Novo Nordisk's 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy will compete against Lilly's GLP-1 injection. ...

Joining me now with her five top picks is Victoria Fernandez, chief market strategist at Crossmark Global Investments. Victoria, great to have you on. >> It's a pleasure to be here.>> All right, so let's get right into it with your picks. First up is a healthc care play, Gilead. The stock has been working up 15% year-to date.Tell us why you like this one. >> Yeah, so we know that healthc care is a sector right now that has had some pullbacks. It's still in an uptrend, but we think it's an opportunity to be ...

• Novo Nordisk shares are experiencing downward pressure. What’s pulling NVO shares down?The approval comes via the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher (CNPV) expedited program.The newly approved Wegovy HD (semaglutide) injection 7.2 mg is for patients who have already tolerated the currently approved 2.4 mg dose and require additional weight reduction.The therapy is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.Clinical Data From STEP UP Trial Supports ApprovalT ...

Core Insights - Amgen (AMGN) stock has been consistently trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) since early January, indicating a strong upward trend supported by positive earnings and a favorable outlook for 2026 [1][2][8] Financial Performance - Amgen's revenues rose 10% to $36.8 billion in 2025, driven by increasing patient demand for its innovative medicines [5] - Fourteen of Amgen's products now generate over $1 billion in annual sales, reducing reliance on any single product [6] Key Products and Pipeline - Key drugs such as Repatha, Evenity, Uplizna, and new drugs like Tavneos and Tezspire are contributing to revenue growth, while new biosimilars are also enhancing top-line performance [6][12] - Amgen is developing MariTide, an obesity treatment, which differentiates itself from competitors by offering less frequent dosing [10] - Ongoing clinical studies for MariTide are expected to yield important data over the next six to twelve months, potentially acting as catalysts for stock performance [11] Biosimilars and Market Position - Amgen's biosimilars generated approximately $3 billion in sales in 2025, marking a 37% year-over-year increase, and have contributed over $13 billion in sales since their first launch in 2018 [12] - New biosimilar launches are crucial for mitigating the impact of Amgen's loss of exclusivity over the next few years [13] Challenges and Headwinds - Patents for key drugs Prolia and Xgeva expired in February 2025 in the U.S., leading to expected significant revenue declines in 2026 due to the launch of several biosimilars [14] - Pricing pressures and competitive challenges are affecting sales of several products, including Otezla and Lumakras [16][17] - Recent setbacks in drug approvals, such as the withdrawal of Tavneos and the decision not to seek approval for bemarituzumab, have raised concerns [18][19] Valuation and Estimates - Amgen's shares have increased by 11.6% over the past year, outperforming the industry average of 8.0% [20] - The stock is currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 15.67, which is lower than the industry average of 17.25, although it is above its five-year mean of 13.81 [20] - Consensus estimates for earnings have risen for 2026 from $21.71 to $22.22 per share, and for 2027 from $22.30 to $23.24 per share [23] Long-term Outlook - Amgen is well-positioned for long-term revenue growth, with expectations that key drugs and biosimilars will drive top-line growth in 2026, partially offsetting the impact of biosimilar erosion and pricing declines [27]

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has made significant advancements in its pipeline, achieving key clinical and regulatory milestones that are expected to drive growth through the latter half of the decade [1] - The company received approvals for new products, including Inlexzoh/TAR-200 for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and Imaavy (nipocalimab) for generalized myasthenia gravis [1] Product Approvals and Pipeline - Inlexzoh is a novel drug-releasing system that allows for sustained local delivery of cancer treatment directly into the bladder [2] - Nipocalimab, an FcRn blocker, is under review for multiple immune-mediated conditions, including warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus, with potential for significant market impact [2] - In 2026, J&J and Protagonist Therapeutics received FDA approval for icotrokinra (marketed as Icotyde), an oral targeted peptide inhibitor for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis [3][10] - Icotyde's approval was based on data from four phase III studies, demonstrating significant skin clearance and a favorable safety profile [4] - Icotyde is expected to revolutionize plaque psoriasis treatment by offering a once-daily oral option, contrasting with existing injectable treatments [5][6] Market Potential - J&J anticipates that Inlexzoh, Icotyde, and Imaavy are among ten new drugs that could collectively achieve peak sales of $5 billion [7] - The company expects a more pronounced impact from new products in 2026 compared to 2025, highlighting the strength of its late-stage pipeline [8] Financial Performance - JNJ's shares have outperformed the industry, rising 45.6% over the past year compared to an 8.0% increase in the industry [9] - The company's shares currently trade at a price/earnings ratio of 20.23, higher than the industry average of 17.25, indicating a slightly expensive valuation [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has increased from $11.46 to $11.54, while the estimate for 2027 has risen from $12.25 to $12.44 [12]

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is one of Jim Cramer’s latest stock calls as he shared how to navigate Wednesday’s tough tape. Cramer believes that the stock should have gone higher, as he stated: What can you do on days like today? Well, the investing club… We like to buy, not big, but we’re not sellers. Why? Couple of reasons. We now think that Iran’s response could be more anemic than its previous barrage of pain. We’re going to find out soon enough though. We also like the stock market… when it’s oversol ...

Core Insights - Shares of Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) have increased by approximately 20% over the past three months, primarily due to positive top-line data from the X-TOLE2 study evaluating azetukalner for focal onset seizures (FOS) [1][6] Group 1: Clinical Development - Azetukalner is being evaluated in late-stage studies for the treatment of FOS, with two identical phase III studies, X-TOLE2 and X-TOLE3, assessing 15 mg or 25 mg doses administered with food as an adjunctive treatment [2][4] - The X-TOLE2 study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a median percent change in monthly FOS frequency from baseline to week 12 for both doses compared to placebo [3] - Azetukalner's clinical profile is differentiated from existing antiseizure therapies, featuring no titration requirement, convenient once-daily dosing, and minimal risk of drug-drug interactions [3] Group 2: Regulatory and Market Outlook - Xenon plans to submit a new drug application to the FDA for azetukalner in Q3 2026, with management highlighting the favorable safety profile and ease of use as key factors for its potential as a preferred treatment for uncontrolled seizures [4] - The ongoing phase III X-TOLE3 study is expected to support regulatory filings in international markets, enhancing the global commercial opportunity for azetukalner [5] Group 3: Broader Pipeline and Future Studies - Azetukalner is also being developed for other neurological disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BPD), with top-line data from the X-NOVA2 study expected in the first half of 2027 [7] - The company is conducting a phase III X-ACKT study for azetukalner in primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which is currently enrolling patients [8] - Xenon has initiated early-stage studies for other pipeline assets, including XEN1120 and XEN1701, targeting Kv7 and Nav1.7 for various therapeutic indications [9]

Market Overview - The overall market is facing consistent pressure, primarily due to higher-than-expected inflation data and adjustments in the labor market [2][3] - The short end of the yield curve has seen significant increases, particularly the 2-year yield, indicating a shift in market sentiment regarding Federal Reserve actions [2][3] - Geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, are contributing to market uncertainty, particularly affecting energy and shipping sectors [3] Oracle - Oracle's stock has seen a significant pullback of approximately 21% year-to-date and a 55% decline from its recent highs following earnings reports [5][6] - There is a belief that Oracle may have temporarily bottomed, with support levels around $155 to $160, suggesting potential for upside if market stability is achieved [7][8] - Technical analysis indicates a bearish trend, with caution advised despite signs of a possible short-term bottom [10][12] Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson has performed relatively well, up about 14% this year, despite a 6% pullback from recent highs [19][20] - The stock is viewed as defensive, with a potential for building off current levels, and a risk reversal strategy is suggested to capture further upside [18][19] - Technical indicators show a constructive chart, but there are concerns about weakening price momentum and potential breakdowns below key support levels [22][24] Starbucks - Starbucks has been the strongest performer this year, but there are mixed opinions regarding its costly turnaround strategy [25][27] - The stock is currently positioned for potential downside, with a strategy to buy puts to capture further weakness while having the opportunity to acquire shares at lower levels [28][31] - Technical analysis indicates defined resistance around $100 to $104 and support near $80, with recent trading behavior resembling that of a utility stock rather than a growth company [33][34]

Core Insights - The Danish drugmaker received accelerated approval for a new treatment based on the results of its Step Up trial, which demonstrated a mean weight loss of 20.7% for participants with obesity [1] Company Summary - The accelerated approval indicates a significant advancement in the company's product pipeline, potentially enhancing its market position in the obesity treatment sector [1] Industry Summary - The results from the Step Up trial highlight the growing focus on effective obesity treatments within the pharmaceutical industry, reflecting an increasing demand for innovative solutions to address obesity-related health issues [1]

The logo of pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is displayed in front of its offices in Bagsvaerd, Copenhagen, Denmark, Feb. 4, 2026.The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a higher dose version of Novo Nordisk's blockbuster weight loss injection Wegovy, as the company pushes to win back market share from chief rival Eli Lilly. Novo expects to launch the higher, 7.2-milligram dose of Wegovy in April. The Danish drugmaker is positioning that version to better compete with Lilly's obesity drug Z ...