Bernstein Calls 2026 a “Waiting Year” for Amgen’s (AMGN) MariTide

Core Viewpoint - Amgen Inc. is recognized as one of the 15 best S&P 500 dividend stocks to buy in 2026, indicating strong investor interest and confidence in its future performance [1] Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Market Outlook - Bernstein downgraded Amgen from Outperform to Market Perform, maintaining a price target of $335, citing 2026 as a "waiting year" for its drug MariTide [2] - Concerns were raised regarding potential risks to Amgen's Repatha due to Merck's pricing strategies, along with uncertainties surrounding the significance of Lp(a) outcomes, with more clarity expected from Novartis' pelicarsen data [2] Group 2: Acquisition and Pipeline Development - Amgen announced the acquisition of Dark Blue Therapeutics Ltd. for up to $840 million, aimed at enhancing its oncology pipeline [3] - The acquisition focuses on a small molecule that targets proteins MLLT1/3, which are implicated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), showing promising preclinical results that suggest a unique mechanism of action compared to existing treatments [4] - Amgen plans to integrate Dark Blue into its research organization to bolster early-stage oncology discovery efforts [5]