LLY news sentiment

Rep. Michael A. Rulli Sells Off Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Shares

Eli Lilly vs. Novo Nordisk: Has GLP-1 Manufacturing Become the New Competitive Moat?

The obesity-drug market has largely been viewed as a race between clinical innovation and commercial execution. Investors have spent the past three years comparing prescription growth, market share, and pipeline candidates as Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) compete for dominance in one of healthcare's fastest-growing markets. Yet another competitive advantage for investors to keep in mind is manufacturing. During the early stages of the GLP-1 boom, demand consistently exceeded supply. Shortages of Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound demonstrated that developing a breakthrough medicine is only part of the challenge. Companies must also manufacture those medicines reliably, expand production fast enough to meet demand, and build enough capacity to support the next generation of therapies. That raises an important question for investors. As the obesity market matures, will the competitive advantage belong to the company with the strongest drugs, or the one with the strongest manufacturing platform? A specialized research team in white lab coats working together on a breakthrough biotechnological discovery. Bull Case Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) increasingly appears to view manufacturing as a long-term competitive advantage rather than simply a production necessity. Over the past several years, the company has committed tens of billions of dollars to expanding its manufacturing footprint across the United States. Rather than concentrating on a single facility, Lilly (NYSE:LLY) is investing across multiple manufacturing technologies, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, injectable medicines, and advanced therapies. This broader approach could give the company flexibility not only to support current demand for Mounjaro and Zepbound but also to manufacture future pipeline assets as they reach commercialization. That flexibility may become increasingly valuable. Today's obesity market is dominated by injectable therapies, but Lilly's (NYSE:LLY) pipeline extends well beyond its current products. Building capacity across multiple technologies today reduces the likelihood that manufacturing becomes a bottleneck tomorrow. The strategy also creates optionality beyond obesity. Manufacturing assets developed for peptide medicines, biologics, and advanced therapies can potentially support a much broader pharmaceutical portfolio. In other words, Lilly (NYSE:LLY) is investing in infrastructure that could generate value long after today's GLP-1 supply constraints disappear. Story Continues Lilly's (NYSE:LLY) manufacturing strategy also reflects a broader shift in how pharmaceutical companies think about competitive advantage. Historically, manufacturing was viewed as a support function that followed successful drug development. In the obesity market, however, manufacturing capacity has become a prerequisite for commercial success. The companies capable of supplying enough medicine can continue gaining market share, while those constrained by production risk leave demand unmet regardless of clinical performance. Novo Nordisk's (NYSE:NVO) strategy is different but no less compelling. Novo has continued expanding a production network that already includes decades of expertise in peptide manufacturing. The company has invested heavily in expanding its Clayton, North Carolina campus while strengthening its fill-finish capabilities through the acquisition of former Catalent facilities. Since three decades, the company has expanded nine times in North Carolina, invested nearly $6 billion dollars, built and upgraded two more facilities, and expanded its employee count from 50 to more than 2,000. In addition to expanding its U.S. footprint, the company's manufacturing network remains more geographically diversified than Lilly's (NYSE:LLY), which has historically been an advantage from an operational perspective. This approach also emphasizes manufacturing experience rather than manufacturing scale alone. Producing complex biologic me

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Gain Late Afternoon

Healthcare stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 1.4%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1%.In corporate news, Eli Lilly (LLY) received UK authorization for Silver Upgrade to read this MT Newswires article and get so much more. A Silver or Gold subscription plan is required to access premium news articles. Upgrade now

Eli Lilly Stock Rises 2.1% as UK Clears Obesity Pill

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) just added another weapon to its obesity arsenal. The pharmaceutical giant received British authorization for Foundayo on Monday, making the U.K. the first European country to clear the once-daily orforglipron tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes. Lilly shares rose approximately 2.1% in regular trading. The appeal is easy to understand: no injection. Foundayo targets GLP-1 while giving patients an oral alternative to Lilly's blockbuster Mounjaro and Zepbound. The pill entered the U.S. market in April and generated $98 million in its latest reported quarter, versus the $105.6 million analyst estimate cited by Reuters. The U.K. approval expands the opportunity, but it does not automatically put Foundayo into patients' hands. NHS reimbursement and broader commercial access still have to follow. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with MSFT. Is LLY fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. That is where this gets interesting. Lilly does not need Foundayo to steal patients from Mounjaro or Zepbound. It needs the pill to make the market bigger. Some patients simply do not want injections, and a once-daily tablet removes that friction. Lilly already has the brand recognition, physician relationships and obesity-drug infrastructure to push a new format aggressively. But this will not be an uncontested runway. Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) has oral Wegovy, turning the next GLP-1 battle into more than a race for weight-loss numbers. Convenience, pricing, supply, reimbursement and patient retention will matter. Lilly recently raised its 2026 revenue outlook to $85 billion to $87 billion, with Mounjaro and Zepbound doing much of the heavy lifting. If Foundayo develops into a third major franchise, Lilly's growth machine gets another cylinder.Eli Lilly Stock Rises 2.1% as UK Clears Obesity Pill·us.finance.gurufocus The valuation picture adds another twist. GuruFocus shows Lilly at $1,211.32 on Aug. 10 against a GF Value estimate near $1,500, putting the shares roughly 19.4% below that benchmark. That is a notable gap for a company already sitting at the center of one of pharma's biggest growth markets. Still, approval alone will not close it. Foundayo now has to produce prescriptions, reimbursement wins and sustained demand. If Lilly can turn a GLP-1 pill into another blockbuster while Mounjaro and Zepbound keep charging ahead, investors are no longer looking at one obesity winner. They are looking at an increasingly powerful franchise built around multiple ways to capture the same enormous market. View Comments

Jim Cramer Highlights Pharmaceutical Giants as Non-Tech Innovation Plays Like JNJ and LLY

During the August 6 episode of CNBC's Mad Money, Jim Cramer pointed to a growing sector rotation as portfolio managers look for innovation outside the mega-cap technology space. He said: Finally, tech had such a run that portfolio managers want exposure to other sectors of the market that still have innovation. Think of them as non- tech tech stocks. For the… Charitable Trust club, we've been emphasizing Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson. And we talked about these… I talked about them at length with Jeff Marks today at our 10:20 call. They both had terrific quarters and deserve to be bought on any weakness. Cramer's thesis highlights how mega-cap healthcare operators provide defensive shelter with strong dividend profiles and maintain high-growth product pipelines. Cramer further emphasized that innovation in biotechnology is driving tangible financial gains. He said: Amgen just racked up an excellent quarter. And credit where credit's due, time to accept that Moderna has begun to realize its stream of specialized vaccines for specific illnesses. Just last night, the company, it received FDA approval for its mRNA flu vaccine. Well, there's a reason why the stock's up 83% for the year.Jim Cramer Highlights Pharmaceutical Giants as Non-Tech Innovation Plays Like JNJ and LLY Bristol-Myers Squibb Generates Trim Call Following Merger Rumors Later in the August 6 episode, a caller asked Cramer about Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) after holding the stock through recent buyout speculation. In response, Cramer remarked: I actually, given how much that even an aggressive acquirer like AstraZeneca was willing to pay, it's probably worth it to trim. I just don't see as much upside. Look, it's not an expensive stock. It has a 3.9% yield, but there are others that are better, including J&J, which I like much more. A recent Financial Times report indicates that AstraZeneca held preliminary discussions regarding a potential purchase of US-based Bristol Myers Squibb. However, some believe that this is unlikely to happen and do not view it in a positive light. RBC analyst Trung Huynh noted that agreeing on valuation will be difficult given AstraZeneca's strong standalone growth target and BMY's patent cliff headwinds. Moreover, the firm believes that it needs to see more developments "before deeming a deal likely." Additionally, TD Cowen analyst Steve Scala showed a negative sentiment toward the deal, warning that BMY's severe patent risks would dilute AstraZeneca's long-term sales growth. The analyst noted that he sees short-term tailwinds due to synergies but showed less confidence for the longer-term. Story Continues Smart Money Positioning and Valuation Multiples Across Major Pharma Plays According to Insider Monkey's database, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) hold the largest hedge fund backing among the group. Eli Lilly led during the first quarter of 2026 with 132 hedge fund positions, compared to 137 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Johnson & Johnson saw its hedge fund interest increase to 113 hedge funds in Q1 2026, up from 104 in the prior quarter. Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) tracked 83 hedge fund holders, rising from 82, while Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) recorded 65 hedge fund positions in Q1 2026, down from 70 in Q4 2025. Forward earnings ratios across the group show a wide split between premium growth plays and deeply discounted value names. Eli Lilly has the highest multiple in the group, trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of around 32.7x due to its market-leading GLP-1 franchise. Johnson & Johnson trades at 22.27x forward earnings, as it offers steady stability and balance sheet security. Amgen sits at 18.35x forward earnings, giving value-oriented investors a lower entry point into large-cap biotech execution. Bristol Myers Squibb remains the primary value play at a low forward P/E of 9.38x. However, limited growth catalysts support Cramer's recommendation to tr

Jim Cramer Sees Cheap Valuation in Becton, Dickinson (BDX) After Q3 Beat and Raised Guidance

On August 6, Jim Cramer highlighted Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) on CNBC's Mad Money following its third-quarter fiscal 2026 financial report and said: This morning, we got a very strong quarter from BD. That's the big medical technology and supply play... That was formerly known as Becton, Dickson. This was the first full quarter after they split off their biosciences and diagnostics business, something we loved. They posted a 9-cent earnings beat off a $3.14 basis, higher-than-expected revenue, up 5.4% year-over-year. They also said their full-year revenue growth would be toward the high end of their previously issued guidance, raised the low end of the earnings per share outlook, and that's why the stock jumped almost 4%. Even after this move, though, BD still trades at roughly 14 times forward earnings estimates, which is pretty darn cheap… This is one that is going to bring out a lot of value. I love this part of tech and… you don't have to worry about memory and memory shortage.Jim Cramer Highlights Pharmaceutical Giants as Non-Tech Innovation Plays Like JNJ and LLY The fiscal third-quarter results represented the initial full operational cycle following the February spin-off of the biosciences and diagnostic solutions business. Top-line revenue reached $4.98 billion, which shows a 4.4% expansion on a constant-currency basis. Adjusted diluted EPS reached $3.23. It is worth noting that decoupling the diagnostics unit allowed management to streamline capital allocation toward high-margin medical devices and automated dispensing systems. Post-Split Focus Powers Broad-Based Growth and Raised Guidance Broad-based demand across all four operating divisions proved to be a catalyst in the quarter, led by Medical Essentials at $1.68 billion and Connected Care at $1.22 billion, which grew 4.4% on a constant-currency basis behind double-digit dispensing gains. BioPharma Systems generated $670 million, which was powered by double-digit biologics volume in GLP-1 auto-injector programs. Furthermore, year-to-date free cash flow surged 44.6% to $1.7 billion, which provided balance sheet strength to absorb approximately 110 basis points of international tariff headwinds. Becton, Dickinson and Company's (NYSE:BDX) performance in the quarter led to better full-year financial targets. Management adjusted the lower boundary of its full-year adjusted diluted EPS forecast upward to a revised range of $12.62 to $12.72. Full-year revenue growth expectations were similarly refined toward the upper tier of initial guidance. Trading at approximately 14 times forward earnings estimates, the stock continues to be modest for a major medical technology company. Story Continues Insider Monkey Data Shows Hedge Fund Interest According to data tracked by Insider Monkey, 48 hedge funds held long positions in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX) during the first quarter of 2026, marking an increase from 45 funds in the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the short interest sits at 3.82% of total float. While hedge fund ownership and short float metrics operate as independent sentiment indicators rather than direct drivers of quarterly earnings, the steady institutional accumulation shows growing market confidence in the company's post-spin operational trajectory. Becton, Dickinson and Company seems well-positioned to compound value for long-term investors due to its expanding infusion platform adoption, disciplined balance sheet management, and attractive valuation multiples. While we acknowledge the potential of BDX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on thebest short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Jim Cramer Weighs In on Space Equities: Rocket Lab (RKLB) vs. Voyager Technologies (VOYG) and Jim Cramer Favors Forti

Is IMCR Worth Buying as Kimmtrak Growth Meets a Premium Valuation?

Immunocore Holdings plc IMCR offers a clear trade-off between commercial momentum and valuation risk. Kimmtrak continues to expand in metastatic uveal melanoma, while late-stage studies could open larger markets. The counterweight is equally clear. IMCR relies on one marketed product, trades above key industry valuation benchmarks and has seen a sharp deterioration in current-year earnings estimates. IMCR's Kimmtrak Growth Supports the Bull Case Second-quarter 2026 revenues rose 18.3% year over year to $115.9 million, driven by higher Kimmtrak volumes in the United States and international markets. First-half Kimmtrak sales increased 16% to $222.6 million, and management expects the drug's commercial momentum to continue through the rest of 2026. Kimmtrak's competitive position also has clinical support. Five-year phase III follow-up data showed a 16% overall survival rate versus 8% for the control arm in first-line HLA-A*02:01-positive metastatic uveal melanoma, reinforcing its role as the standard of care in eligible patients. Premium Sales Multiple Raises the Bar for IMCR IMCR trades at 3.3X forward 12-month sales, above the Zacks sub-industry's 2.0X and the sector's 2.2X. The premium means continued commercial execution and pipeline progress matter more because the stock already discounts more growth than its peer groups. That premium is not extreme relative to IMCR's own history, with a five-year median of 9.7X. Still, the current multiple leaves less room for disappointment if Kimmtrak growth slows or late-stage programs fail to expand the revenue base. IMCR Still Carries Single-Product Risk Kimmtrak generates all of Immunocore's product revenues. Any pressure from demand, pricing, competition, regulation or development setbacks could therefore have an outsized effect on the company's growth profile. The contrast with diversified oncology companies is useful. Eli Lilly LLY markets multiple cancer medicines across several tumor types, while Immunocore remains concentrated in one commercial asset. That concentration keeps execution risk elevated even as the pipeline advances. Immunocore Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR Price and ConsensusImmunocore Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR Price and Consensus Immunocore Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR price-consensus-chart | Immunocore Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR Quote Late-Stage Catalysts Could Reframe IMCR's Upside The phase III TEBE-AM study of Kimmtrak in advanced cutaneous melanoma could deliver top-line data as early as the end of 2026. Immunocore is also evaluating Kimmtrak in the phase III ATOM adjuvant uveal melanoma study, with enrollment expected to finish in 2028. Story Continues Brenetafusp adds another late-stage opportunity. Its registrational phase III PRISM-MEL-301 study is testing the candidate with Opdivo from Bristol Myers BMY in first-line advanced cutaneous melanoma. Bristol Myers has an established melanoma franchise around Opdivo, making the collaboration relevant to Immunocore's effort to broaden its oncology footprint. IMCR ended June with $880.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, giving it resources to support three phase III programs and other pipeline work. IMCR's Ratings Favor Patience Over Aggression IMCR's commercial progress and late-stage catalysts support the long-term case, but the valuation premium and single-product dependence argue against treating the stock as a straightforward buy at current levels. The balance of upside and execution risk supports a selective stance. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. IMCR has a Value Score of D, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of F and VGM Score of F. The Zacks Rank suggests a neutral near-term stance, while the weak Style Scores do not add support from valuation, growth or momentum factors. For investors considering IMCR, patience may be more appropriate than aggressive accumulation until estimate t

Lifespan Vision Ventures Leads Remedium Bio's Series A Financing

Investment supports advancement of Remedium's durable protein therapeutics platform toward first-in-human clinical development. NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifespan Vision Ventures today announced that it is leading Remedium Bio, Inc.'s ("Remedium") $10 million Series A financing and has completed the round's initial closing, with participation from Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") and HKX Capital. In connection with the financing, Harry Robb of Lifespan Vision Ventures has joined Remedium's Board of Directors.LifeSpan Vision Ventures Remedium is developing durable protein therapeutics designed to enable controlled, long-lasting expression of therapeutic proteins following minimally invasive subcutaneous administration. The company's approach harnesses adipocytes as a durable site for therapeutic protein production, with the potential to provide multi-year benefit and adjustable dosing for patients with chronic diseases. The financing will support advancement of Remedium's lead programs, continued platform expansion, and preparation for first-in-human clinical studies. "Remedium has built a differentiated platform with the potential to address important limitations of chronic biologic therapy," said Andrew Worden, Founding Partner of Lifespan Vision Ventures. "We are proud to lead the Series A financing and support the company as it advances its pipeline toward clinical development and expands the potential of its platform." "Lifespan Vision Ventures shares our belief that durable therapies have the potential to fundamentally improve the treatment of chronic disease," said Frank Luppino, Chief Executive Officer of Remedium Bio. "We are excited to have them lead our Series A and to welcome Harry Robb to our Board as we advance our platform, expand our pipeline, and prepare for first-in-human clinical development." The financing follows recent progress across Remedium's pipeline, strategic collaborations, and preclinical programs, and is expected to support key milestones demonstrating the breadth of its platform across cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases. About Lifespan Vision Ventures Lifespan Vision Ventures is a global venture capital firm investing in early-stage biotechnology companies developing breakthrough technologies to prevent and treat age-related diseases. The firm partners with visionary founders advancing science-driven solutions that promote healthy aging and extend human healthspan. Contact: info@lifespanvision.com About Remedium Bio, Inc. Remedium Bio is a biotechnology company driven by the belief that any disease can be cured. The company develops life-changing therapeutics for large unmet medical needs by advancing a revolutionary gene therapy platform that enables safe, effective, and durable delivery of therapeutic genes with simple post-treatment dose adjustment. Remedium's proprietary Prometheus™ platform aims to replace many subcutaneously administered protein therapies with single-injection, adjustable gene therapies that offer long-lasting efficacy at a fraction of the cost. The company's pipeline includes programs targeting endocrinology, immunology, neurology, and musculoskeletal diseases. Story Continues For more information, please visit www.remedium-bio.com or contact info@remedium-bio.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lifespan-vision-ventures-leads-remedium-bios-series-a-financing-302847038.htmlCision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2026/10/c7377.html View Comments

Pfizer Rises Almost 7% Post Q2 Results: How to Play the Stock

Pfizer PFE stock has risen 6.9% since it announced second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 4. Pfizer delivered a solid second quarter, beating estimates for both earnings and revenues. While earnings growth was flat year over year, revenues rose 1% on an operational basis. Strength in non-COVID products continued to offset declining sales of its COVID products, Comirnaty (COVID-19 vaccine - in partnership with BioNTech [BNTX]) and Paxlovid (oral antiviral). Excluding sales from BioNTech-partnered Comirnaty and Paxlovid, revenues increased 5% operationally. Pfizer also raised the lower end of its 2026 revenue guidance, backed by continued strong performance of its new and acquired products. The company now expects revenues between $60.5 billion and $62.5 billion, compared with the previous range of $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion. The adjusted earnings guidance was reaffirmed at $2.80-$3.00 per share. However, the guidance now absorbs a 10 cents per share charge related to its licensing deal with Chinese biotech Innovent Biologics that will be recorded in the third quarter of 2026. However, a single quarter's results are not so important for long-term investors. To make an informed decision on whether to buy, sell or hold the stock, it is important to evaluate the company's fundamentals by examining its key strengths and weaknesses. First, let's understand the negatives. Declining Sales of PFE's COVID Products During the pandemic, Pfizer generated extraordinary COVID-related sales from Comirnaty and Paxlovid. Those revenues have fallen sharply as the pandemic faded. Sales of Pfizer's COVID products, Comirnaty and Paxlovid, came down to around $11 billion in 2024 and $6.7 billion in 2025 from $56.7 billion in 2022. Sales of Comirnaty are declining due to a narrow recommendation for COVID vaccines in the United States, while Paxlovid is experiencing reduced demand from lower infection rates. In 2026, Pfizer expects COVID-related revenues of approximately $4 billion, down from its previous forecast of $5 billion and below $6.7 billion generated in 2025. The decline reflects the continued normalization of COVID-19 infection rates and lower demand for COVID products. Consistent with this trend, sales of both Comirnaty and Paxlovid declined significantly during the first half of 2026. PFE's LOE Headwinds Pfizer faces a significant patent cliff later this decade. Pfizer expects a significant negative impact on revenues from the loss of exclusivity ("LOE") cliff in the 2026-2030 period as several of its key products, including Eliquis, Ibrance, Xeljanz and Xtandi, face patent expirations. The LOE cliff is expected to hurt sales by approximately $1.1 billion in 2026, which is slightly lower than the prior expectation of $1.5 billion. Story Continues PFE's 2026 Financial Outlook Dull Pfizer's revenue and earnings guidance for 2026 indicates mostly flat to slightly negative year-over-year growth. Pfizer expects total revenues for 2026 to be between $60.5 billion and $62.5 billion. The range represents a slight decline from 2025 revenues of $62.6 billion due to lower revenues from COVID products, Comirnaty and Paxlovid, and loss of revenues from the upcoming patent cliff. In 2026, Pfizer expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.80-$3.00, which represents a decline from the 2025 EPS of $3.22 due to the dilutive impact of 3SBio and Metsera deals, lower COVID revenues and higher taxes. However, not everything is going wrong at Pfizer. Let's see the positives. PFE's Non-COVID Portfolio Driving Its Next Phase of Growth Pfizer's business mix has changed significantly over the past few years. During the pandemic, the company became heavily dependent on COVID-19 products. However, the company is gradually diversifying its portfolio through a combination of internal product launches like Abrysvo, Zavzpret, Elrexfio, Hympavzi, Litfulo and others, strategic acquisitions like Seagen, Metsera and Biohaven and the continued growth of several es

3 Beaten-Down Healthcare Stocks to Buy in August

Quick Read LLY grew Q1 revenue 56% and won FDA approval for the first oral GLP-1 pill, yet still trades 6% off its 52-week high. Healthcare has trailed SPY's 8% YTD gain, but JNJ's 64-year dividend streak and 20x forward P/E keep it compelling for value investors. ABBV's Skyrizi and Rinvoq surged 31% and 23%, more than offsetting Humira's decline while supporting a 53-year consecutive dividend increase streak. It sounds nuts, but SoFi1 is giving new Active Invest users up to $3,000 in stock for a limited time, and all it takes is a $50 deposit to get started.2 See for yourself (Sponsor) Year to date, the healthcare sector finds itself in the middle of the S&P 500's pack. But over the past three months, that corner of the market has led all 11 sectors with a 13.10% gain. It's still lagging YTD, but that lag is exactly what makes the group interesting right now.24/7 Wall St. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(NYSEARCA:SPY) is up 13.02% year to date, while two of the three largest pharmaceutical names by market cap are trailing it. With healthcare flagged by analysts as an undervalued entry point heading into the second half, here are three mega-cap drug makers offering a rare mix of innovation exposure and income. Note that all three have rallied off spring lows, so the "beaten-down" label applies more to relative-to-market performance and prior 52-week highs than to outright drawdowns. Eli Lilly (LLY) Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) is the cleanest example of a relative laggard. Shares trade at $1,189.34, up just around 10% year to date, below the SPY's gain and notably off about 4% from the 52-week high of $1,182.73. The fundamentals are accelerating. Q2 2026 revenue hit $22.97 billion, up 47.7% YoY, after reaching $19.80 billion in Q1. EPS of $8.38 beating the $6.40 estimate. Eli Lilly raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to between $85 billion and $87 billion, after raising it in the wake of Q1 earnings to a range of $82 billion to $85 billion. SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion. Open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $3,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts. See for yourself by clicking here now. (Sponsor) Risk: Realized prices fell 13% due to rebates and NRDL inclusion in China, and the franchise still leans heavily on a small group of products vulnerable to future biosimilar competition. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is the exception to the beaten-down framing: The stock is up 24.11% year to date around $257.34 and approaching its 52-week high of $274.90. The reason it still belongs on a value list is the forward valuation, which sits at 20x earnings. Story Continues Q1 2026 revenue was $24.06 billion, up 10% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $2.70 versus the $2.68 estimate. The oncology engine is doing the heavy lifting: DARZALEX grew 23% to $3.96 billion, TREMFYA jumped 68%, and CARVYKTI climbed 62%. CEO Joaquin Duato called it "a strong start to 2026" with the company "delivering on its promise for a year of accelerated growth and impact." Income investors get the headline draw. JNJ pays $1.34 per share quarterly, a 3% raise that marks 64 consecutive years of dividend increases. The current yield sits at roughly 2%, and management raised full-year revenue guidance to $100.3 billion to $101.3 billion. Risk: STELARA revenue collapsed 60% to $656 million on biosimilar competition, creating roughly a 920 basis point drag on Innovative Medicine. Ongoing litigation charges ($330 million in Q1) remain an overhang. AbbVie (ABBV) AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) traded around $244.86 on Friday, Aug. 7, up just 6.78% year to date, lagging the SPY despite a strong recent bounce. Shares have slid 3.84% in the past month, and the YTD shortfall is what keeps the valuation reasonable at 16x forward earnings. Q1 2026 revenue grew 12% to $15 billion. Skyrizi posted $4.48 billion (up 31%) and Rinvoq added $2.12 billion (up 23%), more than absorbing the Humira decline of

Nvidia, Eli Lilly, and Disney Show It’s Time to Back the Top Dogs

Investors are still skittish enough that they only want to buy proven winners, so backing the favorite is a smart strategy right now. Continue Reading

Ozempic For $50 a Month? Amazon Pharmacy Rolls Out Cheap Weight-Loss Drugs for Medicare Patients

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon Pharmacy will offer eligible Medicare beneficiaries weight-loss drugs for $50 per month through a new federal program aimed at expanding access. The company announced on Thursday that the service would automate eligibility checks, prior authorizations, and billing, while providing home delivery and in-store pickup to streamline access. Amazon Pharmacy will begin enrollment for eligible patients after they add their insurance and Medicare information and their clinician submits an electronic prescription. The U.S. Medicare bridge program, launched last month, lets eligible beneficiaries access Novo Nordisk A/S's (injection or pill) and Eli Lilly & Co's four-dose Zepbound KwikPen injection and Foundayo pill through the end of 2027. However, it does not cover single-dose Zepbound vials or pens. Don't Miss: A single bad hire can set a startup back years. Here are the 5 hires founders most often misjudge — and why Still Learning the Market? These 50 Must-Know Terms Can Help You Catch Up Fast Amazon Pharmacy said most patients in its Bridge Program received prior authorization decisions in under 24 hours, significantly faster than the 72-hour timeframe permitted under the Medicare Bridge Program, according to Vice President Tanvi Patel. The company said that same-day delivery is now available in more than 3,100 U.S. cities and towns and is expected to expand to nearly 4,500 locations by the end of 2026. The company added that many submitted claims have already been fulfilled through completed orders. GLP-1 Becomes a Retail Battleground In April, Amazon expanded into the weight-loss market with a new GLP-1 management program through Amazon One Medical. The service integrates virtual and in-person care, prescription management, and pharmacy fulfillment to make obesity treatment more accessible and support long-term weight management. The pharmacy stated that it would offer GLP-1 weight-loss medications, including Wegovy and newer oral options. See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your 'Safe' Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time Eric Bormel, managing director specializing in digital healthcare at Solomon Partners' healthcare group told CNBC, "Retailers are betting that if they can become the front door for obesity care, they'll earn a relationship that extends far beyond a single GLP-1 prescription." Retailers are using direct-to-consumer (DTC) GLP-1 programs primarily to attract customers, while placing greater value on the broader healthcare ecosystem around the drugs as GLP-1 medication prices continue to decline, Bormel said. Story Continues Experts also expect major retailers and pharmacy chains like CVS Health Corp., Walmart Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. to also benefit from the trend. Image via Shutterstock Read Next: Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier. Think you're saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry. Arrived Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental in

Notable healthcare headlines for the week: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer in focus

Wall Street’s major market averages ended higher on Friday after July's nonfarm payrolls surprised to the downside, showing an unexpected contraction in employment. The blue-chip Dow edged up 0.3%, the benchmark S&P 500 gained 0.62%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.3%. The S&P 500 Health Care Index Sector (XLV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XLV]) gained 1.92% during the week. The top S&P 500 healthcare gainers and losers for the last week are as follows: TOP GAINERS: Charles River Laboratories International (CRL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CRL]) +15.04% Veeva Systems (VEEV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VEEV]) +13.07% Moderna (MRNA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRNA]) +7.94% Waters (WAT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WAT]) +7.78% Intuitive Surgical (ISRG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ISRG]) +7.21% TOP LOSERS: DaVita (DVA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DVA]) -23.46% Insulet (PODD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PODD]) -14.62% CVS Health (CVS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CVS]) -8.36% Viatris (VTRS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VTRS]) -6.44% Zoetis (ZTS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZTS]) -5.99% Here are some of the important healthcare stories from this week: ELI LILLY JUMPS AFTER Q2 BEAT DRIVEN BY OBESITY DRUGS Eli Lilly (LLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY]) added [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4625881-eli-lilly-stock-jumps-after-q2-beat-driven-glp-1s] nearly 5% on Wednesday after reporting better-than-expected Q2 2026 results, driven by its injectable GLP-1 drugs and its newly launched weight-loss pill, Foundayo. Indiana-based Lilly (LLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY]) posted $23B in revenue for the quarter with ~48% YoY growth, beating the consensus by $2.3B. LLY's injectable weight-loss therapy Zepbound and its diabetes counterpart Mounjaro added $4.9B and $9.9B to the topline, exceeding $4.6B and $8.8B in the consensus, respectively, according to Bloomberg data. The company’s adjusted earnings per share increased ~33% YoY to $8.38. Lilly (LLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY]) raised its full-year guidance, implying $85.0B - $87.0B in revenue, which fell short of $85.4B in the consensus at the midpoint. Its adjusted EPS outlook of $35.50 - $36.50 exceeded $34.54 projected by analysts despite a $3.03 headwind attributed to Q2 business development activities. [https://seekingalpha.com/pr/20607386-lilly-reports-second-quarter-2026-financial-results-raises-full-year-guidance-and-highlights#source=section%3Amain_content%7Cbutton%3Abody_link%7Cfirst_level_url%3Anews] NOVO NORDISK SLIPS DESPITE LIFTING GUIDANCE ON GLP-1 STRENGTH Novo Nordisk (NVO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NVO]) raised [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4624976-novo-nordisk-slips-despite-lifting-guidance-on-glp-1-strength] its full-year outlook for the second time this year, citing increased expectations for GLP-1 product sales. The Danish drugmaker now expects sales and operating profit to decline by no more than 6% at constant exchange rates this year, improving from its previous forecast of declines of up to 12%. For Q2, Novo Nordisk reported net sales of DKK 78.49B, up 2% year-over-year on a reported basis and 3% at constant exchange rates, while adjusted net sales increased 7% at constant exchange rates, driven by GLP-1 volume growth across geographies and favorable U.S. rebate adjustments. Adjusted diluted earnings per share/ADR were DKK 6.18. Wall Street expected the drugmaker to report normalized EPS of DKK 5.03 on revenue of DKK 71.45B. Within its flagship products, Ozempic sales climbed 5% at a constant rate to DKK 31.38B, Wegovy injectable sales rose 1% to DKK 19.48B, and the newly launched Wegovy pill generated DKK 3.22B in sales during the quarter. Despite the guidance increase, Novo Nordisk's U.S.-listed shares fell as much as 6% in New York trading. PFIZER TOPS Q2 EXPECTATIONS, BOOSTS REVENUE GUIDANCE Pfizer (NYSE: PFE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PFE]) reported [https://seekingalph

Eli Lilly (LLY) Posts Blowout Growth And Raises Its Outlook

Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) delivered a quarter that forced Wall Street to catch up to its own numbers. On August 5, the company reported second-quarter revenue of $23.0 billion, up 48% from a year earlier, and used the momentum to raise its full-year sales and profit targets. Shares moved higher the same day as investors focused on how fast the obesity franchise is still expanding.Eli Lilly (LLY) Posts Blowout Growth And Raises Its Outlook Bull Case: Weight Loss Demand Still Has Room To Run The headline number came from Mounjaro and Zepbound. Mounjaro revenue jumped 91% to $9.9 billion, while Zepbound climbed 46% to $4.9 billion, and together they anchored a quarter where US sales rose 33% to $14.4 billion, and international sales rose 80% to $8.6 billion. Growth was not confined to the diabetes and obesity lineup either. Lilly's immunology, oncology, and neuroscience products grew a combined 121%, showing the newer parts of the portfolio are starting to contribute in a real way. Management responded by lifting full-year revenue guidance to a range of $85 billion to $87 billion, up from $82 billion to $85 billion previously. Lilly is also plowing the cash back into its pipeline, closing acquisitions of Orna Therapeutics, Ajax Therapeutics, Centessa Pharmaceuticals, and Kelonia Therapeutics during the quarter, agreeing to buy AtaiBeckley afterward, and committing another $4.5 billion to expand manufacturing in Indiana. On the drug development side, three more Phase 3 trials of the experimental triple agonist retatrutide read out positively, giving Lilly a complete data package to support a planned obesity application submission in the first quarter of 2027. Bear Case: The Cost Of Growing This Fast The same quarter that produced 48% revenue growth also showed what that growth is costing. Realized prices fell 13% company-wide, with international pricing down 36% largely tied to Mounjaro's addition to China's national reimbursement drug list, a trade-off Lilly is making for volume and market access. The acquisition spree carried a real accounting price tag too. Acquired R&D charges hit $2.8 billion in the quarter, versus just $154 million a year earlier, which is why reported EPS grew only 26% even as the non-GAAP figure grew 33%. Asset impairment and restructuring charges of $703 million, largely tied to the Kelonia and Centessa deals, added further drag, and the effective tax rate climbed to 23.3% from 16.5% because of the non-deductible nature of those charges. R&D spending rose 14% to $3.8 billion, and marketing and administrative costs rose 25% to $3.4 billion, a reminder that funding a pipeline this active and prepping for a wave of new launches is not cheap. None of this changes the underlying growth story, but it does mean the path from strong sales to clean reported profit is getting bumpier as the deal-making continues. Story Continues What The Smart Money Is Watching Hedge fund ownership slipped from 137 funds to 132 last quarter, a modest pullback rather than a rush for the exits. Short interest sits at just 1.15% of float, about as low as it gets, showing almost no organized bet against the stock. The forward price-to-earnings ratio of 32.89 puts Lilly well above the broader market, pricing in continued double-digit growth from here. The Question Still On The Table Lilly's quarter proved the obesity franchise still has room to grow and that the rest of the portfolio is starting to pull its own weight. For the growth case to keep holding, retatrutide and the newer acquisitions need to convert clinical progress into approved, revenue-generating products on schedule. For skeptics, the falling realized prices and the rising tax and integration costs from an aggressive deal pace are the numbers to watch next. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands

When Leverage Goes Wrong on Wall Street

In this episode of Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing, Motley Fool contributors Travis Hoium and Lou Whiteman, along with Motley Fool analyst Jason Moser, discuss: Situational Awareness. Leverage gone wrong. Hyperscaler divergence. Would you rather? Tesla in China. Stocks on our radar. To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center. When you're ready to invest, check out this top 10 list of stocks to buy. 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 » A full transcript is below. Should you buy stock in Eli Lilly And right now? Before you buy stock in Eli Lilly And, 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 And wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut are built for long-term growth and 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 $399,724!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,374,595!* That performance is why people listen. With a track record of beating the S&P 500 by 4x, Stock Advisor offers a distinct advantage. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built for the long haul. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 8, 2026. This podcast was recorded on July 31, 2026. Travis Hoium: No margin calls for the next hour. Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing starts now. Welcome to Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing. I'm Travis Hoium, joined today by Lou Whiteman and Jason Moser. Guys, we've got to start with the news of the week. Lou, that is Situational Awareness, getting a margin call. The hot investor of 2026 is now out of the equity markets. What in the world happened? Lou Whiteman: Let's talk about this because this is fun. First of all, Situational Awareness, AI-focused hedge fund founded by, I hope I'm saying this right, Leopold Aschenbrenner, I think it is. Now, Leopold has a heck of a history already. It's almost like the Forrest Gump story here. All right guys, He was at FTX with Sam Bankman-Fried. He was at OpenAI, and then he went off, and he actually just wrote, I think it was a Substack or something, talking about situational awareness, basically that AI was going to eat the world. Got a lot of buzz, and he turned it into a hedge fund. His hedge fund, same name, Situational Awareness, focused on AI bets, and as the tide was rising, so too did his portfolio. The fund borrowed heavily to multiply its returns. We don't know exactly how much, but we know this because the funds return were better than the underlying assets that it was buying in terms of their returns, so there's obviously leverage. At its peak, it soared from a couple hundred million to 20 billion in assets, up 440% in the first half of the year. Story Continues Travis Hoium: I want to highlight this. The first half of the year, which ended exactly one month ago today. Lou Whiteman: Look, we have all seen this movie enough times to know what happened here. The AI infrastructure trade has taken it on the chin of late. Some of the situational positions, you know, these companies Micron, SK Hynix, CoreWeave. They were down big and short positions that they also took on betting against software. They were basically in on the AI is going to eat all software, so short software companies to the ground. Those started turning against it, too. The banks that provide leverage called said "Hey" to avoid liquidation. The firm negotiated a rapid fire sale to Citadel. Don't cry for Leopold though,

LLY Q2 Deep Dive: Key Products and Pipeline Expansion

Global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY)reported Q2 CY2026 results topping the market's revenue expectations , with sales up 47.7% year on year to $22.97 billion. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $86 billion at the midpoint came in 0.6% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $8.38 per share was 27.3% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy LLY? Find out in our full research report (it's free for active Edge members). Eli Lilly (LLY) Q2 CY2026 Highlights: Revenue: $22.97 billion vs analyst estimates of $20.62 billion (47.7% year-on-year growth, 11.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $8.38 vs analyst estimates of $6.58 (27.3% beat) The company lifted its revenue guidance for the full year to $86 billion at the midpoint from $83.5 billion, a 3% increase Management lowered its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $36 at the midpoint, a 0.7% decrease Operating Margin: 39.1%, down from 44.1% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $1.04 trillion StockStory's Take Eli Lilly's second quarter was marked by a positive market reaction, as the company topped Wall Street's revenue expectations. Management credited growth in key products—especially in cardiometabolic health, oncology, and neuroscience—as drivers of performance. CEO David Ricks pointed to "robust revenue growth across all Key Products and major geographies," noting the strength of new medicines and expansion in emerging markets. The launch of Foundayo in the U.S. and UAE, along with ongoing investments in manufacturing and R&D, were highlighted as factors supporting the company's ongoing business momentum. Looking ahead, Eli Lilly is focused on expanding access to its obesity and diabetes treatments, with particular emphasis on the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program and the global rollout of Foundayo. Management expects continued uptake in key markets, supported by pipeline advancements such as retatrutide and new vaccine candidates. CFO Lucas Montarce highlighted that "continued strong performance of our Key Products in the first half of 2026" is shaping the full-year outlook, while also acknowledging the impact of recent acquisitions and ongoing regulatory milestones. The company is preparing for multiple clinical trial readouts and regulatory actions in obesity, diabetes, and mental health therapeutics. Key Insights from Management's Remarks Eli Lilly's management attributed Q2's results to strong global uptake of new and established medicines, product launches like Foundayo, and major pipeline progress, while noting volume growth in the incretin segment and expanded manufacturing capacity. Story Continues Obesity and diabetes product momentum: Mounjaro and Zepbound saw significant volume-driven growth in the U.S. and international markets, with management citing early success from the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program and Foundayo launches in the U.S. and UAE. Key pipeline advancements: The company reported progress on multiple late-stage clinical trials, including positive Phase 3 results for retatrutide in obesity and related indications. Management also highlighted regulatory submissions and approvals for new indications in diabetes, Alzheimer's, and atopic dermatitis. Business development and M&A activity: Recent acquisitions in infectious diseases and mental health (such as AtaiBeckley and Curevo) reflect a strategy to broaden the pipeline beyond core therapeutic areas, with management emphasizing the potential to address large unmet needs. Geographic expansion: Management noted robust Mounjaro uptake in China, Korea, Germany, and Mexico, and indicated that securing broader reimbursement and regulatory approvals will be critical for sustaining growth outside the U.S. Manufacturing scale-up: Eli Lilly opened new manufacturing facilities in Indiana and Ireland to meet rising demand, particularly for genetic medicines and high-growth therapeutics, aiming to ensure consistent supply for global rollouts. Drivers of Future Performa

Eli Lilly (LLY) Gains FDA Breakthrough Nod As Olomorasib Cancer Trial Broadens

Track your investments for FREE with Simply Wall St, the portfolio command center trusted by over 7 million individual investors worldwide. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) reported that its KRAS G12C inhibitor olomorasib received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for advanced pancreatic cancer in patients with a KRAS G12C mutation. The company entered a new clinical trial collaboration with Amplia Therapeutics to test olomorasib in combination with Amplia's FAK inhibitor narmafotinib in advanced non small cell lung cancer. These developments highlight Eli Lilly's efforts to broaden its oncology portfolio beyond its diabetes and obesity treatments. For investors tracking how large drugmakers are using targeted therapies and data driven research in cancer, this company is not the only one tied to that theme. It is therefore worth also reviewing 43 healthcare AI stocksNYSE:LLY Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Aug 2026 Eli Lilly now sits among the largest global healthcare companies by market value, and the stock price near $1,185.71 reflects how much investors have focused on its pipeline and commercial franchises in recent years. The share price is up 9.8% year to date and 90.9% over the past 12 months, which means any new oncology data or regulatory milestones may attract close attention from both existing and prospective shareholders. We've flagged 1 risk for Eli Lilly. See which could impact your investment. What actually changed with Eli Lilly and olomorasib this week? The key shift is that Eli Lilly now has FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for olomorasib in KRAS G12C-mutant advanced pancreatic cancer, on top of an earlier breakthrough tag in a lung cancer setting. At the same time, Lilly agreed to supply olomorasib into a new Phase 1b/2b clinical trial run by Amplia Therapeutics that combines it with the FAK inhibitor narmafotinib in second line advanced non small cell lung cancer. Together, these steps move olomorasib from a single asset story toward a broader, combination focused oncology program spanning multiple tumor types. How does this affect the current Eli Lilly Narrative built around GLP 1 drugs? The Narrative for Eli Lilly has been dominated by GLP 1 obesity and diabetes drugs that underpin guidance for US$85b to US$87b in 2026 revenue and recent quarterly sales of US$23.0b. Olomorasib does not change that near term earnings mix. It adds more detail on how Lilly is using oncology to diversify over time, with internal KRAS targeting work and external partnerships like Amplia and Ratio Therapeutics sitting alongside existing cancer assets. Story Continues What has to go right next for this oncology news to really matter for investors? For this to move the needle, investors will want to see concrete clinical progress and regulatory steps. That includes additional readouts from the LOXO RAS 20001 Phase 1/2 trial in KRAS G12C-mutant tumors, successful launch and enrollment of the Amplia led Phase 1b/2b NSCLC study planned to start in late 2026, and clarity on timelines for any registrational plans in KRAS G12C-mutant pancreatic cancer following the breakthrough designation. How Lilly allocates R&D and potential commercial resources around olomorasib relative to its GLP 1 franchises will also be an important signal. For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete Eli Lilly analysis. Alternatively, you can check out the community page for Eli Lilly to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company's narrative. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Eli Lilly by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Eli Lilly. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock,

Better GLP-1 Stock to Buy: Eli Lilly or Viking Therapeutics?

Demand for GLP-1 drugs is soaring. Thanks to recent breakthroughs, medicines in this category are expanding their addressable markets and treating conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and others, in addition to diabetes and weight management, which are perhaps their most important areas. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) is a leader in this space, but several companies are looking to take its crown. One of them is Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), a smaller biotech with promising GLP-1 candidates. Could Viking Therapeutics successfully challenge Eli Lilly? Let's find out which of these two stocks is a better buy for investors looking to capitalize on this opportunity. 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 »Image source: The Motley Fool. Eli Lilly is firing on all cylinders Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, which mimics the action of both the GLP-1 and GIP hormones, is approved for diabetes, weight loss, and OSA. It is by far the company's most important growth driver right now and the best-selling medicine in this niche. In the second quarter, Eli Lilly's revenue increased by 48% year over year to $23 billion. Sales of Mounjaro -- the brand name for tirzepatide in the diabetes market -- soared 91% year over year to $9.9 billion. Zepbound's (tirzepatide's brand in weight management) revenue was $4.9 billion, up 46% compared to the year-ago period. Eli Lilly also markets Foundayo, an oral GLP-1 that is helping expand the market by attracting mostly new patients. It isn't generating meaningful revenue yet, at least by Eli Lilly's standards, but once it expands beyond weight loss and into diabetes, OSA, and other indications, it could start making substantial contributions to top-line growth. Eli Lilly has a deep pipeline beyond these approved products. The most promising is retatrutide, a medicine that posted outstanding phase 3 clinical trial results in diabetes and weight loss. Eli Lilly plans to request approval for retatrutide in the first quarter of 2027. Eli Lilly looks likely to maintain its lead in this market for the foreseeable future, and it also has attractive approved products and pipeline candidates in other areas. Viking Therapeutics has key catalysts ahead Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech. The company's leading candidate, VK2735, looks promising. Just like tirzepatide, VK2735 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist. A subcutaneous version of the medicine is undergoing phase 3 studies, while the drugmaker should start late-stage trials for an oral formulation by year-end. Subcutaneous VK2735 posted excellent results in phase 2 studies. It led to a mean weight loss of up to 14.7% in 13 weeks, with no plateau observed. Story Continues The usual caveats about comparing across clinical trials aside, tirzepatide posted an average weight loss of 20.2% in 72 weeks in a phase 3 study. Perhaps subcutaneous VK2735 can match -- or even exceed -- tirzepatide's efficacy in the longer clinical trials in which it is being tested. The oral formulation of the medicine also showed highly encouraging phase 2 efficacy, although there were concerns about high rates of discontinuation due to side effects. Still, Viking Therapeutics could see its share soar on solid phase 3 data for both formulations. Which is the better buy? There is no contest between these two companies if we focus on fundamentals. Eli Lilly is a well-established pharmaceutical leader with a deep product portfolio that generates consistent revenue and earnings. Viking Therapeutics doesn't have a single approved product, generates no revenue, is not profitable, and may not be for a while. However, Viking Therapeutics arguably has more upside potential. If the company's upcoming data readout

BofA points to the Eli Lilly market that could outsize the U.S.

Eli Lilly (LLY) posted a second-quarter result strong enough to shift the debate around its stock. For months, the debate centered on one worry: a slow start for its new obesity pill. That worry did not disappear in the second quarter, but it stopped driving the conversation. Bank of America came out of the earnings call pointing to a different number. The bank thinks the obesity market outside the United States could eventually surpass U.S. sales of the same drugs. For anyone holding LLY or considering it, that international call is worth a closer look. Why Bank of America raised its Eli Lilly price target after the quarter Bank of America lifted its price objective on Eli Lilly (LLY) to $1,344 from $1,334, according to a BofA Global Research report shared with me. The bank kept its math simple, applying an unchanged 28.5 times multiple to its updated 2027 underlying earnings estimate, which removes one-time research charges. More Health Care Stocks: UBS strongly resets Lilly stock target JPMorgan resets LLY stock target on drug demand Goldman Sachs sees writing on the wall for Eli Lilly stock That multiple sits above what BofA uses for other large drugmakers. Lilly is expanding faster than its peers, so the bank pays more for each dollar of future profit. The raise followed a second quarter that beat expectations. Lilly reported revenue of $23.0 billion, up 48% from a year earlier, and adjusted earnings of $8.38 a share against a $6.01 consensus, CNBC reported. Lilly also raised its full-year revenue forecast to $85 billion to $87 billion, up from $82 billion to $85 billion, according to a press release. The international obesity market that could outgrow the U.S. For years, the U.S. drove almost all of Lilly's obesity sales. That is changing quickly, and it is the shift BofA flagged for investors. The bank noted that GLP-1 sales in international obesity markets are now approaching parity with the U.S. GLP-1 drugs are a class of medicines, sold as injections and now pills, that treat diabetes and obesity by curbing appetite, BioPharma Dive reported. Mounjaro, Lilly's diabetes injection, grew 55% in Europe, 30%in Japan, and 93% in China last quarter. That growth is why BofA believes the non-U.S. opportunity could eventually surpass the home market, since most large countries have far more untreated patients than the U.S. does.Bank of America sees Eli Lilly's obesity franchise expanding faster overseas than at home.JHVEPhoto / Getty Images What the Foundayo launch abroad means for Lilly's next leg The clearest catalyst BofA cited is Foundayo, Lilly's oral GLP-1 pill. Foundayo matters because it's a pill, not a shot. That opens the drug to patients who won't take a weekly injection, a group Lilly's other treatments have never reached. Story Continues Related: UnitedHealth CFO sends stark warning after earnings Its U.S. debut was modest. Foundayo brought in $98 million, slightly below the roughly $103 million analysts expected, CNBC reported. BofA is looking past that number and expects the international launch to matter more, estimating roughly 60% of Foundayo's peak sales to come from outside the U.S. That launch is close. Lilly has filed for approval in more than 40 countries and plans an overseas rollout in early 2027, BioPharma Dive reported. Both Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk (NVO) described strong pent-up demand for an oral option abroad, where injectables have faced supply limits, Fierce Pharma reported. Lilly's launch has trailed Novo's oral Wegovy so far, Pharmaphorum noted. How the Medicare Bridge program feeds U.S. demand On July 1, Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge program went live, opening obesity-drug coverage to about 20 million eligible beneficiaries. BofA said early feedback from Lilly and Novo points to smooth access, with most early adoption coming from patients new to GLP-1 treatment. Millions of older Americans who could not previously get these drugs now can, widening the paying customer base. Lilly told analysts th

iShares Global Healthcare ETF vs State Street SPDR Biotech ETF. Which Healthcare-Focused Fund Will Bring You Profits in 2026 and Beyond?

Investors choosing between iShares Global Healthcare ETF (NYSEMKT:IXJ) and State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEMKT:XBI) must weigh the high-growth potential of specialized U.S. biotech against a more stable, dividend-paying global healthcare portfolio. Healthcare investors often choose between the stability of established global giants and the high-growth potential of emerging biotechnology. This comparison examines how the broad, international reach of the iShares fund differs from the concentrated, equal-weighted U.S. focus found in the State Street portfolio. Snapshot (cost & size) Metric XBI IXJ Issuer SPDR iShares Share price $154.50 (as of 2026-08-06) $101.27 (as of 2026-08-06) Expense ratio 0.35% 0.38% 1-yr return (as of 2026-08-06) 80.2% 23.7% Dividend yield 0.4% 1.4% Beta 0.83 0.56 AUM $10.2B $4.1B Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield as of the close of trading on August 6. The State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF is slightly more affordable with a 0.35% expense ratio. However, the iShares Global Healthcare ETF offers a significantly higher payout, with a yield gap of 1.05 percentage points over its peer. Performance & risk comparison Metric XBI IXJ Max drawdown (5 yr) (54.0%) (18.1%) Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return) $1,221 $1,253 What's inside The iShares Global Healthcare ETF holds 110 positions, providing exposure to global equities within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. Its largest positions include Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) at 10.3%, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) at 7%, and Abbvie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) at 5%. The fund is designed for investors seeking broad sector coverage with less volatility than niche sub-sectors. It was launched in 2001. iShares Global Healthcare ETF has paid $1.44 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$101.3 share price works out to a 1.4% yield. The State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF tracks the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index using a representative sampling technique across 153 holdings. Its top holdings include Apogee Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:APGE) at 1.7%, Oruka Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ORKA) at 1.5%, and Dianthus Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:DNTH) at 1.4%. Because it uses a modified equal-weighting system, it provides significant exposure to small- and mid-cap growth stocks rather than just industry titans. It was launched in 2006. State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF has paid $0.57 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$154.5 share price works out to a 0.4% yield. Story Continues For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link. Which looks like the better buy? It's no secret that healthcare has been on a good run the past year. As a sector it is up around 30% the past 52 weeks. Both these ETFs are good ways to add this sector-specific exposure to your portfolio, but they have distinct differences investors should take into account to decide which one to buy. IXJ, the iShares Global Healthcare ETF, is quite concentrated in large cap stocks. The portfolio has 81% of its holdings in large caps, mostly value stocks, with 18% in mid caps and the balance in small caps. It is also somewhat skewed toward its top 10 holdings, with the cohort accounting for about 47% of the portfolio. The fund holds about three quarters of its assets in U.S.-domiciled businesses, followed by Switzerland and the United Kingdom at 10% and 5% of the portfolio, respectively. XBI, the State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF, is like a mirror image, with 81% of its portfolio in small cap stocks, 14% in mid caps and the rest in large caps. It has far less of its portfolio dedicated to its top 10, with just 14% of the holdings allocated to them. Interestingly, 97% of holdings are U.S

Eli Lilly and Company Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

Key Points Interested in Eli Lilly and Company? Here are five stocks we like better. Lilly reported 48% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 2026, with MOUNJARO and ZEPBOUND generating $14.9 billion in combined sales. The company raised its full-year revenue outlook to $85 billion–$87 billion and adjusted earnings-per-share guidance to $35.50–$36.50. Demand for obesity medicines remained strong, with U.S. obesity prescriptions up 78% year over year. Lilly said the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program expanded coverage for its obesity medicines by 35%, while Foundayo's launch continued gaining prescribers and international approvals. Lilly reported positive Phase III results for experimental medicine retatrutide and plans to seek U.S. approval in the first quarter of 2027. The company also expanded its pipeline through acquisitions in infectious disease, mental health and neuroscience, while investing in new manufacturing facilities. The FTC Is Suing Hims & Hers Health—Here's Why Investors Shouldn't Panic Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) reported 48% revenue growth in the second quarter of 2026, driven primarily by continued demand for its cardiometabolic medicines MOUNJARO and ZEPBOUND, while raising its full-year revenue and earnings guidance. Chair and CEO Dave Ricks said the company delivered growth across key products and major geographies, advanced its pipeline and added assets through business development. Lilly said its key products increased by nearly $6.8 billion during the quarter, while its oncology, immunology and neuroscience medicines collectively grew 121% from the prior-year period. → Meta's Earnings Drop Shows Wall Street Wants More Than Ad Growth As Employers Drop Obesity Drug Coverage, Hims & Hers Could Be the Winner "We delivered strong business results, received regulatory approval for new indications, shared positive phase III trial results, added new medicines to our pipeline, and expanded access to medicines for patients," Ricks said. Financial performance and updated outlook Chief Financial Officer Lucas Montarce said second-quarter revenue rose 48% from the same period in 2025. MOUNJARO and ZEPBOUND combined for $14.9 billion in revenue, contributing $6.3 billion of year-over-year growth. → Sandisk Just Delivered a Blowout Quarter—Here's Why the Stock Is Falling 3 Non-Pharma Firms That Could Benefit From the GLP-1 Trend Non-GAAP earnings per share were $8.38, compared with $6.31 in the prior-year quarter. The second-quarter figure included $3.03 in acquired in-process research and development charges. Lilly's non-GAAP performance margin was 54.8%, up 9 percentage points from a year earlier, while gross margin reached 86.3%. Story Continues U.S. revenue increased 33%, primarily on volume growth for ZEPBOUND and MOUNJARO as well as contributions from the company's immunology, oncology and neuroscience portfolio. U.S. price declined 3%; excluding changes to estimates for rebates and discounts, price declined 9%, Montarce said. → 4 Oil and Gas ETF Plays as Prices Stay Sky-High Outside the U.S., revenue rose 55% in constant currency in Europe, aided by MOUNJARO volume growth and a $250 million Jardiance milestone payment. Revenue grew 30% in Japan, 93% in China and 136% in the rest of the world on a constant-currency basis, with MOUNJARO a principal driver. Lilly raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to $85 billion to $87 billion, increasing the low end by $3 billion and the high end by $2 billion. It now expects a non-GAAP performance margin of 49% to 50.5% and non-GAAP earnings per share of $35.50 to $36.50. Montarce said the guidance incorporates certain factors that could affect quarterly comparisons, including prior-period adjustments to U.S. rebate and discount estimates, European vacation-related seasonality in the third quarter, and fourth-quarter seasonality in the U.S. Type 2 diabetes market. Incretin demand, Foundayo launch and Medicare access Lilly said the U.S. incretin analog market grew 31% in p

Vanguard Health Care ETF vs State Street XLV: Which ETF Is the Better Buy for Investors in 2026?

Key Points Vanguard Health Care ETF offers much broader diversification with 411 holdings compared to the 60 stocks in State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF. State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF is slightly more cost-effective with an expense ratio of 0.08% versus 0.09% for the Vanguard fund. While Vanguard Health Care ETF has higher 1-year total returns, State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF has achieved higher overall growth for a $1,000 investment over the last five years.10 stocks we like better than Vanguard World Fund - Vanguard Health Care ETF › The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF(NYSEMKT:XLV) provides concentrated exposure to blue-chip healthcare giants, while the Vanguard Health Care ETF(NYSEMKT:VHT) offers a wider reach including small- and mid-cap companies. Healthcare remains a cornerstone of the American economy, and these two funds offer distinct ways to own it. While both seek to track the performance of the medical and wellness industries, the degree of diversification varies significantly between the two portfolios, impacting concentration risk and market-cap exposure. Snapshot (cost & size) MetricXLVVHTIssuerSPDRVanguardShare price$164.45 (as of 2026-08-06)$309.02 (as of 2026-08-06)Expense ratio0.08%0.09%1-yr return (as of 2026-08-06)28.2%30.1%Dividend yield1.5%1.5%Beta0.550.59AUM$43.0B$20.4B Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield as of the close of trading on August 8. The State Street fund is nominally more affordable with an expense ratio of 0.08%, just one basis point below the Vanguard fund's 0.09%. Both funds currently offer an identical 1.5% dividend yield, making management costs a primary differentiator. Performance & risk comparison MetricXLVVHTMax drawdown (5 yr)(17.1%)(17.7%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$1,342$1,290 What's inside The Vanguard Health Care ETF tracks a broad index of medical companies, providing exposure to 423 holdings. This breadth includes many small- and mid-sized firms that its competitor ignores, and its largest positions include Eli Lilly & Co (NYSE:LLY) at 14.2%, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) at 8.9%, and AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) at 6.6%. Launched in 2004, it is heavily weighted toward healthcare at 99%, with slight exposure to financial services, technology, and industrials. The Vanguard Health Care ETF has paid $4.72 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent $309.02 share price works out to a 1.5% yield. The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF focuses strictly on the healthcare names within the S&P 500, holding only 60 stocks. Its largest positions include Eli Lilly & Co at 15.5%, Johnson & Johnson at 10.5%, and AbbVie Inc at 7.8%. Launched in 1998, it is currently all allocated to healthcare although at times it will have small amounts in related technology businesses. The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF has paid $2.53 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent $164.45 share price works out to a 1.5% yield. For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link. Which looks like the better buy? Healthcare has been on a good run the past year, as a sector it is up around 30% the past 52 weeks. Both these funds are good ways to add this sector-specific exposure to your portfolio, but they have distinct differences investors should take into account to decide which one to buy. Both ETFs provide good exposure to the sector and have some similarities beyond their healthcare focus. For one, both funds are heavily concentrated in their top 10 holdings, with the State Street fund, XLV, allocating about 60% of its assets to its top 10 holdings, while the Vanguard offering, VHT, allocates about 52% of its assets

Earnings Scorecard: 95% of healthcare firms deliver EPS wins this week

Major healthcare heavyweights, including Pfizer (PFE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PFE]), Merck (MRK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK]), and Eli Lilly (LLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY]), reported their quarterly earnings this week, pushing the healthcare sector into positive territory after five consecutive sessions of losses. The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XLV] (XLV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XLV]) rose 1.36% in the week so far. On a YTD basis, XLV has added more than 5%; however, it is lagging behind the broader S&P 500 index (SP500 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SP500]), which advanced 12.63%. EARNINGS ROUNDUP Overall, 22 healthcare firms reported their earnings in the week ended August 7. Of these, one missed earnings estimates while the remaining 21 posted better-than-expected EPS. In terms of revenue, two firms lagged analysts’ consensus, and 20 posted top lines above expectations. Below is a snapshot of the quarterly print of some major firms in the healthcare sector: Pfizer’s (PFE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PFE]) second quarter results [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4624471-pfizer-tops-q2-expectations-boosts-revenue-guidance] topped Wall Street expectations. The company raised its full-year revenue outlook, driven by stronger-than-expected performance from its non-COVID portfolio. It reported adjusted EPS of $0.77, while revenue rose 2.6% year over year to $15.03B. The drugmaker raised its 2026 revenue guidance by $500M at the midpoint to a range of $60.5B-$62.5B and reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $2.80-$3.00. Merck (MRK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK]) also reported a better-than-expected Q2 print [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4624432-merck-lifts-sales-forecast-as-newer-drugs-gain-momentum] driven by continued strength in its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, as well as strong uptake for newer drugs like Winrevair. The drugmaker posted an adjusted loss of $0.13 per share while revenue rose 5.1% year over year to $16.61B, led by Keytruda, which generated $8.4B in sales. Eli Lilly’s (LLY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY]) weight loss portfolio continued to power its financials [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4625881-eli-lilly-stock-jumps-after-q2-beat-driven-glp-1s] as shares jumped nearly 5% in post-earnings price action. Lilly posted $23B in revenue while adjusted EPS increased ~33% YoY to $8.38, driven by its injectable GLP-1 drugs and its newly launched weight-loss pill, Foundayo. LY's injectable weight-loss therapy Zepbound and its diabetes counterpart Mounjaro added $4.9B and $9.9B to the topline, respectively. Foundayo brought in sales worth $98M. Vertex Pharmaceuticals [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4624023-vertex-misses-bottom-line-raises-full-year-revenue-guidance] (VRTX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VRTX]) was the only firm that missed earnings estimates, while Zoetis [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4627520-zoetis-non-gaap-eps-of-1_87-beats-by-0_02-revenue-of-2_5b-misses-by-10m] (ZTS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZTS]) and STERIS [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4626838-steris-non-gaap-eps-of-259-beats-by-010-revenue-of-15b-in-line](STE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/STE]) reported revenue below analysts’ consensus. Out of the pharma companies that reported earnings this week, three were biotechnology firms, and five were pharmaceutical companies. Eleven of those belonged to the health care equipment industry, while three came from Life Sciences Tools & Services. UPCOMING EARNINGS With the earnings season drawing to a close, only one major healthcare firm, Cardinal Health (CAH [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CAH]), is due to report its results next week. MORE ON HEALTHCARE * Surprise U.S. Job Weakness Casts Serious Doubt On Fed Rate Hikes [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4933158-surprise-us-job-weakness-casts-serious-doubt-fed-rate-hikes] * July 2026 Employment Report - Much Weaker Than E

Key HIV stat over 70% leaves BofA siding with Gilead

Gilead Sciences (GILD) closed a strong second quarter, and Wall Street noticed. The drugmaker beat sales expectations across its biggest franchises, raised its full-year outlook, and gave analysts fresh reasons to stay bullish heading into the back half of 2026. Bank of America was one of them. The bank reiterated its Buy rating and kept its $162 price target after the report, well above where the stock trades today. One prevention number in particular caught BofA's attention, and it speaks directly to whether Gilead's next growth engine can last. Why Bank of America is standing by Gilead stock after earnings Gilead reported second-quarter product sales of $7.6 billion, ahead of Wall Street estimates, driven by strength across its HIV, liver, and oncology franchises. Bank of America Global Research kept its Buy rating and $162 price target after the print, according to a research report shared with TheStreet. With the stock near $135, that target implies meaningful room to climb. More Healthcare Stocks: UBS lifts Eli Lilly stock target to $1,425 Morgan Stanley uncovers major Bristol Myers stock signals Goldman Sachs says one number will move Eli Lilly stock The company raised full-year product sales guidance to $29.8 billion to $30.1 billion, up from a prior range of $29.4 billion to $29.8 billion. Gilead now expects its HIV franchise to grow 9% to 10% this year, up from an earlier forecast of 8%. The 70% number driving Gilead's HIV prevention story The figure BofA zeroed in on comes from Yeztugo, Gilead's twice-yearly HIV prevention shot. Roughly a year after launch, more than 70% of patients were still on the drug, a measure the industry calls persistence. Persistence simply tracks how many patients stay on a medicine over time. High persistence means fewer people quit, which supports steadier long-term revenue. Gilead's management said the rate is the highest across available PrEP options, the class of drugs taken to prevent HIV infection. That matters because persistence had been a live debate among investors. BofA said the strong number supports what it sees as a large commercial opportunity for the drug. On the earnings call, Gilead added that more than 70% of Yeztugo users returned for their six-month reinjection, extending protection for a full year, Investing.com reported. Gilead's HIV prevention and oncology launches are driving its 2026 growth.SOPA Images / Getty Images Yeztugo and Descovy push Gilead's PrEP sales past $1 billion Yeztugo posted second-quarter sales of $232 million, up 40% from the prior quarter. Gilead still expects about $1 billion in Yeztugo sales for the full year, and the drug has become the leading choice for patients switching PrEP regimens. Story Continues The broader prevention business hit a milestone, too. Gilead's total PrEP franchise topped $1 billion in quarterly sales for the first time, helped by Yeztugo and continued demand for Descovy. What the PrEP franchise delivered Yeztugo sales of $232 million, up 40% quarter over quarter. Descovy PrEP sales of about $801 million, up 60% year over year. Total PrEP business now running at roughly a $4 billion annual rate. Prevention has moved from a side story to a core driver of Gilead's growth, and the company is leaning into it with several long-acting drugs in development. How Gilead's liver and oncology drugs add a second growth lane HIV prevention is not the only franchise gaining ground. Gilead pointed to strong momentum for Livdelzi, its treatment for primary biliary cholangitis, a chronic liver disease. It remains the leading second-line option in that market. The company also flagged positive results from its late-stage IDEAL trial, which could widen the drug's use. Related: UnitedHealth CFO sends stark warning after earnings On the cancer side, Gilead's Trodelvy won FDA approval in first-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer across PD-L1 status, a marker doctors use to guide treatment. Management said the first-line setting is

Eli Lilly's Timing of the FDA Filing of Its Next Weight-Loss Drug Is Now Official -- and Novo Nordisk Has a Problem

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) is already the leader in the weight-loss market thanks to Zepbound, the best-selling medication in this space. However, the drugmaker has been making headlines with its next-gen anti-obesity medicine, retatrutide. Eli Lilly recently announced that it will request approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for retatrutide in the first quarter of 2027. This new product could help Eli Lilly extend its lead over its biggest competitor in this space, Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO). Here's the rundown. Best-in-class efficacy In a phase 3 study, retatrutide posted an average weight loss of up to 28.3% over 80 weeks. Not only is that substantially better than anything Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has ever produced in clinical trials, but it is also, as some have pointed out, comparable to what we typically see in bariatric surgeries. 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 »Image source: The Motley Fool. No other weight-loss medicine has shown efficacy that beats or even matches what retatrutide has demonstrated, not even Zepbound. True, it's always hard to compare across studies. But retatrutide's mechanism of action -- it mimics the actions of three gut hormones, providing a triple-pathway approach to addressing obesity -- already suggests it may be more effective than approved drugs. Retatrutide also led to significant weight loss in patients with diabetes, who typically have a harder time dropping pounds. Beyond weight loss and diabetes, it is being investigated across obstructive sleep apnea, chronic back pain, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. This medicine could not only attract patients with very high BMIs (Body Mass Index) for whom current weight-loss options aren't aggressive enough, but its potential approval in other lucrative indications also makes it highly promising. Retatrutide won't simply cannibalize Zepbound's sales. It will help Eli Lilly expand the weight-loss market and solidify its lead. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly's financial results continue to impress, largely because of its work in this area. In the second quarter, the company's revenue increased by 48% year over year to $23 billion, while its adjusted earnings per share came in at $8.38, 33% higher than the year-ago period. Eli Lilly's results beat expectations, sending the stock slightly higher after it released its quarterly update. The company should maintain solid financial results over the medium term, especially with products like retatrutide in the pipeline. And beyond its core therapeutic area, Eli Lilly is making significant strides in other areas. Story Continues The company has expanded and diversified its pipeline and should see meaningful progress in other markets, including oncology and immunology, over the next few years. Here's the bottom line: Eli Lilly does not intend to relinquish its lead in the weight-loss space, and it also wants to dominate other fields. The company's continued success could power solid returns over the medium term. Novo Nordisk, as well as other pharmaceutical giants looking to challenge Eli Lilly, have been warned. 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 $397,405!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,344,091!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor

Pfizer's Next Weight-Loss Weapon: How Berobenatide Stacks Up Against Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound

Key Points Pfizer's berobenatide appears to be a promising candidate that could challenge Wegovy and Zepbound. There are several other reasons to consider the stock, despite the potential headwinds ahead. 10 stocks we like better than Pfizer › The past few years have been rough on Pfizer(NYSE: PFE). The company has generally posted subpar financial results due to weakness within its coronavirus franchise, which once helped it become the first biopharmaceutical company to achieve $100 billion in annual sales. The drugmaker is looking to turn things around by developing potential blockbuster products, and one of its most promising candidates is berobenatide, an investigational weight loss therapy. The anti-obesity market is growing rapidly and could be worth $190 billion by 2035, compared to just $79 billion last year, according to some estimates. Could Pfizer's berobenatide help the company capitalize on this large opportunity? Image source: The Motley Fool. 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 » Challenging the giants Pfizer will have to compete against the leaders in the weight-loss market, Eli Lilly, whose Zepbound is the best-selling drug in this niche, and Novo Nordisk, a pioneer in the market and the company behind Wegovy, perhaps the best-known brand in the field. How does berobenatide compare to Wegovy and Zepbound? It's hard to say without head-to-head clinical trials, but the data we do have so far suggest that Pfizer's candidate could be highly competitive. In a phase 2b study, berobenatide achieved a weight loss of almost 16% (non-placebo-adjusted) in 32 weeks, with no plateau observed. Those are strong results, considering that Zepbound posted a weight loss of 20.2%, versus Wegovy's 13.7%, in a 72-week head-to-head study. If berobenatide can extend its results in phase 3 studies, we could be looking at the next billion-dollar weight loss drug. The case for Pfizer Berobenatide has another advantage: It could be administered monthly. So, even with slightly lower efficacy than weekly anti-obesity medicines, it may attract a large patient population. Further, the medicine's safety and tolerability profile appears strong. Pfizer is planning to run various phase 3 studies for this candidate across weight management and obesity-related comorbidities, including such potential indications as obstructive sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis. This is clearly a highly promising product, and it seems the market has yet to factor its potential into Pfizer's share price. The stock has basically moved sideways since November, when Pfizer acquired Metsera, the biotech company that originally developed berobenatide. It's also worth noting that Pfizer has plenty of other attractive candidates, especially in oncology. Also, even though its financial results haven't been strong, some of the company's products should perform well over the medium term. The list includes Padcev, a cancer medicine. Then there is Pfizer's strong dividend program. The company regularly increases its payouts and currently offers a juicy forward yield of 6.7%. All of those are great reasons to consider the stock. Beware of these risks However, there are also significant risks to consider. There is, of course, the possibility that berobenatide will not perform as well as expected in phase 3 studies that test investigational drugs in broader, more representative patient populations using more rigorous endpoints. Even beyond that, we should expect many other pharmaceutical leaders to make headway in this field over the next couple of years. For instance, Amgen(NASDAQ: AMGN) is also working on a weight loss candidate that could be administered monthly (or less frequently). As more weight loss drugs enter the market, it will become harde