for the oral formulation is set to begin later this year. We also should see data from its maintenance dosing trial in the months to come. These events could represent catalysts for the stock, which has been known to react to news. When Viking initially announced phase 2 data for VK2735 a couple of years ago, the stock soared more than 100% in one trading session.
So now, let's return to our question: Is Viking heading to $100? It reached a high of more than $94 when it announced phase 2 data in February of 2024. The stock has since given back much of that gain, and it trades today for about $27. But the average Wall Street estimate calls for it to reach more than $92 within the coming 12 months, recovering much of that territory.
The path to $100 represents a jump of more than 200%. I don't see that happening overnight like Viking's massive gain in February of 2024. But a few updates or general good news in the obesity drug market could help it along the way -- so Viking could indeed be heading to $100 in the quarters to come.
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Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Eli Lilly. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. 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.

Is Viking Therapeutics Stock Going to $100?

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity across pharmaceutical and biotech sectors has accelerated significantly in 2026, extending the strong recovery that began in 2025.
A recent surge in dealmaking underscores the industry’s focus on portfolio expansion and continuous pipeline innovation, alongside a growing emphasis on AI-driven drug discovery. Oncology and immuno-oncology companies have always been at the top of acquisition targets. Major players are actively pursuing licensing agreements and collaborations around promising drugs and candidates to further strengthen and diversify their core portfolios.
Quick Take on Recent M&A Deals
Pharma conglomerate Johnson & Johnson recently announced that it will acquire Firefly Bio for $1 billion and gain access to its Firelink degrader antibody conjugate platform. The deal strengthens Johnson & Johnson’s oncology pipeline by adding a targeted approach for KRAS-driven cancers, supporting its efforts to develop treatments for some of the most common and challenging solid tumors.
Other pharma giants Eli Lilly LLY and Novartis NVS have been on an acquisition spree this year.
Lilly recently announced agreements to acquire Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics, and Vaccine Company, expanding its infectious disease research and development capabilities.
Lilly has been actively expanding its pipeline through acquisitions. LLY is all set to acquire Ajax Therapeutics, which will add AJ1-11095, a potential first-in-class oral type II JAK2 inhibitor currently in phase I testing for myelofibrosis patients previously treated with type I JAK2 inhibitors, to its pipeline. The company also announced a deal to acquire clinical-stage biotechnology company Kelonia Therapeutics, Inc, a pioneer in vivo gene delivery.
The company had earlier agreed to acquire Centessa Pharmaceuticals for up to $7.8 billion, which will add orexin-based sleep disorder candidate cleminorexton to its pipeline. Lilly also struck a deal worth up to $2.4 billion for Orna Therapeutics, to gain access to its circular RNA-based immune cell engineering platform. Lilly also acquired Ventyx Biosciences to strengthen its portfolio of oral therapies targeting inflammatory diseases.
Swiss pharma bigwig Novartis, too, has been very active on the M&A front. NVS is set to acquire Excellergy Inc., strengthening its immunology pipeline with a focus on food allergies and other IgE-mediated conditions. The deal brings in EXL-111, a phase I, half-life-extended anti-IgE antibody.
Earlier this year, Novartis acquired Avidity Biosciences, adding its antibody oligonucleotide conjugate (AOC) platform and three late-stage programs, further bolstering its neuromuscular pipeline.
Last month, Merck MRK acquired Terns Pharmaceuticals for $53 per share in cash. The deal adds TERN-701, a potential best-in-class treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia that recently received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation. The acquisition strengthens Merck’s oncology pipeline.
Among biotech giants, Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD is ramping up its external innovation strategy through targeted acquisitions to strengthen its pipeline and reduce reliance on its core HIV franchise.
Gilead and partner Lakefront Biotherapeutics (formerly known as Galapagos) recently acquired Ouro Medicines, adding gamgertamig, a clinical-stage BCMAxCD3 T-cell engager, to strengthen their autoimmune disease and inflammation pipeline.
Last month, Gilead acquired Tubulis, a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), strengthening its oncology pipeline.
Earlier this year, GILD acquired Arcellx for about $7.8 billion. The acquisition gives Gilead full ownership of anito-cel, an investigational late-stage CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma with a potential U.S. decision by December 2026.
Another biotech giant Biogen recently acquired Apellis Pharmaceuticals $41 per share in cash plus contingent value rights worth up to an additional $4 per share tied to future sales milestones. The acquisition adds two commercialized therapies, Empaveli and Syfovre, to Biogen’s portfolio. Together, the drugs generated $689 million in sales in 2025. The transaction strengthens Biogen’s presence in immunology and rare diseases while establishing a foothold in nephrology.
Earlier this week, GSK plc GSK announced that it will acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Nuvalent for $10.6 billion, gaining three lung cancer assets, including late-stage ROS1 inhibitor zidesamtinib and ALK inhibitor neladalkib, both under FDA review. The deal strengthens GSK’s oncology pipeline, expands its presence in lung cancer, and is expected to contribute to sales and operating profit growth beginning in 2027.
GSK earlier acquired RAPT Therapeutics to strengthen its immunology pipeline. The company also bought 35Pharma, adding HS235, a potential best-in-class therapy for pulmonary hypertension.
Last week, Servier (an independent international pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation) agreed to acquire the muscular dystrophy business of Edgewise Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $2.65 billion, including $1.55 billion upfront and up to $1.1 billion in milestone payments.
Road Ahead in 2026
Consolidation remains a key theme as companies seek to offset patent cliffs and diversify revenue streams. Acquisitions offer a faster, less risky route than in-house development, especially as innovation cycles shorten.
With strong cash reserves and increasing adoption of advanced technologies like AI, M&A activity is expected to remain robust through 2026. Smaller biotechs, often constrained by funding, will likely remain prime acquisition targets, further fueling deal momentum.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Pharma and Biotech M&A Boom Accelerates as Companies Expand Pipelines

AbbVie ABBV continues to see strong momentum from Skyrizi and Rinvoq, its two blockbuster immunology medicines. Sales of both drugs not only mitigated the impact of continued erosion in legacy drug Humira but also reaffirmed their role as AbbVie’s key growth drivers.
This growth continued into 2026. In the first quarter, Skyrizi sales increased 29.2% year over year to $4.48 billion, while Rinvoq sales rose 20.2% to $2.12 billion. Together, the products were key contributors to AbbVie's double-digit revenue growth in the quarter. The company subsequently raised its 2026 revenue outlook for both medicines by $100 million each and now expects Skyrizi and Rinvoq to generate $21.6 billion and $10.2 billion in sales, respectively, this year. Combined, Skyrizi and Rinvoq are expected to deliver more than 20% growth in 2026.
A key driver behind this strength is continued demand across inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) indications, including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Skyrizi has emerged as a leading therapy in the category, while Rinvoq continues to gain traction following label expansions that support earlier use in treatment. AbbVie also highlighted continued market-share gains and strong new-patient demand for both products in the first quarter.
The growth runway for both medicines remains substantial. AbbVie recently submitted regulatory applications seeking approval of Rinvoq across two indications — vitiligo and alopecia areata — and Skyrizi as a subcutaneous induction option for CD. Additional growth opportunities remain, with Rinvoq being evaluated in late-stage studies for hidradenitis suppurativa and systemic lupus erythematosus, and data readouts expected later this year. Management believes the next wave of Rinvoq indications alone could contribute roughly $2 billion in peak annual sales. Combined with continued market-share gains across psoriasis and IBD, these label expansion opportunities should support sustained growth for both medicines through 2026 and beyond.
ABBV’s Competition in the Immunology Space
Johnson & Johnson JNJ remains one of AbbVie’s strongest competitors in immunology through blockbuster medicines Tremfya and Stelara. While Stelara faces biosimilar competition, J&J continues to strengthen its position with Tremfya, which is approved across multiple immunology indications, including UC and CD. The company also recently gained FDA approval for Icotyde, a new oral immunology therapy that is positioned as a direct competitor to Skyrizi.
Eli Lilly LLY is also expanding its presence in the immunology space. Its IL-23 inhibitor Omvoh is approved for both UC and CD, broadening Eli Lilly’s footprint in the fast-growing IBD market.
ABBV’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of AbbVie have underperformed the industry year to date, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, AbbVie is trading at a discount to the industry. Based on the price/earnings (P/E) ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 14.81 times forward earnings compared with the industry’s average of 17.67.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Revisions in EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have trended higher over the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AbbVie currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Will Skyrizi & Rinvoq Continue to Drive AbbVie's Topline Through 2026?

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Eli Lilly (Symbol: LLY), where a total of 15,976 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 49.1% of LLY's average daily trading volume over the past month of 3.3 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $1200 strike call option expiring June 12, 2026, with 812 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 81,200 underlying shares of LLY. Below is a chart showing LLY's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $1200 strike highlighted in orange:
Johnson & Johnson (Symbol: JNJ) saw options trading volume of 37,350 contracts, representing approximately 3.7 million underlying shares or approximately 47.2% of JNJ's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 7.9 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $250 strike call option expiring June 12, 2026, with 13,387 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.3 million underlying shares of JNJ. Below is a chart showing JNJ's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $250 strike highlighted in orange:
And Casey's General Stores, Inc. (Symbol: CASY) saw options trading volume of 2,623 contracts, representing approximately 262,300 underlying shares or approximately 46.5% of CASY's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 563,660 shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $900 strike call option expiring June 18, 2026, with 152 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 15,200 underlying shares of CASY. Below is a chart showing CASY's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $900 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for LLY options, JNJ options, or CASY options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Further LLY Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Wednesday Option Activity: LLY, JNJ, CASY

In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has witnessed a remarkable surge in the development of weight loss medications, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The global obesity rate has nearly tripled since 1975 and is expected to affect over half the population by 2035, per WHO and Goldman Sachs. Theglobal marketfor anti-obesity medications is expected to reach $50 billion by 2030.
As the prevalence of obesity rises, so do related chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, creating a massive market for treatments like GLP-1 drugs. Pioneering GLP-1 treatments, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound, are now at the forefront of medical advancements in weight management.
Eli Lilly Hovers Around $1 Trillion Valuation
Eli Lilly LLY shares hit a $1 trillion market value, closing at its first record high since November. The stock has surged more than 25% since the March 30 market low and gained over 400% in the past five years, making Eli Lilly one of Wall Street’s biggest beneficiaries of the obesity-drug boom, per Yahoo Finance. Shares surged about 14% over the past one month (as of June 4, 2026).
Reta Fuels Investor Optimism
Much of the recent excitement centers on retatrutide, or “Reta,” Eli Lilly’s experimental next-generation obesity treatment.
Unlike approved drugs such as Zepbound and Mounjaro, which target two hormone pathways, Reta targets three pathways tied to appetite control, blood sugar regulation and energy use.
In the Phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 obesity trial, patients on the highest dose lost an average of 70.3 pounds, or 28.3% of body weight, over 80 weeks. More than 45% of participants lost at least 30% of their body weight, results often associated with bariatric surgery, per the same Yahoo Finance article.
GLP-1 Market Expands Beyond Obesity
Investors increasingly view GLP-1 drugs as a broader metabolic-health platform extending beyond obesity and diabetes into areas such as sleep apnea, kidney disease, cardiovascular risk, liver disease and addiction treatment.
Alongside Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk NVO, Amgen AMGN and Viking Therapeutics VKTX remain key players in the obesity-drug race. Meanwhile, Indian pharma major Lupin bets big on India’s GLP-1 market.
The trend is also affecting industries outside healthcare, including packaged food, alcohol, restaurant and retail stocks, as investors assess how appetite-suppressing drugs may reshape consumer behavior.
Deloitte Warns of a GLP-1 “Bubble”
A new report from Deloitte suggests soaring demand for obesity and diabetes drugs may be creating a “bubble effect” within the pharmaceutical industry, as quoted on CNBC.
Returns on pharmaceutical R&D among the world’s top 20 drugmakers rose to 7% in 2025, driven largely by GLP-1-related assets. Obesity treatments now account for roughly 25% of projected late-stage pipeline sales, surpassing oncology for the first time in 16 years.
According to Deloitte, GLP-1 and obesity drugs now represent about 38% of projected commercial inflows from the 2025 late-stage pipeline. Excluding these drugs, the industry’s R&D return falls sharply to 2.9%.
The report also highlighted concentration risk, noting that only 9% of blockbuster late-stage therapies is expected to generate nearly 70% of total risk-adjusted peak sales.
AI and Health Tech Join the GLP-1 Boom
The obesity-drug trend is also driving growth in health technology. Health-tech startup Signos recently raised $20 million in funding and expanded its partnership with Dexcom, per a CNBC article.
Signos uses AI-powered glucose monitoring technology alongside Dexcom’s continuous glucose monitors to help users manage weight through personalized recommendations tied to food, sleep, stress and lifestyle habits.
ETFs to Play
Roundhill GLP-1 and Weight Loss ETF OZEM, Tema Heart & Health ETF HRTS and Amplify Weight Loss Drug & Treatment ETF THNR are some of the ETFs that should be closely tracked in light of the above-mentioned scenario.
LLY-heavy ETFs like the iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF IHE, Harbor Health Care ETF MEDI and VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF PPH should also benefit from this trend.
NVO-heavy ETFs such as the Simplify Health Care ETF PINK and PPH are also in focus. Meanwhile, Amgen-heavy ETFs like the VanEck Biotech ETF BBH and iShares Biotechnology ETF IBB should not be overlooked amid this euphoria.
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Eli Lilly and Company

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