Bristol Myers Gains 7.2% in a Month: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?

Core Insights - Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) has seen a 7.2% increase in stock price over the past month, outperforming the industry growth of 3.8% and the S&P 500 Index [1][2][8] - The company's strong performance is attributed to better-than-expected Q3 results driven by increased demand for key drugs such as Opdivo, Breyanzi, Reblozyl, and Camzyos, leading to an upward revision in revenue guidance [3][8] - Despite recent gains, BMY's year-to-date stock performance has been disappointing, with a decline from a 52-week high of $63.33 in March to a low of $42.52 in late October [4] Financial Performance - BMY's Growth Portfolio, which includes drugs like Opdivo and Reblozyl, reported an 18% year-over-year sales increase, totaling $6.9 billion [5] - Opdivo sales in the U.S. are driven by strong launches in specific cancer indications, while global sales are expected to grow in the high single-digit to low double-digit range [6][8] - The thalassemia drug Reblozyl has annualized sales exceeding $2 billion, and Breyanzi's sales are also strong, exceeding $1 billion annually [9][10] Drug Approvals and Pipeline - BMY's recent approval of Opdivo Qvantig for subcutaneous use has enhanced its immuno-oncology portfolio, with strong initial uptake [6] - The company has also launched Cobenfy, a new treatment for schizophrenia, which has generated $105 million in sales year-to-date and is expected to contribute significantly to revenue in the future [10][11] Legacy Portfolio and Challenges - The Legacy Portfolio continues to decline, with a 12% decrease in sales to $5.4 billion, primarily due to generic competition affecting drugs like Revlimid and Pomalyst [12] - BMY anticipates a further decline of approximately 15% to 17% in the Legacy Portfolio by 2025 [13] Strategic Collaborations and Acquisitions - BMY announced the acquisition of Orbital Therapeutics for $1.5 billion, which will add a promising RNA immunotherapy candidate to its pipeline [14][15] - The company has also partnered with BioNTech for the co-development of a bispecific antibody targeting cancer, indicating a focus on innovative treatment approaches [16][17] Valuation and Estimates - BMY's current price/earnings ratio stands at 7.67x, below its historical mean and the large-cap pharma industry's average of 15.57x, suggesting it may be undervalued [18] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS has slightly decreased to $6.48 from $6.51 over the past month [20] Investment Outlook - BMY's strong performance in the first nine months of 2025, driven by key drugs, positions it as a relatively safe investment in the biotech sector [22] - The company offers an attractive dividend yield of 5.31%, which may appeal to existing investors [22]