Eli Lilly Crushes Q3 Estimates, Raises 2025 Forecast on Zepbound and Mounjaro Surge

Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) flexed its financial muscle this past quarter, reporting earnings and revenue figures that left Wall Street forecasts in the dust. The pharmaceutical heavyweight owes much of this momentum to blockbuster sales of its weight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro. The company's quarterly results prompted a 5% jump in premarket shares, signaling strong investor enthusiasm.Guidance for full-year 2025 revenue got a notable lift, now projected between $63 billion and $63.5 billion-up from the earlier estimate of $60 to $62 billion. Adjusted profits should land in the $23 to $23.70 per share range, a step above the previous outlook. These revisions factor in current tariffs but steer clear of further drug import levies floated by President Donald Trump, which could shake things up if enacted.Digging into specifics, Mounjaro's revenue skyrocketed to $6.52 billion over the quarter, more than doubling last year's numbers and outpacing the $5.51 billion analysts had penciled in. Zepbound, still relatively new on the market with roughly two years since launch, pulled in $3.57 billion-an eye-popping 184% increase year over year and inching past Wall Street targets. Altogether, Eli Lilly banked $17.60 billion in sales, a 54% jump from Q3 2024, with adjusted EPS leaping to $7.02 from an expected $5.69.U.S. sales soared 45% to $11.30 billion, largely thanks to a 60% volume boost in prescriptions for Mounjaro and Zepbound. Of course, the company noted a dip in realized prices, a familiar trend when volumes ramp up so rapidly. Net income also saw a dramatic upswing, hitting $5.58 billion or $6.21 per share, way above last year's $970.3 million.The GLP-1 market-which treats obesity and diabetes-is red hot, and Eli Lilly is elbowing in hard to keep a lead over rival Novo Nordisk. Over the past year, Lilly has grabbed significant share through savvy marketing and broadening access. For instance, a recent tie-up with Walmart lets cash-paying customers pick up discounted Zepbound vials in-store-a move that could shake up distribution dynamics.Eyes are on Lilly's experimental obesity pill, orforglipron, which could reinforce their stronghold if it delivers. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk, not standing still, launched a rival bid for U.S. biotech Metsera, sparking a bidding war with Pfizer as they aim to catch up in this lucrative corner of pharma.Pricing pressures aside, the surge in demand for Lilly's GLP-1 therapies is unmistakable, and these Q3 numbers add fuel to their growth story. The company's significant volume gains show that these medicines are becoming a staple for managing obesity and diabetes conditions, even as competition heats up.With the full-year numbers looking brighter and a pipeline that keeps investors guessing, the battle for GLP-1 supremacy is shaping up to be one of the year's most compelling pharma sagas.