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BAYRY's 2025 Revival: Will the Momentum Continue in 2026?
ZACKS· 2025-12-31 14:12
Core Insights - Bayer has experienced a significant turnaround in 2025, with shares increasing by 121.6% over the past year, outperforming the industry gain of 19.2% and the S&P 500 Index [1][8]. Group 1: Performance and Market Position - Bayer's stock performance is attributed to new drug approvals, progress in its pipeline, improved Crop Science business performance, and positive updates on ongoing litigations [2]. - The company has outperformed the industry, sector, and S&P 500 Index, driven by FDA label expansions for drugs like Nubeqa and Kerendia, as well as approvals for Lynkuet and Hyrnuo [8]. - Nubeqa generated sales of €1.68 billion in the first nine months of 2025, compensating for the decline in Xarelto sales [9]. Group 2: Drug Approvals and Pipeline Progress - Bayer's pharmaceutical division is bolstered by new products such as Nubeqa and Kerendia, which have maintained strong momentum despite declining Xarelto sales [3]. - The FDA approved a label expansion for Kerendia, making it the only non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist approved in the U.S. for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes and heart failure [4]. - Nubeqa received a label expansion for advanced prostate cancer, becoming the first FDA-approved androgen receptor inhibitor for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer [5][6]. - Bayer's pipeline includes promising candidates like gadoquatrane for MRI and asundexian for stroke prevention, with ongoing efforts to submit marketing authorization applications [13][14]. Group 3: Litigation and Financial Outlook - Bayer's stock received a boost from a favorable U.S. Supreme Court review signal regarding Roundup litigation, which has resulted in significant litigation costs [17][19]. - As of September 30, 2025, Bayer reserved $7.6 billion (€6.5 billion) for glyphosate litigation, with approximately 132,000 of nearly 197,000 claims resolved [19][20]. - From a valuation perspective, Bayer's shares trade at a price/earnings ratio of 7.59X forward earnings, below the industry average of 17X, indicating potential undervaluation [21]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share has risen from $1.32 to $1.41, reflecting positive sentiment around the company's financial outlook [22].