Industry Overview - The drug and biotech sector has shown recovery after a weak first half, with large drugmakers signing pricing agreements with the Trump administration [1] - Dealmaking activity surged in the second half, boosting investor confidence, with the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry outperforming the S&P 500 in the past three months [1][4] - Innovation is at its peak, particularly in areas like obesity, cell and gene therapy, and next-gen oncology treatments, attracting investor attention [2] - Despite headwinds such as pipeline setbacks and regulatory risks, the outlook for growth in 2026 remains favorable due to rapid innovation and increased use of AI in drug development [2] Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly has achieved significant success with its tirzepatide medicines, including diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medicine Zepbound, which are key revenue drivers [6][7] - Strong sales growth in 2025 is attributed to international market launches and improved production, with continued demand expected in 2026 [7] - Lilly is investing in obesity treatments with new molecules in clinical development, including orforglipron and retatrutide, with regulatory applications filed for orforglipron [8][9] - Despite challenges like declining product prices and competition in the GLP-1 market, Lilly's stock has risen 39.3% year to date, with 2026 earnings estimates improving from $30.78 to $33.61 per share [10] Johnson & Johnson - J&J has shown strong operational performance in 2025, with double-digit revenue growth from key brands despite the loss of exclusivity for Stelara [11] - The Innovative Medicine segment is expected to accelerate growth in 2026, driven by key products and new launches [12] - J&J's MedTech business has improved, with growth driven by acquired cardiovascular businesses and new product launches expected to contribute to 2026 growth [13][14] - The company has advanced its pipeline significantly and is on an acquisition spree, with a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a stock rise of 43.3% year to date [17] AbbVie - AbbVie faces declining sales from Humira due to loss of exclusivity but has successfully launched new immunology medicines Skyrizi and Rinvoq, generating combined sales of $18.5 billion in the first nine months of 2025 [18][19] - Strong market growth and new indications for these drugs are expected to drive future growth, alongside contributions from newer drugs [20] - AbbVie anticipates a high single-digit CAGR through 2029, supported by robust performance from Skyrizi and Rinvoq, with a Zacks Rank of 3 and a stock rise of 28.2% year to date [21][22] Amgen - Amgen's revenue growth is driven by key medicines like Repatha and new biosimilars, compensating for declines from mature drugs [23][24] - The company is focusing on obesity treatments with its candidate MariTide, which differentiates itself with a convenient dosing method [24] - Amgen's stock has risen 27.3% year to date, with 2026 earnings estimates increasing from $21.43 to $21.62 per share [25] AstraZeneca - AstraZeneca has several blockbuster drugs exceeding $1 billion in sales, with newer products contributing to growth despite losses from mature brands [26][27] - The company expects to achieve industry-leading top-line growth through 2030, with plans to launch 20 new medicines and generate $80 billion in total revenues [28] - AstraZeneca faces challenges such as competition and regulatory impacts but maintains a stable earnings estimate of $5.15 per share for 2026, with a stock rise of 10.7% year to date [29][30]

Core Viewpoint - Eli Lilly and Company is set to report its first-quarter earnings on May 1, with sales and earnings estimates at $12.62 billion and $3.52 per share, respectively. However, earnings estimates for 2025 have seen a decline from $23.53 to $22.43 per share over the past month [1][4]. Earnings Performance - The company has had a mixed earnings performance, exceeding expectations in three of the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 8.47% [2][3]. Earnings Estimates and Trends - Current earnings estimates for Q1, Q2, 2025, and 2026 are $3.52, $5.58, $22.43, and $31.15 per share, respectively. Notably, the earnings estimate for Q1 has decreased by 22.30% over the past month [1][4]. Factors Influencing Upcoming Results - Top-line growth in Q1 is expected to be driven by demand for FDA-approved tirzepatide medicines, specifically the diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medicine Zepbound. However, sales of these drugs were below expectations in the latter half of 2024 due to slower growth and unfavorable channel dynamics [5][6]. Sales Estimates for Key Products - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mounjaro and Zepbound is $3.75 billion and $2.27 billion, respectively, while the company's estimates are $3.82 billion and $2.19 billion. Increased demand for other key growth drugs is also anticipated to support top-line growth [8][10]. Competitive Landscape - Sales of Trulicity are expected to decline due to competitive dynamics and lower realized prices in the U.S., with patient switches to Mounjaro impacting its performance [9][22]. The obesity market is becoming increasingly competitive, with several companies developing GLP-1-based candidates [23][24]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Lilly's stock has risen 14.8% year-to-date, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500 index. The stock is currently trading at a premium compared to the industry [13][16]. Investment Outlook - Despite challenges, including declining sales of key products and increasing competition, the company is viewed as having robust growth prospects, particularly with new product launches and expansions planned for 2025 [20][25].