Eli Lilly Reports Strong Q4 2025 Results and 2026 Guidance
Eli Lilly's stock rose by 10.25% and reached a 5-day high amid a challenging market environment, with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.06% and the S&P 500 down 0.17%.
The strong performance was driven by Eli Lilly's Q4 2025 financial results, which showed a 43% increase in global revenue to $19.29 billion, alongside a 50% rise in net income to $6.64 billion. The company also provided an optimistic 2026 revenue outlook of $80 billion to $83 billion, reflecting confidence in sustained growth and effective cost management.
This impressive financial performance not only boosts investor confidence but also positions Eli Lilly favorably in the competitive pharmaceutical market, especially as it continues to invest in R&D and expand its product offerings.
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- Significant Sales Growth: Eli Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drugs generated $7.4 billion in Q4 sales, a 110% increase, while Zepbound's revenue surged from $1.9 billion to $4.3 billion, indicating strong market demand and product acceptance.
- Overall Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company reported a 43% increase in total revenue to $19.29 billion for Q4, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) jumping 42% to $7.54, significantly surpassing analyst expectations of $6.67, reflecting the company's competitive edge and profitability.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Eli Lilly projects 2026 revenue between $80 billion and $83 billion, representing a 25% growth at the midpoint, and forecasts adjusted EPS ranging from $33.50 to $35, demonstrating confidence in future market demand.
- Huge Potential for New Drug: The upcoming oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron is expected to gain approval in Q2, and its convenient administration method positions Eli Lilly to further expand its market share in the GLP-1 drug sector, reinforcing the company's leadership in weight-loss medications.
- Tech Stock Decline: Concerns over AI have led to a decline in tech stocks over the past week, putting pressure on the market as investors await crucial economic data and hints from the Federal Reserve regarding potential rate cuts.
- Dow Jones Performance: The Dow Jones closed above 50,000 points for the first time on Friday, posting significant weekly gains, indicating a rotation of funds into other sectors and boosting investor confidence.
- Economic Data Focus: Key economic releases, including the nonfarm payrolls report and consumer price index, are set to be released this week, which could influence the Fed's rate decisions, with markets pricing in the first rate cut potentially in June.
- Stock Movements: Eli Lilly shares rose 2.1% in premarket trading, while Hims & Hers dropped 14% after canceling a weight-loss pill launch due to FDA legal threats, highlighting market sensitivity to regulatory risks.
- Regulatory Pressure Halts Sales: Hims announced the cessation of its $49 compounded semaglutide pill following FDA scrutiny, demonstrating the company's swift response to legal threats, even as retail sentiment remains optimistic.
- FDA Action Raises Legal Risks: The FDA plans to restrict access to GLP-1 ingredients in compounded drugs and refer Hims to the Department of Justice, indicating significant compliance challenges that could impact the company's future market performance.
- Competitors Push Back: Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly strongly criticized Hims' compounded drug as illegal, threatening legal action to protect their intellectual property, which may intensify market competition and affect Hims' brand image.
- Market Sentiment Remains Bullish: Despite Hims' stock price dropping about 30% year-to-date, retail investor sentiment on Stocktwits is still 'extremely bullish', reflecting confidence in the company's future potential and possibly attracting more investor attention in the short term.
- Strategic Collaboration: Innovent Biologics (IVBXF, 1801.HK) has announced its seventh strategic partnership with Eli Lilly, further solidifying their long-standing relationship and commitment to developing innovative therapies globally.
- Unique Development Model: This collaboration introduces a unique model designed to accelerate the global development of Innovent's pipeline, with Innovent leveraging its robust antibody technology platforms and efficient clinical execution capabilities to lead development from concept through Phase 2 clinical trials in China.
- Significant Financial Upside: Under the agreement, Innovent will receive an upfront payment of $350 million and is eligible for up to $8.5 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, highlighting the potential financial benefits of this partnership.
- Global Market Rights: Eli Lilly will gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize these programs globally outside of Greater China, while Innovent retains commercialization rights within Greater China, ensuring maximized interests for both parties in their respective markets.
- Significant Sales Growth: Eli Lilly's GLP-1 weight-loss drugs saw a remarkable 110% surge in Q4 sales to $7.4 billion, while Zepbound's revenue soared from $1.9 billion to $4.3 billion, indicating the company's strong growth potential in the weight-loss drug market.
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: The company reported a 43% increase in total revenue for Q4, reaching $19.29 billion, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) jumping 42% to $7.54, significantly surpassing analyst expectations of $6.67, reflecting its competitive edge and profitability in the market.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Eli Lilly projects 2026 revenue between $80 billion and $83 billion, representing a 25% growth at the midpoint, and forecasts adjusted EPS ranging from $33.50 to $35, both exceeding market consensus, showcasing confidence in future growth.
- New Drug Potential: The upcoming GLP-1 drug orforglipron is expected to gain approval in Q2, and as an oral medication, it has the potential to rapidly expand market share, meeting the increasing demand for weight-loss drugs and further driving the company's performance growth.
- Partnership Continuation: Innovent has signed its seventh collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly to jointly develop experimental medicines targeting cancer and immune-related diseases, further solidifying their partnership that spans over a decade.
- Development Responsibilities: Under the agreement, Innovent will lead early-stage research and clinical development in China, while Lilly will handle development and commercialization outside Greater China, ensuring that both companies leverage their strengths effectively.
- Financial Support: Innovent will receive an upfront payment of $350 million and is eligible for additional milestone payments totaling up to $8.5 billion, highlighting the significant economic potential of this collaboration.
- Market Outlook: This partnership aims to accelerate global drug development by combining Innovent's antibody discovery platform with Lilly's late-stage development capabilities, advancing multiple pipeline assets to mid-stage clinical testing and enhancing market competitiveness.











