| | | Presented By | | | | A tobacco giant is surging 8% as its smoke-free sales take off, a pharma major is climbing on a strong 2025 forecast, and a biotech stock is skyrocketing 130% after getting a big FDA approval. Read on to find out what’s moving the markets today. | |
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| | | | What to Watch | Earnings: | Amazon.com Inc [AMZN]: Aftermarket Fortinet Inc [FTNT]: Aftermarket
| Economic Reports: | Initial Jobless Claims [Feb]: 8:30 a.m. U.S. Productivity [Q4]: 8:30 a.m. |
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| | Pharmaceuticals | Eli Lilly Projecting Strong 2025 Profit Outlook, But Q4 Results Are Weak | | Eli Lilly [LLY] released its 2025 earnings forecast today, projecting profits above Wall Street expectations as it expands its weight-loss and diabetes drug offerings into new markets. The pharmaceutical giant expects adjusted earnings per share between $22.50 and $24.00 for the year, surpassing analysts’ estimate of $22.86, according to LSEG data. | Shares of Eli Lilly are up 1% in premarket trading. | Despite the strong outlook, fourth-quarter sales of its blockbuster diabetes drug Mounjaro came in at $3.53 billion, falling short of the expected $4.27 billion. Zepbound, its weight-loss medication, generated $1.91 billion in revenue, slightly below the $2.03 billion analysts had anticipated. | Lilly previously warned that Q4 sales of both drugs might miss expectations due to supply chain challenges and financial constraints at wholesalers. However, some investors have raised concerns about whether demand for GLP-1 treatments like Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy is starting to cool. | Lilly and Novo Nordisk continue to dominate the rapidly expanding weight-loss drug market, which analysts predict could reach $150 billion by the early 2030s. Despite short-term fluctuations in sales, the long-term demand for these treatments remains strong, positioning Lilly for continued growth in the coming years. |
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| | Tobacco | Philip Morris Reporting Strong 2024 Results With Smoke-Free Products Driving Growth | | Philip Morris International [PMI] reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results, driven by growth in its smoke-free product portfolio, including IQOS and ZYN nicotine pouches. CEO Jacek Olczak highlighted the company's progress in transforming toward smoke-free alternatives and praised the recent U.S. FDA authorization of all ZYN products currently available in the U.S. | For the full year, PMI’s smoke-free product segment delivered a 14.2% increase in net revenue and an 18.7% rise in gross profit. In Q4 alone, net revenue for smoke-free products grew 9.2%, with gross profit increasing 15.1%. The company estimated 38.6 million adult users of its smoke-free offerings, now available in 95 markets worldwide. | The firm’s stock is surging 8% in premarket trade. | IQOS continued to gain market share, particularly in Japan, where the ILUMA model drove an estimated 13% increase in sales. In Europe, IQOS shipments rose nearly 10% in Q4, with double-digit growth in key markets like Spain, Bulgaria, and Germany. Meanwhile, ZYN shipments in the U.S. surged 42% year-over-year, reaching nearly 165 million cans in Q4. | The company’s combustible cigarette business also grew, with net revenue rising 4% for the year, driven by strong pricing in markets where smoke-free products are restricted. Philip Morris declared a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share, maintaining its annualized payout of $5.40 per share. |
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| | | | Industrial Gases & Engineering | Linde’s Weak Outlook for Q1 2025 Sending Stocks Falling | | Linde [LIN] projected slower earnings growth for the first quarter of 2025 today, attributing the trend to unfavorable currency exchange effects. The world’s largest industrial gases company expects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to range between $3.85 and $3.95, reflecting a modest 3% to 5% increase from the same period last year. | Its shares are down 3% in early trade. | CEO Sanjiv Lamba acknowledged the impact of global economic weakness and currency fluctuations, stating that macroeconomic conditions have continued to deteriorate. | Despite these challenges, Linde’s diversified operations—spanning industries such as chemicals, manufacturing, steel-making, and healthcare—help cushion the effects of market slowdowns in specific sectors. | In the fourth quarter of 2024, Linde reported an 11% increase in adjusted EPS, reaching $3.97, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $3.93 per share. The company has consistently outperformed earnings forecasts and adjusted guidance in recent years, reflecting its resilience across multiple industries. | Although Linde anticipates some currency-related pressure in early 2025, its broad customer base and strong financial track record position it well to navigate economic fluctuations. Investors will be closely monitoring whether the company can sustain its history of earnings outperformance despite global macroeconomic headwinds. |
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| | Movers and Shakers | | Lipella Pharmaceuticals Inc. [LIPO] - Last Close: $2.58 | Lipella Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech company developing innovative therapies for diseases with unmet medical needs. Its shares are surging 130%+ in premarket trade after the FDA approved an Expanded Access Program (EAP) for its lead candidate LP-310, allowing more patients with no current FDA-approved treatments to access the drug outside of clinical trials. | My Take: The FDA’s expanded access approval signals regulatory confidence in LP-310, but clinical trial results will be the real test. Keep this stock on your radar. |
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| Invivyd, Inc. [IVVD] - Last Close: $2.11 | Invivyd is a biotech company focused on developing monoclonal antibody treatments as an alternative to traditional COVID-19 vaccines. It is extending yesterday’s massive rally (+68.80%) in premarket trading today after the company reported positive Phase 1/2 trial results for its lead candidate VYD2311. | My Take: This is a big moment for Invivyd and investors are paying attention. The firm also announced a tie-up with Pro Football Coach Jim Harbaugh yesterday. Keep a close eye on where this stock goes from here. |
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| Altus Power, Inc. [AMPS] - Last Close: $3.83 | Altus Power is a leading provider of solar energy solutions specializing in commercial and residential solar power. Its shares are up 29% in early trade today after TPG Rise Climate announced a $2.2 billion all-cash acquisition at $5 per share, representing a 66% premium to its stock price before the deal talks surfaced. | My Take: The deal is great for current stockholders, but TPG will be taking the company private. Keep this stock on your radar for how it performs during the day. |
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| | | | | | That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. If you have any feedback, please reply to this email. | Best Regards, | — Adam Garcia Elite Trade Club |
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