Drug Stocks To Watch
Last quarter after reviewing some of the drug stocks, we mentioned Jim Cramer‘s opinion. He felt that big drug stocks could continue to go higher, because they are still trading at depressed price-to-earnings multiples with juicy dividend yields. “After years where the prospects for these companies kept deteriorating, they can finally look forward to a future that’s brighter than the recent past.” Now three months later and prices on average a little higher we will review this quarter’s drug stocks earnings reports.
Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) Reported a 5% jump in its first-quarter profit aided by strong sales for its top two drugs and two new ones. The company reported net income of $1.18 billion, or $1.48 per share, compared to a year ago of $1.20. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $1.29 billion, or $1.61 per share, beating analysts estimates by 16 cents.
Revenue during the quarter grew 9% year-over-year to $4.05 billion topping consensus of $3.93 billion. These numbers come in despite sharply lower sales for two drugs with recent safety warnings.
The company maintained its 2012 adjusted profit outlook of $5.90 to $6.15 per share. Average analysts estimates are $6.08 per share.
Eli Lilly & Company (LLY) reported first quarter 2012 adjusted drug stocks earnings per share of 92 cents, 13 cents above Consensus Estimate but 26% below the year-ago drug stocks earnings of $1.24. The year-over-year decline was due to lower revenues and higher operating expenses in the first quarter of 2012. First quarter revenues declined 4% to $5.6 billion. However, revenues exceeded the estimates of $5.35 billion. Revenues were hurt by reduced sales of Zyprexa. As mentioned in our previous posts, sales of Zyprexa, went off patent in the EU and the US in late 2011, and declined 56% in the first quarter of 2012.
The Animal Health segment contributed $490.7 million (up 33%) to revenues. Higher demand and the impact of the acquisition of certain animal health products from the Janssen unit of Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) helped boost revenues from the segment.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Sales rose 2 percent to $10.49 billion, missing analyst expectations of $10.79 billion. Operating profit totaled $2.2 billion, down 1 percent. “Core” operating profit after excluding items such as legal charges, amortization and restructuring expenses rose 3 percent. The results have been converted from British pounds.The results missed the average forecast of industry analysts, Bloomberg News reported.
Last week GSK made an unsolicited offer to buy Human Genome Sciences for $2.59 billion, but the bid was rejected. Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive, said“The reason why we’re interested in the deal with Human Genome is to simplify our relationship on Benlysta, to drive the performance of Benlysta for the benefit our shareholders and to take efficiency opportunities that we believe exist”.
The company also announced a 6 percent raise in first-quarter dividend and unveiled plan of total stock buybacks between 2 billion pounds and 2.5 billion pounds in 2012.
Please stay tuned to our next report as we await the earning of PFE, AGN, WPI, and TEVA.
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