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☆ Jim Cramer shares his thoughts on Caterpillar, Dow, Chipotle, Merck and ServiceNow
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares fell more than 7%. Dow Inc : Shares fell more than 1.5% despite the chemicals maker reporting better-than-expected results. I'd buy the stock," Cramer said. Chipotle : The burrito chain reported better-than-expected sales and earnings, with same-store sales growth of 7% easily surpassing Wall Street estimates. ServiceNow : Shares fell more than 6% despite the maker of workflow software's quarterly results beating on the top-and-bottom lines.

Persons: Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, I'd, Cramer, Bill McDermott Organizations: CNBC, Club, Caterpillar, Dow Inc, Wall, Merck Locations: Dover

☆ Merck beats earnings expectations, raises outlook on strong Keytruda and vaccine sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Merck on Thursday reported first-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings that topped expectations as it posted strong sales of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda and vaccine products. The pharmaceutical giant also raised and narrowed its full-year revenue and adjusted earnings forecasts. Merck now expects 2024 sales to come in between $63.1 billion and $64.3 billion, up from previous guidance of $62.7 to $64.2 billion. That outlook includes a one-time charge of roughly 26 cents per share related to Merck's acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics in January. Merck raked in $15.78 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 9% from the same period a year ago.

Persons: Merck Organizations: Merck, Harpoon Therapeutics, LSEG Locations: Rahway , New Jersey, U.S

☆ Biotech stocks are ready to break out. They just need one more thing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

While debate rages on about when the Federal Reserve might start cutting interest rates, biotech industry analysts are making the case that the argument for stocks in the sector is growing. Last week, Morgan Stanley analysts noted that it is the months leading up to an initial rate cut when biotech stocks outperform. Morgan Stanley also believes the case for biotech stocks is further reinforced by the financing environment and the outlook for mergers and acquisitions as well as upcoming innovation. The case for innovation Morgan Stanley also favors owning biotech stocks that have a strong drug platform even if the key catalyst of clinical trial data and FDA approvals are farther out. Rhythm ranks among the stocks rated overweight that Morgan Stanley favors in this category.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Needham, Joseph Stringer, dealmaking, Stringer, erosive, it's, Phathom, GERD, LSEG, Merck, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, Oncology, Immunology, Phathom Pharmaceutical, Pharmaceuticals, Phathom Pharmaceuticals, LSEG, Drug, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Intellia Therapeutics, Rocket Pharmaceuticals Locations: New Jersey

☆ FDA approves Merck's drug for rare, deadly lung condition
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a drug from Merck designed to treat a progressive and life-threatening lung condition in a win for both the drugmaker and for patients suffering from the rare disease. The condition refers to when the small blood vessels in the lungs narrow. He noted that the drug will be a "paradigm shift" for patients living with PAH. That includes reducing the risk of death or worsening of the condition by 84% compared to an existing drug alone. Those trials include late-stage studies on patients with more advanced PAH disease, and those who are within the first year after diagnosis.

Persons: Chris Schott, Eliav Barr, PAH, Barr, Merck Organizations: Merck, Drug Administration, JPMorgan, CNBC, Acceleron Pharma Locations: Rahway , New Jersey, U.S, Winrevair

☆ Pfizer is betting big on cancer drugs to turn business around after Covid decline – here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Now, the company is betting on cancer drugs to help it regain its footing after a rocky year marked by the rapid decline of its Covid business. That $43 billion Seagen acquisition doubled Pfizer's oncology drug pipeline to 60 different experimental programs. Some analysts noted that it might take a few years for some of Pfizer's cancer drugs in mid-stage development to show pivotal clinical trial data and become less risky. Revenue from the blockbuster breast cancer drug Ibrance and prostate cancer treatment Xtandi, which Pfizer shares with Astellas Pharma, has declined over the past year. They are among the most expensive prescription drugs in the U.S. Before the Seagen deal, 94% of Pfizer's cancer products were small-molecule drugs.

Persons: Wall, Seagen, Chris Boshoff, Boshoff, David Ryder, Trung Huynh, Joe Biden's, Chris Schott, Suneet Varma, RemeGe, Merck, Padcev, Guggenheim, Pfizer's, Pfizer hasn't, Dr, Mikael Dolsten, Irfan Khan Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Pfizer, Astellas Pharma, Guggenheim, Bloomberg, UBS, Medicare, Drug Administration, FDA, ADC, JPMorgan, Drugs, CNBC, CVS Pharmacy, Los Angeles Times Locations: Covid, Bothell , Washington, U.S, biologics, China, Eagle Rock , California

☆ This sector offers defensive and growth properties – along with some portfolio income
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The health-care sector of the S & P 500 is up about 8% year to date, marking a sharp comeback from a largely flat 2023. Even as health care is making a comeback this year, investors shouldn't forget its defensive attributes. Back in 2022, when the S & P 500 fell 19.4%, the health-care sector slipped only 3.5% "When markets are challenged, health care can be a good place to be," Lyons added. Some of them speak to the growth aspects of health care and why you can play offense." Merger activity is another driver of growth in health care, as large pharmaceutical companies snap up nimble biotech firms that are at the forefront of developing treatments.

Persons: Dan Lyons, Janus Henderson, shouldn't, Lyons, ImmunoGen, Seamus Fernandez, Sotatercept, Cigna, Cantor Fitzgerald, Sarah James, Fred Imbert Organizations: Big Tech, . Healthcare, Janus, Janus Henderson Investors, U.S . Food, Drug Administration's Center, Drug, Research, FDA, Esai, Pharmaceuticals, CNBC Pro, Merck, Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, CVS Health Locations: U.S

☆ Moderna posts surprise quarterly profit even as Covid vaccines sales plummet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Moderna on Thursday posted a surprise quarterly profit, in part boosted by deferred revenue, even as the company saw slumping sales from its Covid vaccine, its only marketable product. The biotech company booked fourth-quarter sales of $2.81 billion, with sales of its Covid shot dropping 43% from the same period a year ago. That includes charges related to the company's efforts to scale back manufacturing of its Covid shot and write-downs of unused doses of the vaccine. Still, the deferred revenue boosted Moderna's full-year Covid vaccine sales to $6.7 billion, an amount the company first unveiled in January. It booked $18 billion in revenue in 2022 and expects sales from the shot to drop even further in 2024.

Persons: Jamey Mock, Moderna, Mock Organizations: Moderna, LSEG, Revenue, CNBC, Food, Drug, Merck Locations: Gavi

☆ The woman behind the next big thing in cancer treatment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Christine Olsson/AFP/Getty ImagesWu’s research focused on small mutations in cancer tumor cells. However, in many cases, cancer vaccines have failed to live up to their promise — largely because the right target hasn’t been found. “This is a fantastic discovery.”By sequencing DNA from healthy and cancer cells, Wu and her team identified a cancer patient’s unique tumor neoantigens. More work is needed before they are a viable treatment options for many cancer patients. To show that these type of cancer vaccines work, much larger randomized control trials are needed.

Persons: Catherine Wu, Boston’s Dana, “, ”, Wu, Lendahl, Dr Patrick Ott, Sam Ogden, Honjo, James Allison, Tasuku Honjo, James P Allison, Christine Olsson, ” Hans, Gustaf Ljunggren, Matt Stone, “ I’m, ” Wu, ” Lendahl, you’ve, It’s, ” Barbara Brigham, BioNTech, ” CNN’s Brenda Goodman Organizations: CNN, Farber Cancer Institute, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Karolinska, Getty, US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, MediaNews, Boston Herald, Merck, Moderna, ”, Covid Locations: Sweden, BioNTech, Rome

☆ Senators to question Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb CEOs over high U.S. drug pricing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senators will question the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb on U.S. drug prices at a hearing Thursday, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle work to rein in high health-care costs for Americans. Prescription drug prices in the U.S. are also more than 2.5 times as high as those in other high-income nations, another federal report showed. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee says that's especially true for some of the top drugs from J&J, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb. ET and include testimony from J&J CEO Joaquin Duato, Merck CEO Robert Davis and Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner. A spokesperson for Bristol Myers Squibb did not immediately respond to a request for comment ahead of the hearing.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Duato, Davis, Bristol Myers, Eli Lilly's, J Organizations: Capitol, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, U.S, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Bristol Myers, CNBC, J, Bristol Locations: U.S

☆ Medicare now negotiating price of drug that costs $7,100 in US vs. $900 in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The annual list price of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Eliquis, a blood thinner that reduces the risk of stroke, is $7,100 in the US. Johnson & Johnson’s arthritis drug Stelara carries an annual list price of $79,000 in the US. Johnson & Johnson declined to comment on Sanders’ report. Medicare launches drug price negotiationsOther nations typically pay far less for medications, in large part because their governments often determine the cost. Those who have yet to meet their deductible and the uninsured may have to pay the full list price.

Persons: CNN — Sen, Bernie Sanders, Bristol Myers, it’s, Johnson, Sanders, drugmakers, Biden, Donald Trump, Sanders ’, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Organizations: CNN, Bristol, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Medicare, Bristol Myers Locations: Japan, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Vermont

☆ Comeback stocks: These names have jumped to start 2024 after falling last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Russell 1000 , which tracks the top 1,000 largest companies — large- and mid-cap names — is up about 3% in 2024. With this in mind, CNBC Pro screened for the stocks making a comeback in 2024. However, the consensus price target is just 4.6% from its current levels — putting into question whether there's more room for upside. Just 35.7% of analysts are bullish on the shares, and the average price target implies shares can grow just 4.3%. Sarepta Therapeutics has soared 27.4% this year — and it could jump 20.1% more according to its consensus price target, per LSEG.

Persons: Russell, they're, Merck's, Sarepta Organizations: CNBC Pro, Pharmaceutical, Merck, Verizon, Barclays, VZ, LSEG, Novo Nordisk, Sarepta Therapeutics Locations: Novo

☆ Tesla is one of the most oversold stocks in the S&P 500 and could be due for a bounce
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Using the CNBC Pro Stock Screener tool, we screened for the most overbought and oversold names in the S & P 500 based on their 14-day relative strength index, or RSI. Stocks with a 14-day RSI greater than 70 are considered overbought, meaning they could be at risk of a pullback. Conversely, stocks with a reading lower than 30 typically means that they're oversold and possibly gearing up for a short-term bounce. Energy tech services provider Baker Hughes was one of the few oversold names that analysts have a buy rating on, according to CNBC's screen. Of the overbought names, Boston Scientific has the highest potential upside according to analysts surveyed by LSEG, at about 9.3%.

Persons: Jerome Powell, BYD, Robinson, Baker Hughes Organizations: Federal, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, CNBC, Stock, EV, Tesla, Transportation, Energy, United Parcel Service, Company, Pharma, Merck, Facebook, Boston Scientific, LSEG, Mastercard Locations: Minnesota, Thursday's

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Qualcomm, Merck, General Motors and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The stock is trading at a low multiple compared to spending, the firm highlighted as a key catalyst for investors. Nextracker — Shares of the solar technology company jumped 17% on bullish analyst notes following its strong quarterly results and guidance increase. Wolfspeed guided for fiscal third-quarter revenue of $185 million to $215 million, below the $224 million, LSEG estimate. Robinson reported 50 cents per share in adjusted earnings, while analysts expected 81 cents per share, per LSEG. The company reported $9.44 billion in revenue, while analysts surveyed by LSEG were looking for $9.70 billion.

Persons: Christopher Danely, Morgan Stanley, Nextracker, Wolfspeed, TD Cowen, ChargePoint, C.H, Robinson, Merck, company's, —, Alex Harring, Lisa Kailai Han, Tanaya Macheel, Jesse Pound, Michelle Fox Theobald Organizations: Qualcomm, Citi, General Motors, General, Barclays, Bank of America, Revenue, Merck, Japanese, Honeywell, LSEG, Norfolk Southern, Ancora Holdings, Wall Street Journal Locations: Norfolk Southern

☆ Merck results beat expectations as top drugs Keytruda, Gardasil post strong sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Merck on Thursday reported fourth-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings that topped estimates as it saw strong demand for its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda and HPV vaccine Gardasil. Excluding acquisition and restructuring costs, Merck earned 3 cents per share for the fourth quarter. Merck raked in $14.63 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 6% from the same period a year ago. Analysts surveyed by LSEG expected Merck to forecast full-year sales of $63.52 billion and adjusted earnings of $8.42 per share. Merck recorded charges of $190 million related to the program in the fourth quarter, which is excluded from its adjusted results.

Persons: Merck Organizations: Merck & Co, New York Stock Exchange, Merck, LSEG, Harpoon Therapeutics Locations: New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Get Jim Cramer’s rapid-fire takeaways on 5 stocks in the news Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Matthew J. Belvedere | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Merck — Jim Cramer described Merck's results as a "monster quarter," pointing out cancer drug Keytruda, which saw sales up double digits on a percentage basis. The CNBC Investing Club portfolio owns a few health- and drug-related stocks, including the outperforming Eli Lilly . It had been a "miss, miss, miss," but now that Covid is over people are doing things they put off. Steinberg "helped turnaround Pinterest," Jim said, adding that he sees Etsy at around $73 per share as a buy. Jim said, "It's a show me story and they have not shown me yet."

Persons: Merck, Jim Cramer, Eli Lilly, Jim, he's, Marc Steinberg, Elliot, Steinberg Organizations: CNBC, Club, Royal Caribbean, Elliot Management

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Peloton, Honeywell, Norfolk Southern, Boot Barn and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Meanwhile, analysts polled by LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv, forecast earnings of 81 cents per share and $4.34 billion in revenue. Peloton — Shares fell more than 23% on the back of the company's bleak outlook for the current quarter and full-year sales. Peloton is forecasting sales to come in between $700 million and $725 million for the quarter. Analysts polled by LSEG expected revenue of $9.70 billion. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.10 versus the $1.66 expected from analysts polled by StreetAccount.

Persons: Robinson, Nextracker, Wolfspeed, MaxLinear, Qorvo, TD Cowen, Gabe Daoud Jr, — CNBC's Pia Singh, Lisa Kailai Han, Jesse Pound, Hakyung Kim, Spencer Kimball, Scott Schnipper Organizations: LSEG, —, Honeywell, New York Community Bank, Regional Banking, Western Alliance, T Bank, Norfolk Southern, Ancora Holdings, Street Journal, Merck —, Merck, FactSet, StreetAccount, Revenue, Qualcomm, Citi

Three names in the industry – Johnson & Johnson , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb – face a pivotal few weeks ahead. They join Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner, who agreed to the panel's initial invitation to appear. But why is the committee targeting Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb in the first place? J&J, Merck and Bristol Myers Squib are all suing to halt the talks, which will establish new prices that will go into effect in 2026. Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo is an immunotherapy used to treat cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer.

Persons: Annika Kim Constantino, – Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Sanders, Eli Lilly's, Januvia, Bristol Myers, He's, Biden, Merck's, Myers, Eliquis, Mike Perrone, it's Organizations: CNBC.com, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bristol Myers, Medicare, Bristol, CNBC, pharma Locations: U.S, drugmakers

☆ Big pharma is at a crossroads, as J&J, Merck and others prepare to lose heaps of revenue from blockbuster drugs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Bristol Myers Squibb's Eliquis is a blood thinner used to prevent clotting, to reduce the risk of stroke. Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo is an immunotherapy used to treat cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer. Investors will get updates on Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb's plans for the years ahead when they report earnings on Thursday and Friday, respectively. That's unlike generics, which are cheaper copycats of small-molecule drugs like Bristol Myers Squibb's Eliquis. Bristol Myers Squibb is also testing a new form of Opdivo, which is currently administered into a patient's veins.

Persons: Johnson, William Blair, Matt Phipps, Bristol Myers, Johnson's, Merck's Keytruda, J's Stelara, Opdivo, Phipps, biosimilars, Eliquis, Biosimilars, Humira, JB Reed, Samsung's, Piper Sandler, Christopher Raymond, AbbVie, Raymond, Chris Schott, Schott, Robert Davis, Keytruda, Davis, JPMorgan's Schott, Bristol Myers Squibb, George Frey, J, Amgen, J confidentially, Mike Perrone, It's, Anna Moneymaker Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Johnson, NYSE Big, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Biden, William Blair & Company, CNBC, Guggenheim, Bristol, Leerink Partners, Bloomberg, Getty, Bioepis, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Health Care, Moderna, Bristol Myers, Karuna Therapeutics, Hardy, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Reuters, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Pharma, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services Locations: drugmakers, EY, Europe, U.S, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Arda, EY's Americas, Bristol, Salt Lake City , Utah, Washington , DC

☆ 4 stock ideas I brought back from the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference and everything else I learned about the industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

We will go over them – but first, let me talk about what I learned at last week's JPMorgan Health Care Conference that I attended in San Francisco, and what it means to your portfolio. We know health care has a lot of angles too it. The previous CEO Roz Brewer was from Starbucks and struggled with the role that Walgreens plays in health care. You have to be following the transformation of Bristol-Myers, which is opening its wallet to buy a host of drug companies, including anti-psychotic firm Karuna. Health care is the way to go.

Persons: Regeneron, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Dave Ricks, Lilly, donanemab, Lilly's, Zepbound, it's, Abbott, It's, Roche, Merck, Myers, ABT, Robert Ford, Tim Wentworth, He's, Roz Brewer, Wentworth, he'll, Brewer wasn't, Bob Bradway, Amgen, Vas Narasimhan, Sandoz, Karuna, Medtronic, Hugo, Morgan Stanley, Wells, Covid, Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Las Vegas Brendan Smialowski Organizations: Abbott Labs, Covid, Novartis, Amgen, Walgreens Boots Alliance, JPMorgan Health Care Conference, Humana, Drug Administration, Novo Nordisk, Dickinson Co, Bristol, Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Department, WBA, Walgreens, Starbucks, -, pharma, Merck, Keytruda, Horizon Therapeutics, Federal Trade Commission, Myers, BD, CVS Health, JPMorgan, Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Consumer, AFP, Getty Locations: San Francisco, GLP, North Carolina, Europe, Cencora, Amgen, West, Bristol, Target, Las Vegas

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Disney, Tesla, Instacart, Arm, Rivian, Target & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Here are Thursday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Goldman Sachs initiates Apellis Pharmaceuticals as buy Goldman initiated the biotech company with a buy and says it sees "continued execution." Bank of America reiterates Disney as buy Bank of America said it's standing by its buy rating after Wednesday's earnings report. Goldman Sachs reiterates Arm as overweight Goldman said it's sticking with its buy rating after the stock's earnings report on Wednesday. Goldman Sachs reiterates Instacart as buy Goldman said it's sticking with its buy rating on the grocery delivery company after Instacart's earnings report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley reiterates Rivian as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's sticking with its overweight rating on the electric vehicle company. "

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Tesla, WK Kellogg, Kellogg, Wolfe, Instacart, Morgan Stanley, Rivian, Eli Lilly, MRK's Keytruda, Evercore, it's bullish, Parker, Wells, it's, Hein Schumacher Organizations: Apellis Pharmaceuticals, HSBC, Tesla, Barclays, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Disney, ARM, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Merck, pharma, TAP, Industrial, Nvidia, Anheuser, Busch InBev, Bud, Offshore, Unilever, OW, Citi Locations: North America, Montrose

☆ These are Mizuho's top stock picks heading into November
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Mizuho's equity research team compiled its top buy-rated picks for the new month. The average price target for the stock, which is already up about 14% this year, implies an upside of about 15%. But the average analyst is bullish with a buy rating and price target implying an upside of almost 21%, per LSEG. The average Wall Street analyst rates EyePoint a buy, and the consensus price target implies the stock could skyrocket nearly 290%, per LSEG. The average analyst has a buy rating and price target reflecting 13.5% upside ahead, per LSEG.

Persons: Nitin Kumar, Mara Goldstein, Graig Suvannavejh, Siti Panigrahi, INTU, Panigrahi, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Mizuho, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Coterra Energy, Merck, Co, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Intuit, Small Locations: Keytruda

☆ Merck quarterly profit tops expectations on COVID pill surprise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Merck logo is seen at a gate to the Merck & Co campus in Rahway, New Jersey, U.S., July 12, 2018. Merck raised Lagevrio full-year sales forecast to $1.3 billion. Third-quarter sales of Merck's top-selling cancer immunotherapy, Keytruda, stood at $6.34 billion, surpassing analysts' average estimate of $6.22 billion. Gardasil, its vaccine to prevent cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), generated sales of $2.59 billion, rising 13% but missing analysts' average estimate of $2.69 billion. The company posted sales of $15.96 billion in the reported quarter, compared to the average analyst estimate of $15.3 billion.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Molnupiravir, Merck, Wells, Mohit Bansal, drugmaker, Michael Erman, Leroy Leo, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Merck, Co, REUTERS, Merck & Co, Pfizer's, Thomson Locations: Rahway , New Jersey, U.S, Japan, United States, EU

☆ Merck results beat expectations on strong Keytruda sales, surprise Covid drug growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Merck on Thursday reported third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings that topped expectations on strong sales of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, HPV vaccine Gardasil and surprisingly, its Covid drug Lagevrio. Merck lowered its adjusted profit guidance to $1.33 to $1.38 per share, from a previous forecast of $2.95 to $3.05 a share. But that updated outlook reflects an upfront charge of $5.5 billion, or $1.70 per share, related to the company's recent drug collaboration agreement with Daiichi Sankyo. Excluding Lagevrio, pharmaceutical sales grew 9%. The Covid antiviral treatment brought in $640 million in sales for the quarter, up 47% from the third quarter of 2022.

Persons: Merck Organizations: Merck, Prometheus Biosciences, Imago BioSciences, Kelun, Biotech, LSEG, U.S Locations: Japan, Australia

☆ Earnings playbook: How to trade a busy week of reports from companies including Microsoft and Meta
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Tuesday General Motors is set to report earnings before the bell, followed by a call at 8:30 a.m. Coca-Cola is set to report earnings in the premarket, with a call slated for 8:30 .am. Wednesday Boeing is set to report earnings in the premarket, with leadership scheduled to hold a call at 10:30 a.m. Ford Motor is set to report earnings after the bell, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. This quarter: The e-commerce giant is expected to report earnings per share growth of more than 100%, according to LSEG.

Persons: Michael Wayland, they'll, Andrea Teixeira, MSFT, Jordan Novet, GOOGL, Justin Post, MRK, Goldman Sachs, Chris Shibutani, Keytruda, Ford, AMZN, Doug Anmuth, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Big Tech, Microsoft, Meta, Wall, CNBC, GM, LSEG, United Auto Workers, Investment Group, Coca, U.S, Activision, Wednesday Boeing, Boeing, Management, Bank of America, IBM, Merck, Ford, UAW, Detroit, JPMorgan Locations: Missouri, EVs, China, Apptio

☆ UBS upgrades this biopharma giant with an underappreciated treatment pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Investors may not be fully pricing in Merck 's strong treatment pipeline, according to UBS. Analyst Trung Huynh expects that "underappreciated pipeline readouts" will be the primary contributor to multiple expansion for the company. Huynh also noted that investors continue to underestimate the value of two key Merck treatments: Keytruda — used in cancer immunotherapy — and Gardasil, a vaccine targeting HPV. The analyst added that these two treatments and other underappreciated catalysts have all contributed to Merck's above-peer growth profile. The upgrade comes after the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Keytruda for treatment with "platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment " on Monday.

Persons: Trung Huynh, Huynh, —, Michael Bloom Organizations: Merck, UBS, Food and Drug Administration Locations: China

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