RBC Lifts Amgen (AMGN) Target After Strong Q4, Cites Key Drug Momentum

Core Insights - Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is recognized as one of the 15 Best Wide Moat Dividend Stocks to invest in [1] - RBC Capital raised its price target for Amgen to $360 from $335, maintaining an Outperform rating, citing strong fourth-quarter performance driven by key drugs [2] - Amgen's fourth-quarter results exceeded Wall Street expectations, with shares experiencing a modest increase due to confidence in its weight-loss drug MariTide [3] Financial Performance - Quarterly revenue increased by 9% year-over-year to $9.9 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $9.5 billion [4] - Adjusted earnings per share were reported at $5.29, significantly above expectations of $4.73, despite ongoing pricing pressures [4] - Product sales volumes rose by 10%, while net prices declined by 4%, resulting in a 7% quarter-over-quarter growth [5] Future Outlook - Amgen anticipates adjusted earnings per share between $21.60 and $23.00 for 2026, with Wall Street estimating $22.09 [5] - The company forecasts full-year revenue of $37 billion to $38.4 billion, compared to analysts' expectations of $37.1 billion [5] - Amgen is actively conducting six Phase 3 trials for its weight-loss drug MariTide and plans to initiate additional studies in diabetes patients later this year [4] Company Strategy - Amgen focuses on developing, manufacturing, and delivering medicines for challenging diseases, with a strategy centered on high unmet medical needs [6] - The company's pipeline is designed to support growth beyond its established products, indicating a long-term commitment to innovation in the healthcare space [4][6]