Eli Lilly Beats Estimates with Q4 Earnings, Updates Guidance

Eli Lilly (LLY) reported strong fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The company's stock rose approximately 2% in pre-market trading.

Key Highlights:

* Revenue: $13.5 billion, a 45% increase driven by GLP-1 drugs.
* Mounjaro: $11.5 billion in sales, a 124% increase.
* Zepbound: $4.9 billion in sales.
* Full-Year Revenue: $45 billion, a 32% increase.

GLP-1 Market Leadership and Growth:

Lilly remains a market leader in the GLP-1 space, alongside Novo Nordisk (NVO). The company is exploring clinical trials for its GLP-1 drugs in various diseases, including sleep disorders and obesity.

Pill Option Development:

Lilly is developing a pill option for its GLP-1 drugs called Orforglipron, which is expected to be filed for obesity in 2025 and could enter the market by 2026.

2025 Guidance:

Lilly upgraded its 2025 guidance to between $58 billion and $61 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations by $1 billion.

Analyst Commentary:

Analysts remain bullish on Lilly's growth potential, highlighting its strong position in the incretin market and pipeline opportunities, including Orforglipron.

Additional Highlights:

* GLP-1 sales missed Wall Street estimates but met revised guidance.
* Lilly plans to continue investing in research and development for GLP-1 drugs.
* The company remains one of the most highly valued large-cap pharma companies.