Eli Lilly Stock Slumps on Lowered Sales Forecast

Key Takeaways

Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares tumbled Tuesday after the drugmaker lowered its revenue forecast for the 2024 fiscal year.

The maker of weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound said sales of the drugs grew slower than expected in the fourth quarter, along with lower-than-expected inventory of the products.

Eli Lilly said it expects fourth-quarter revenue of roughly $13.5 billion, which would bring full-year revenue to $45 billion, lower than the $45.4 billion to $46 billion range the company projected in its third-quarter report . Analysts were looking for fourth-quarter revenue of $13.97 billion and full-year revenue of $45.48 billion, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.

Eli Lilly Expects Sales of Weight-Loss Drugs to Grow With Higher Production

Heading into fiscal 2025, CEO David Ricks said the company expects sales of weight-loss drugs will continue growing, and noted that it expects "to produce at least 60% more salable doses" of the drugs over the first half of this year compared to 2024.

The drugmaker said it anticipates revenue between $58 billion to $61 billion in fiscal 2025, while analysts currently project $59.33 billion. Eli Lilly made the adjustment ahead of Ricks presenting at a healthcare conference Tuesday afternoon.

The company said it plans to report fourth-quarter earnings and outline its full forecast for fiscal 2025 on Feb. 6.

Eli Lilly shares were down nearly 7% at $746 in intraday trading Tuesday following the news, though even with Tuesday's losses, they've gained over 17% in the last 12 months.

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