Eli Lilly archives a second quarter of 2026 with strong growth and revises forecasts upwards for the full year, buoyed by demand for its diabetes and obesity drugs. Revenue rose 48% to $22,97 billion, while the stock gained more than 5% in premarket trading on Wall Street.
Eli Lilly: Mounjaro and Zepbound push revenues to $23 billion
The growth of the US pharmaceutical group continues to be based above all on Mounjaro sales e Zepbound, which have become the company's main commercial drivers. In the second quarter, Mounjaro generated revenue of $9,94 billion, a 91% increase compared to the same period in 2025, while Zepbound rose 56% to $4,93 billion. Overall, Eli Lilly's core products achieved sales of $15,7 billion. Growth in metabolic drugs was accompanied by progress in immunology, oncology, and neuroscience, where revenues collectively increased 121% year-over-year.
Il adjusted gross margin It rose 50% to $19,8 billion. Its margin on revenue reached 86,3%, an improvement of 1,3 percentage points driven by lower production costs and a more profitable sales mix, despite lower average realized prices.
Eli Lilly: Profits rise despite acquisition costs
The Net income Quarterly revenue amounted to $7,1 billion, compared to $5,66 billion a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share on a book basis increased 26% to $7,94, while adjusted earnings per share rose 33% to $8,38.
Results were impacted by $2,8 billion in acquired research and development expenses, equivalent to $3,03 per share. In the same quarter of 2025, these expenses totaled $154 million. The increase is primarily attributable to the Orna Therapeutics and Ajax Therapeutics deals.
Even the inward investment continues to growResearch and development spending increased 14% to $3,8 billion, or 17% of revenue, while marketing, sales, and administration spending rose 25% to $3,4 billion. The increase reflects support for drugs already on the market and preparation for upcoming launches.
Eli Lilly raises 2026 guidance
In light of the quarter's performance, Eli Lilly brought the revenue forecasts for the whole of 2026 in a range between 85 and 87 billion dollars. The previous estimate indicated revenues between 82 and 85 billion. The estimate has also been revised upwards. performance margin forecast, now expected between 49% and 50,5%, up from the previous range of 47-48,5%. guidance Adjusted earnings per share increased by $2,78 at the core, but this effect was more than offset by one-time charges for acquired research and development. The new target is thus between $35,50 and $36,50 per share.
In the first six months of the year, the total revenues reached $42,77 billion, compared to $28,29 billion in the same period of 2025. Half-year net income rose from $8,42 billion to $14,49 billion, while diluted earnings per share went from $9,35 to $16,19.
Eli Lilly: The bet on the future is called retatrutide
The group now aims to consolidate its lead in the metabolic treatment market through new production investments and pipeline development. Among the most significant projects is retatrutide, new generation drug for weight loss on which Eli Lilly is completing an extensive program of clinical studies.
“Lilly's momentum continues: we delivered 48% revenue growth and raised our full-year guidance,” said CEO David RicksThe CEO also highlighted the expansion of manufacturing capacity and the addition of new assets through corporate development operations. "With our next-generation weight loss drug retatrutide and its comprehensive suite of clinical data in place, new manufacturing capabilities in the startup pipeline, and promising new assets entering our pipeline, Lilly's future, after 150 years, has never looked brighter."
