Latest news with #MariTide
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Next Look At Amgen's Obesity Drug Is Coming. Here's What Investors Are Watching.
Later this month, the Street will have a fresh opportunity to gauge the potential for Amgen's experimental weight-loss drug, MariTide.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Dividend Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
Despite recent headwinds, these drugmakers have strong underlying businesses. Their pipelines should enable them to navigate patent cliffs and support top-line growth. Novartis and Amgen also boast impeccable dividend track records, which should please investors. 10 stocks we like better than Amgen › When broader equities are volatile, it's tempting to focus on what's going to happen in the near term. That's why some investors resort to panic selling -- they anticipate that things will get even worse than they already are. However, one of the formulas for better-than-average long-term returns is to stick with your holding even when the going gets rough, unless there is some fundamental change to a company's investment thesis. In fact, even when the near-term is somewhat uncertain, it's still worth it to invest in corporations that can perform well over many decades. Let's consider two examples in the healthcare sector: Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Novartis (NYSE: NVS). These drugmakers have a lot to offer long-term, income-oriented investors. Amgen's organic revenue hasn't always grown as fast as Wall Street would have wanted over the past few years. One of the company's promising candidates to change that, investigational weight management product MariTide, did not post phase 2 data on par with what analysts and investors wanted either. Despite these short-term challenges, the company's prospects remain attractive. Clinical setbacks are par for the course for biotech companies, that is, if MariTide results even count as a setback. The medicine produced a mean weight loss of approximately 20% after 52 weeks, with no plateau observed, and all this with convenient once-monthly dosing; the current leading anti-obesity medicines are administered weekly. Even with lower efficacy, MariTide could go on to attract a reasonable number of patients thanks to its friendlier dosing schedule. In addition to this investigational medicine, Amgen boasts a comprehensive lineup of products across several therapeutic areas, including several that generate over $1 billion in annual sales. Despite top-line growth that doesn't always meet or exceed expectations, Amgen generates consistent revenue and profits. The biotech leader also has several medicines in its arsenal that should help it drive decent growth for a while. Asthma treatment Tezspire has been making strides on the market and in the clinic. Tepezza remains the only medicine for thyroid eye disease approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are several other key products in Amgen's portfolio. More importantly, the company has a pipeline with dozens of investigational drugs that will allow it to overcome competition and patent cliffs over the long run. Lastly, Amgen has a great dividend track record. It has raised its payouts every year since first initiating them in 2011. In the past decade, Amgen's dividend has increased by 201.3%. It offers a forward yield of 3.3%, well above the S&P 500's average of 1.3%. It is well worth it for income seekers to buy this stock and hold it for good. Novartis, another leading drugmaker, is facing a significant patent cliff this year. The company's heart failure medication, Entresto, is running out of exclusivity in the U.S. That's a big problem since Entresto was Novartis' top-selling medicine last year, generating $7.8 billion in revenue in 2024. Novartis will likely see its revenue decrease for a while, as pharmaceutical giants tend to do when encountering major patent cliffs. However, Novartis should eventually overcome this obstacle. Several newer medicines will help smooth out Entresto-related losses. For instance, Pluvicto, a cancer medicine first approved in the U.S. in 2022, is making steady progress. It is already generating over $1 billion in annual sales and is still going strong. It should keep driving sales growth into the next decade. Leqvio, a therapy to help reduce cholesterol that first hit the U.S. market in 2021, should also help. Some of Novartis' older drugs will maintain an upward sales trajectory for a while, too. The Swiss drugmaker also has a deep pipeline, boasting a little over 100 programs across multiple therapeutic areas. Expect regular brand-new approvals and label expansions for the drugmaker. Lastly, Novartis has an impressive dividend track record. The company's forward yield tops 3.5%, and, importantly, it has increased its dividends for 28 consecutive years. Novartis may not be attractive to growth-oriented investors, particularly as it navigates the Entresto patent cliff. However, the company has a robust business that generates consistent results, a deep pipeline to help mitigate patent-related challenges, and a history of rewarding shareholders with dividend hikes. Investors can safely add this stock to their "forever" dividend portfolio. Before you buy stock in Amgen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Amgen wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $668,538!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $869,841!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 789% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Dividend Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Smartest High-Yielding Dividend Stocks in the Nasdaq Composite Index to Buy With $1,500 Right Now
The stock market is anything but normal right now. Not even halfway through the year, the broader benchmark S&P 500 index fell nearly 20% from highs made in February, only to make a full recovery for the year (as of May 22). Investors are still grappling with how high tariffs will ultimately be, the potential impact of a major tax bill being proposed by House Republicans, and whether or not the economy will fall into a recession or see inflation reverse course and rise again. With so many variables, some investors may prefer to find stocks that generate reliable passive income through dividends. Here are the smartest high-yielding dividend stocks in the Nasdaq Composite index to buy with $1,500 right now. Amgen: Consistent dividend growth supported by strong free cash flow Pharmaceutical company Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) develops a range of drugs to treat a variety of different diseases and medical conditions. Some of its largest drugs include Enbrel for treatment of several autoimmune diseases, Prolia for osteoporosis, XGEVA for strengthening bones, Otezla for managing inflammation, and Repatha for lowering cholesterol. Amgen is regularly developing new drugs including its much anticipated weight-loss drug MariTide, which the company has recently initiated two phase 3 trials for. Amgen reported solid first-quarter earnings, with adjusted earnings of $4.90 per share easily beating Wall Street estimates of $4.26. Revenue also grew 9% year over year. Management's guidance for 2025 remained unchanged and was roughly in line with what analysts had been projecting at the midpoint of the guidance range. The company has regularly paid dividends since 2011 and has increased the dividend in all 14 years as well. The dividend yield is now close to 3.5%. While quarterly free cash flow has trailed dividend payments as of late, management expects free cash flow to rebound to 2023 levels of $7.4 billion, which would easily cover the $5.2 billion of expected dividend payments for the year. Sirius XM: Paid to wait (patiently) Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI) is one of the largest digital audio companies in the U.S. as the operator of Sirius satellite radio and the Pandora music streaming service. The company says it reaches 160 million listeners each month. Sirius has struggled immensely with the stock down about 57% over the last five years (as of May 20). Rising competition and declining subscribers have hit the company hard. Management is attempting to turn things around by investing in its tech platform, building out its podcast network, and streamlining its various subscription and pricing offerings. Last September, the company laid out a long-term plan of growing subscribers by 25% to 50 million and increasing free cash flow by 50% to $1.8 billion. But it seems like investors are going to need to be patient. In the first quarter of the year, revenue fell 4.3% year over year, while total U.S. subscribers declined 2%. Management, however, is implementing a cost-savings plan that calls for hitting a $200 million run rate by the end of 2025. Luckily, investors are paid at a 4.9% dividend yield for their time. Sirius has regularly paid and increased its annual dividend since 2017. Additionally, the company's trailing free-cash-flow yield of close to 10% easily covers the dividend. The stock's performance hinges on tangible progress, especially regarding subscriber growth; until then, it's uncertain. But the dividend yield is strong, free-cash-flow generation is robust, and the stock is cheap. Should you invest $1,000 in Sirius XM right now? Before you buy stock in Sirius XM, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Sirius XM wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $640,662!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $814,127!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is963% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to168%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Better Weight Loss Stock: Amgen or Viking Therapeutics?
Amgen's weight loss candidate reported mixed phase 2 data, but the company has other weapons. Viking Therapeutics' leading anti-obesity program aced mid-stage studies, and it's not its only promising candidate. Deciding between these two stocks might come down to each investor's style, priorities, and risk tolerance. 10 stocks we like better than Amgen › Investors looking to cash in on the fast-growing market for weight management medicines will naturally turn to the two leaders in this area, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. However, several other companies seem to have somewhat promising prospects in this field. This group includes Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), two drugmakers that have produced phase 2 clinical trial data for their leading weight management candidates. Despite these positive clinical developments, Amgen and Viking Therapeutics have performed poorly on the stock market in the past 12 months, though progress in this area might eventually help them bounce back. But which of these two biotechs should investors trying to profit from the rapid spending on anti-obesity medicines put their money in? Amgen's leading weight loss candidate is called MariTide. In November, the biotech reported that in a phase 2 study, the medicine led to an average weight loss of about 20% in overweight or obese patients after 52 weeks, with no weight loss plateau observed. Importantly, MariTide is administered subcutaneously once a month -- the current weight management leaders are taken once weekly. A less frequent dosing could appeal to many patients. The market expected greater weight loss in this study. That's why Amgen's shares fell after it released its phase 2 results. However, the company's data still makes it somewhat likely that it will go on to carve out a solid niche in the rapidly growing weight loss area, although it won't dethrone the leaders. Further, Amgen's prospects go well beyond its work in the anti-obesity market. The company's deep lineup allows it to generate consistent revenue and profits. In the first quarter, Amgen's sales increased by 9% year over year to $8.1 billion, while its adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.90, 24% higher than the year-ago period. Amgen has several growth drivers. Tezspire, an asthma medicine, is performing well, as is Prolia, a treatment for osteoporosis (a bone disease) in postmenopausal women. Amgen also has a deep pipeline of investigational products besides MariTide that will eventually lead to brand-new medicines. Lastly, it is an excellent dividend stock. It offers a forward yield of 3.5% -- compared to the S&P 500 index's average of 1.3% -- and has increased its payouts by 201.3% in the past 10 years. Amgen could generate strong returns over the long run even if MariTide doesn't pan out. Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech. The company's VK2735, its weight management candidate, looks promising. Last year, it reported that at the highest dose, the drug led to a placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of 13.1% (or 14.7% from baseline) after a mere 13 weeks. VK2735 is in the same class of drugs as Eli Lilly's Zepbound. It mimics the action of two gut hormones: GLP-1 and GIP. That doesn't guarantee that it will achieve the same kind of success, but so far, the data looks highly encouraging. Viking Therapeutics has other candidates. The company's VK2809 targets metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. It delivered solid phase 2 results last year. Viking Therapeutics is also developing an oral formulation of VK2735 that is currently in mid-stage studies, while VK0214 is an investigational treatment for a rare, nervous system disorder called X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. There is no approved treatment for the disease yet. Viking Therapeutics carries above-average risk, as do all biotech companies without a single product on the market. But if VK2735 aces phase 3 results and earns approval -- and Viking's other candidates pan out as well -- the stock could deliver substantial returns. Amgen is a well-established company that generates consistent financial results. It also pays a dividend. It is a far better option for low-risk, income-seeking investors. There is no contest there. However, Viking Therapeutics has far more upside potential. If the smaller biotech can deliver solid pipeline and regulatory progress in the next few years, its shares will likely skyrocket. Note that the company also has significant potential drawbacks. It could be more appealing for investors with a higher tolerance for volatility. Before you buy stock in Amgen, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Amgen wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $644,254!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $807,814!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 962% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 169% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Weight Loss Stock: Amgen or Viking Therapeutics? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AMGN Q1 Earnings Call: Product Pipeline and Margin Expansion Drive Outperformance
Biotech company Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported Q1 CY2025 results topping the market's revenue expectations , with sales up 9.4% year on year to $8.15 billion. The company expects the full year's revenue to be around $35 billion, close to analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $4.90 per share was 15% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy AMGN? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $8.15 billion vs analyst estimates of $8.03 billion (9.4% year-on-year growth, 1.5% beat) Adjusted EPS: $4.90 vs analyst estimates of $4.26 (15% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $4.99 billion vs analyst estimates of $4.67 billion (61.2% margin, 6.7% beat) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $35 billion at the midpoint Management reiterated its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance of $20.60 at the midpoint Operating Margin: 14.5%, up from 13.3% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 12%, up from 6.2% in the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $141 billion Amgen's first quarter results were shaped by broad-based volume growth and new product launches across general medicine, rare diseases, inflammation, and oncology. Management highlighted the performance of 14 products with double-digit growth, as well as strong uptake of new biosimilars. CEO Robert Bradway emphasized, 'We delivered multiple positive Phase III readouts, initiated four new Phase III studies, and launched three new products or indications.' Looking ahead, Amgen's full-year guidance centers on further execution in its late-stage clinical pipeline and continued momentum in recently launched therapies. CFO Peter Griffith noted increased R&D investment to support assets such as MariTide, a potential obesity therapy, and ongoing expansion in the biosimilars portfolio. Management also acknowledged uncertainties from tariffs and tax policy, stating the company's manufacturing investments position it to adapt as needed. Amgen's management attributed the quarter's performance to the breadth of its product portfolio and significant progress in clinical development. Key growth areas included cardiovascular, bone health, rare disease, and oncology, with biosimilars delivering meaningful contributions. Broad product portfolio growth: Fourteen medicines delivered double-digit sales growth, spanning cardiovascular, bone health, rare disease, and oncology. Amgen's biosimilars segment generated over $700 million in revenue, up 35% year over year. General medicine expansion: Products like Repatha and EVENITY benefited from improved patient access, expanded prescriber base, and direct-to-consumer initiatives. Management cited ongoing clinical trials targeting large, underserved populations in cardiovascular and obesity-related diseases. Rare disease launches: UPLIZNA launched as the first FDA-approved treatment for IgG4-related disease, with early physician adoption. TEPEZZA expanded internationally, including approvals and launches in Japan and a positive regulatory opinion in Europe. Oncology pipeline momentum: Bispecific T cell engagers such as BLINCYTO and IMDELLTRA showed continued adoption and positive clinical data. IMDELLTRA demonstrated survival benefits in small cell lung cancer, with new Phase III studies underway. Biosimilars market penetration: Recent biosimilar launches, including PAVBLU and WEZLANA, were met with positive reception from prescribers. The company's approach focused on early U.S. launches and reliable supply to capture market share. Management's outlook for the remainder of the year is anchored by ongoing clinical advancement and new launches, while cautioning about external factors such as tariffs and increased R&D investment. Pipeline advancement: Significant late-stage studies for therapies like MariTide in obesity and Olpasiran in cardiovascular disease are expected to drive future growth, with management increasing R&D spending to support these programs. Expanding biosimilars: New biosimilar launches and further commercialization efforts are anticipated to diversify revenue streams and address pricing pressures in core therapy areas. External policy risks: Management flagged potential headwinds from evolving tax and tariff policies, emphasizing Amgen's historical ability to adapt through manufacturing investments and operational agility. Terence Flynn (Morgan Stanley): Asked about key data expectations for MariTide at the ADA meeting. Management said data would focus on 52-week efficacy and tolerability but not new long-term results. Salveen Richter (Goldman Sachs): Inquired about UPLIZNA's commercial strategy for IgG4-related disease. Amgen outlined targeted outreach to rheumatologists and plans for broader physician engagement. Michael Yee (Jefferies): Pressed on MariTide's tolerability and competition from oral obesity drugs. Management expressed confidence in design for efficacy and tolerability, with ongoing development of oral options. Trung Huynh (UBS): Questioned Repatha's position amid new competition. Amgen stressed product profile advantages and improved patient access, with room for multiple therapies in the market. David Amsellem (Piper Sandler): Asked what will drive growth for TEPEZZA. Management pointed to expanded prescriber education and international launches, with potential future benefit from a subcutaneous form. In coming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) progress and data releases from late-stage clinical trials, especially for MariTide and bemarituzumab; (2) commercial adoption and prescriber uptake of newly launched therapies like UPLIZNA in IgG4-related disease and PAVBLU in biosimilars; and (3) updates on international expansion of key rare disease drugs. Execution in R&D and navigating policy changes will also be important indicators of Amgen's trajectory. Amgen currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 13×. In the wake of earnings, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our free research report. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. 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