Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) Faces Challenges Amidst Strong Competition and Sales Slowdown

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk is facing a challenging outlook for 2026, with anticipated sales slowdown for its key drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, despite a recent stock upgrade from Jefferies [2][5] Group 1: Company Overview - Novo Nordisk specializes in diabetes care and hormone replacement therapies, known for its innovative GLP-1 drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy [1] - The company reported strong results for 2025, with semaglutide-based GLP-1 drugs generating 206.2 billion Danish kroner, including 53.7 billion from the fourth quarter [3][5] Group 2: Financial Outlook - Jefferies upgraded Novo Nordisk's stock from "Underperform" to "Hold," with the stock priced at $48.74 [2][5] - The company expects adjusted sales and operating profits to drop by 5-13% at constant exchange rates for 2026, excluding a $4.2 billion rebate reversal [2][5] Group 3: Market Challenges - The anticipated decline in sales is attributed to pricing pressure in the U.S., increased competition, foreign exchange headwinds, and higher research and development spending [3][5] - Sales momentum for Ozempic and Wegovy has slowed over the past year due to increasing competition [4][5]