Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SUPN) and the best and worst performers in the branded pharmaceuticals industry.
Looking ahead, the branded pharmaceutical industry is positioned for tailwinds from advancements in precision medicine, increasing adoption of AI to enhance drug development efficiency, and growing global demand for treatments addressing chronic and rare diseases. However, headwinds include heightened regulatory scrutiny, pricing pressures from governments and insurers, and the looming patent cliffs for key blockbuster drugs. Patent cliffs bring about competition from generics, forcing branded pharmaceutical companies back to the drawing board to find the next big thing.
The 10 branded pharmaceuticals stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.3%.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 5.7% on average since the latest earnings results.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SUPN)
With a diverse portfolio of eight FDA-approved medications targeting neurological conditions, Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SUPN) develops and markets treatments for central nervous system disorders including epilepsy, ADHD, Parkinson's disease, and migraine.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals reported revenues of $192.1 million, up 9.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
"Our strong operating results continued into the third quarter of 2025, reflecting continued momentum from Qelbree and GOCOVRI, collaboration revenue from ZURZUVAE, and an encouraging start to the launch of ONAPGO,” said Jack Khattar, President and CEO of Supernus.
Supernus Pharmaceuticals delivered the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 19.5% since reporting and currently trades at $45.90.
Read our full report on Supernus Pharmaceuticals here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Best Q3: Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY)
Founded in 1876 by a Civil War veteran and pharmacist frustrated with the poor quality of medicines, Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) discovers, develops, and manufactures pharmaceutical products for conditions including diabetes, obesity, cancer, immunological disorders, and neurological diseases.
Eli Lilly reported revenues of $17.6 billion, up 53.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.6%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Eli Lilly delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 29.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $1,050.
Is now the time to buy Eli Lilly? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Corcept (NASDAQ:CORT)
Focusing on the powerful stress hormone that affects everything from metabolism to immune function, Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CORT) develops and markets medications that modulate cortisol to treat endocrine disorders, cancer, and neurological diseases.
Corcept reported revenues of $207.6 million, up 13.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5%. It was a softer quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.
Corcept delivered the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 8.7% since the results and currently trades at $77.28.
Read our full analysis of Corcept’s results here.
Organon (NYSE:OGN)
Spun off from Merck in 2021 to create a company dedicated to addressing unmet needs in women's health, Organon (NYSE:OGN) is a global healthcare company focused on improving women's health through prescription therapies, medical devices, biosimilars, and established medicines.
Organon reported revenues of $1.60 billion, up 1.3% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.
The stock is up 5.7% since reporting and currently trades at $7.17.
Read our full, actionable report on Organon here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
With roots dating back to 1891 and a portfolio that includes the blockbuster cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, Merck (NYSE:MRK) develops and sells prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products across oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, and other therapeutic areas.
Merck reported revenues of $17.28 billion, up 3.7% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. It was a strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is up 12.5% since reporting and currently trades at $97.43.
Read our full, actionable report on Merck here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.
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