In this article, we will look at the 10 Most Profitable S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now.Profitability has moved back to the center of the market conversation. After a stretch where narratives were driven by multiple expansions and AI-linked optimism, attention has started to shift toward companies that can consistently generate earnings regardless of the macro backdrop. That shift is showing up in how investors talk about resilience, not just revenue growth, but margins, return profiles, and the ability to compou ...

Core Insights - Amgen (AMGN) stock has been consistently trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) since early January, indicating a strong upward trend supported by positive earnings and a favorable outlook for 2026 [1][2][8] Financial Performance - Amgen's revenues rose 10% to $36.8 billion in 2025, driven by increasing patient demand for its innovative medicines [5] - Fourteen of Amgen's products now generate over $1 billion in annual sales, reducing reliance on any single product [6] Key Products and Pipeline - Key drugs such as Repatha, Evenity, Uplizna, and new drugs like Tavneos and Tezspire are contributing to revenue growth, while new biosimilars are also enhancing top-line performance [6][12] - Amgen is developing MariTide, an obesity treatment, which differentiates itself from competitors by offering less frequent dosing [10] - Ongoing clinical studies for MariTide are expected to yield important data over the next six to twelve months, potentially acting as catalysts for stock performance [11] Biosimilars and Market Position - Amgen's biosimilars generated approximately $3 billion in sales in 2025, marking a 37% year-over-year increase, and have contributed over $13 billion in sales since their first launch in 2018 [12] - New biosimilar launches are crucial for mitigating the impact of Amgen's loss of exclusivity over the next few years [13] Challenges and Headwinds - Patents for key drugs Prolia and Xgeva expired in February 2025 in the U.S., leading to expected significant revenue declines in 2026 due to the launch of several biosimilars [14] - Pricing pressures and competitive challenges are affecting sales of several products, including Otezla and Lumakras [16][17] - Recent setbacks in drug approvals, such as the withdrawal of Tavneos and the decision not to seek approval for bemarituzumab, have raised concerns [18][19] Valuation and Estimates - Amgen's shares have increased by 11.6% over the past year, outperforming the industry average of 8.0% [20] - The stock is currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 15.67, which is lower than the industry average of 17.25, although it is above its five-year mean of 13.81 [20] - Consensus estimates for earnings have risen for 2026 from $21.71 to $22.22 per share, and for 2027 from $22.30 to $23.24 per share [23] Long-term Outlook - Amgen is well-positioned for long-term revenue growth, with expectations that key drugs and biosimilars will drive top-line growth in 2026, partially offsetting the impact of biosimilar erosion and pricing declines [27]

Market Performance - U.S. equity markets rebounded on March 17, 2026, with the S&P 500 rising 0.6% to 6,741.72, the Dow Jones increasing by 217.44 points (approximately 0.5%) to 47,163.85, and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.7% to close at 22,526.29 [1] - Positive sentiment was driven by optimism that geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf would not lead to long-term stagflation, despite elevated crude oil prices around $93.38 per barrel [2] Sector Performance - The financial and technology sectors were the main growth drivers, with Goldman Sachs gaining 2.57%, IBM rising 2.29%, and American Express increasing by 2.01% [3] - In technology, Nvidia's stock rose after reaffirming its forecast of $1 trillion in AI chip revenue by 2027, while Qualcomm jumped 3% following a dividend hike and a $20 billion share buyback announcement [4] Defensive Sector Trends - Defensive sectors faced pressure, with Johnson & Johnson falling 0.96%, and Amgen and Coca-Cola also declining as investors shifted towards growth-oriented assets [5] Travel Sector Developments - Delta Air Lines shares surged 6.6% after raising its revenue forecast for Q1 2026, citing increased demand from business and leisure travelers, which helped offset higher jet fuel costs [6] - This positive outlook led to a sector-wide rally, boosting American Airlines by 3.5%, United Airlines by 3.2%, and Southwest Airlines by 2.2% [6] Upcoming Market Events - Investors are focused on the Federal Reserve's policy decision on March 18, with expectations of interest rates remaining steady at 3.75% [7] - A wave of economic data, including housing starts and industrial production figures, is anticipated later in the week to provide insights into U.S. consumer health amid energy price volatility [8] After-Hours Earnings Highlights - Major companies like Walmart are under scrutiny for retail health, while tech firms such as Arista Networks and cloud-computing companies are expected to release updates that may impact market sentiment [9]

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is one of Billionaire Ken Fisher’s 15 Most Notable Moves for 2026. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is also a staple in the 13F portfolio of Fisher Asset Management. The fund has held a small position in the company since early 2010. This position remained relatively stable through the decade and half since 2010. However, at the end of 2024 and in 2025, the fund has aggressively upped this stake. In the third and fourth quarter of 2025, the position has more than doubled compared to filin ...

Group 1: Clinical Trials and Safety Concerns - Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. is discontinuing all ongoing clinical trials involving rocatinlimab due to newly emerging safety issues, including additional malignancy cases [2] - The total number of malignancy events across studies remained below expected background levels, but the pattern raised scientific concerns linked to OX40 pathway activity [3] - Amgen and Kyowa Kirin determined that possible risks could exceed anticipated therapeutic benefits for patients, leading to the formal end of the clinical studies [3] Group 2: Financial Announcements - Amgen's Board approved a cash dividend of $2.52 per share for the second quarter of 2026, with payouts scheduled for June 5, 2026 [4] - Stockholders listed at the end of trade on May 15, 2026, will receive the dividend [4] Group 3: Investment Perspective - Amgen is recognized as one of the best kid-friendly stocks to invest in [1] - While Amgen has potential as an investment, certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [5]

Core Viewpoint - The White House is set to announce an expansion of drugmakers offering discounts on TrumpRx.gov, with Amgen and GSK being added to the list, totaling 54 medications from six companies under most-favored-nation pricing [1][6]. Group 1: Drug Pricing and Discounts - Amgen will offer discounts of up to 80% on its medication Amjevita, reducing the price from $1,484 to $299, which treats rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis [2]. - GSK plans to offer discounts of 62% on Aimovig and Repatha, and 55% on Incruse, which will be priced at $159 for COPD treatment. Other GSK drugs will have discounts ranging from 10% to 51% [5]. Group 2: Government Policy and Industry Response - The initiative is part of President Trump's push for affordable healthcare, with expectations of greater discounts and transparency in drug pricing as Congress considers the Great Healthcare Plan [7]. - The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has expressed concerns that government-imposed pricing policies could undermine U.S. competitiveness and negatively impact research and development funding [9][10]. Group 3: Historical Context of Drug Pricing - Under the Biden administration, prescription drug costs have increased by 10.4% from January 2021 to January 2025, while under the Trump administration, prices rose only 0.2% from January 2025 to February 2026 [13].

分组1 - The article discusses Amgen's Q3 results and the efficacy of MariTide in its Phase 2 trial [1] - Amgen's performance is under scrutiny to determine if it can sustain its recent rally into 2026 [1] 分组2 - Allka Research has over two decades of experience in investment, focusing on uncovering undervalued assets in various sectors including ETFs, commodities, technology, and pharmaceuticals [2] - The company aims to simplify investment strategies for both seasoned and novice investors, fostering a community of informed investors [2]

Core Insights - The company exited 2025 with strong momentum, achieving double-digit growth in both revenue and earnings per share, supported by 13 products delivering double-digit growth and 14 products exceeding $1 billion in annual sales [2][3] Group 1: Growth Drivers - The momentum is driven by six key growth drivers: Repatha, EVENITY, TEZSPIRE, rare disease treatments, innovative oncology, and the biosimilars portfolio [3] - Repatha, EVENITY, and TEZSPIRE each grew over 30% year-over-year in 2025, achieving record sales and representing multibillion-dollar global franchises [3] - These medicines address significant unmet medical needs, with millions of patients yet to be treated, indicating strong growth potential not only for 2026 but for the entire decade [3]

Summary of Amgen Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Amgen - **Key Participants**: Peter Griffith (CFO), Jasper van Grunsven (SVP of Rare Disease), Casey Capparelli (VP of Investor Relations) [8][1] Core Industry Insights - **Strong Portfolio Performance**: In 2025, Amgen reported strong momentum with 13 products delivering double-digit growth, 14 products exceeding $1 billion in annual sales, and 18 products achieving record performance [8][9] - **Key Growth Drivers**: The growth is supported by six key drivers: Repatha, Evenity, Tezspire, rare disease portfolio, innovative oncology, and biosimilars [8][9] - **Rare Disease Portfolio**: Generated $5 billion in sales in 2025, up 14% year-over-year, with significant contributions from UPLIZNA, which grew 73% due to new indications and geographic expansion [9][31] Financial Highlights - **Revenue and Earnings Growth**: Amgen experienced double-digit growth in both revenue and earnings per share in 2025 [8][9] - **Biosimilars Performance**: The biosimilars portfolio generated $3 billion in sales in 2025, growing 37% year-over-year, driven by strong uptake of Pavblu [11][20] - **Quarterly Expectations**: Anticipated seasonal headwinds in Q1 due to insurance cycles and historical sales patterns, particularly for Otezla and IMRALDI [14][15] Product-Specific Insights - **UPLIZNA**: Expected to continue strong growth with a focus on new indications and a competitive profile in the market [31][36] - **MariTide**: Positioned as a differentiated treatment for obesity and related conditions, with six global Phase III studies underway. Monthly dosing is expected to improve patient adherence [12][25][62] - **IMDELLTRA**: A bispecific T-cell engager for small cell lung cancer, rapidly becoming the standard of care with ongoing Phase III studies [10][19] Pipeline and Future Growth - **Pipeline Development**: 2026 is set to be a year of disciplined data generation across multiple Phase II and III programs, with a focus on long-term growth [12][20] - **Dazodalibep (DAS)**: Targeting Sjögren's disease, with a significant unmet need and promising Phase II data [50][51] Competitive Landscape - **Market Positioning**: Amgen is aware of competitive pressures, particularly in the obesity market from companies like Lilly and Novo, but believes its established commercial capabilities will provide a competitive edge [68][69] - **M&A Environment**: Amgen maintains a strong balance sheet and is open to M&A opportunities, focusing on innovation and integration capabilities [70][72] Additional Considerations - **Adherence and Patient Experience**: Emphasis on improving patient adherence through less frequent dosing regimens, which is crucial for chronic conditions [62][63] - **Commercial Strategy**: Amgen is strategizing on how to effectively position MariTide in a rapidly evolving market, considering both commercial and consumer segments [58][59]

Summary of Amgen Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Amgen - **Key Personnel**: Peter Griffith (CFO), Casey (IR), Jasper van Grunsven (Rare Disease) Core Industry Insights - **Strong Portfolio Performance**: In 2025, Amgen reported strong momentum with 13 products delivering double-digit growth, 14 products exceeding $1 billion in annual sales, and 18 products achieving record performance [7][8][21] - **Key Growth Drivers**: The growth is supported by six key drivers: Repatha, Evenity, Tezspire, rare disease portfolio, innovative oncology, and biosimilars [7][8][14] - **Rare Disease Portfolio**: Generated $5 billion in sales in 2025, up 14% year-over-year, with significant contributions from UPLIZNA, which grew 73% [8][35] Financial Highlights - **Revenue and Earnings Growth**: Double-digit growth in both revenue and earnings per share in 2025 [7] - **Biosimilars Performance**: The biosimilars portfolio generated $3 billion in product sales in 2025, growing 37% year-over-year, with strong uptake of Pavblu [9][18] - **Quarterly Expectations**: Anticipated seasonal Q1 headwinds due to insurance cycles and historical sales patterns for certain products [12][13] Product-Specific Insights - **UPLIZNA**: - Significant growth driven by new patient acquisition and geographic expansion [8][35] - Expected continued growth with new indications and ongoing studies in autoimmune diseases [8][38] - **Innovative Oncology**: - IMDELLTRA has become a standard of care in small cell lung cancer, with ongoing Phase 3 studies [9][17] - Xaluritamig is being evaluated for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer [9] - **MariTide**: - Positioned as a differentiated treatment for obesity and related conditions, with six global Phase 3 studies underway [10][28] - Monthly dosing is expected to improve patient adherence and long-term outcomes [76][78] Competitive Landscape - **Market Positioning**: Amgen is focused on maintaining a competitive edge in the obesity market against formidable competitors like Lilly and Novo [80] - **M&A Strategy**: Amgen is open to mergers and acquisitions, focusing on innovation and effective integration to enhance shareholder value [85][86] Future Outlook - **Pipeline Development**: 2026 is expected to be a year of disciplined data generation across multiple Phase 2 and Phase 3 programs [10][11] - **Long-Term Growth**: Amgen is well-positioned for sustained long-term growth with a diversified portfolio and a strong pipeline [13][22] Additional Considerations - **Adherence Challenges**: Current treatment burdens and dosing frequencies are barriers to long-term persistence on therapy, which MariTide aims to address [76][78] - **Safety Profile of DAS**: Dazodalibep is engineered to avoid adverse events seen in previous therapies targeting the same pathway, with a favorable safety profile observed in Phase 2 studies [64][66] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the Amgen conference call, highlighting the company's performance, product insights, financial outlook, and strategic positioning within the industry.