Eli Lilly’s Blockbuster Quarter Propelled by Weight-Loss Drug Dominance
05.02.2026 - 09:46:05
Eli Lilly and Company delivered a stunning financial performance for the final quarter of 2025, with results announced on February 4th shattering market expectations. The pharmaceutical giant’s revenue and profit surged, powered by unprecedented demand for its GLP-1 agonist medications, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $19.29 billion, marking a substantial 43% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure comfortably surpassed the analyst consensus estimate of $17.96 billion. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $7.54, also beating the market’s projected $6.67.
For the full 2025 fiscal year, Eli Lilly achieved total revenue of $65.2 billion, representing a 45% year-over-year growth. This outcome exceeded both the company’s own guidance and the forecasts of market researchers.
GLP-1 Therapies Drive Explosive Growth
The standout contributors to this performance were the company’s twin metabolic health therapies. Mounjaro, approved for type 2 diabetes, generated $7.41 billion in sales for the quarter, an extraordinary 110% jump. Zepbound, its obesity treatment counterpart, recorded U.S. revenue of $4.2 billion, soaring by 122%.
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The U.S. market demonstrated particular strength, where prescription volumes climbed by 50%. Eli Lilly successfully expanded its market share in the combined obesity and diabetes drug segment to 60.5%.
Upgraded Guidance Reflects Confidence
Looking ahead, management provided an optimistic outlook for 2026. The company anticipates full-year revenue in the range of $80 to $83 billion, well above the average analyst expectation of $77.62 billion. Several factors underpin this bullish forecast: the potential future coverage of obesity treatments by Medicare, sustained global demand for GLP-1 drugs, and the planned launch of an oral GLP-1 pill, Orforglipron, in the second quarter pending FDA approval.
The projected adjusted earnings per share for 2026 is set between $33.50 and $35.00, again topping the consensus estimate of $33.23.
Competitive Landscape Shifts
The robust update from Eli Lilly stands in sharp contrast to recent signals from its main competitor, Novo Nordisk. The Danish drugmaker issued a warning on February 3rd, indicating that its 2026 revenue and profit could decline by as much as 13% due to pricing pressures and the expiration of exclusivity rights in key markets. This divergence highlights Eli Lilly’s accelerating momentum in the highly lucrative GLP-1 pharmaceutical race.
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