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Investing.com - BMO Capital has reiterated its Market Perform rating and $50.00 price target on Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO), a prominent pharmaceutical player with a $274.9 billion market cap and impressive 84.26% gross profit margin, following analysis of the company’s oral semaglutide weight loss data.
The research firm acknowledged that headline weight loss results from the OASIS-4 trial for oral semaglutide were higher than those observed in the ATTAIN-1 trial, but maintained that Eli Lilly’s orforglipron appears to be the preferred oral agent when considering the complete profile of both medications. Novo Nordisk has demonstrated strong business performance with 20.9% revenue growth in the last twelve months.
BMO Capital noted that across efficacy estimand weight loss measurements, 25mg oral semaglutide achieved a placebo-adjusted weight loss of 13.9% at 64 weeks, compared to 11.5% at 72 weeks in the 36mg dosing arm of orforglipron.
Despite the 2.4% difference in peak weight loss favoring Novo Nordisk’s treatment, BMO Capital reported that discussions with key opinion leaders at EASD indicated orforglipron’s lack of a food effect remains a more significant driver for prescribing patterns, particularly in primary care settings.
The firm recognized Novo Nordisk’s expanding portfolio but concluded that Eli Lilly still maintains a competitive edge following developments this week. According to InvestingPro analysis, Novo Nordisk is currently trading below its Fair Value, with a P/E ratio of 15.71 and an overall financial health score of "GREAT". Get deeper insights with InvestingPro’s comprehensive research report, available along with 12+ additional ProTips.
In other recent news, Novo Nordisk has announced plans for a full U.S. launch of its oral semaglutide in 2026. This development comes as the company emphasizes its competitive positioning against Eli Lilly’s obesity pill. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency has approved a label update for Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide, Rybelsus, to include cardiovascular benefits for type 2 diabetes patients, following the SOUL clinical trial results. The trial demonstrated a 14% reduction in cardiovascular events when the medication was used alongside standard care.
Additionally, Berenberg has upgraded Novo Nordisk’s stock rating from Hold to Buy, adjusting the price target to DKK425.00, citing a positive growth outlook. This upgrade reflects a shift in market expectations after previous guidance downgrades. In contrast, UBS has reiterated its Neutral rating for Novo Nordisk, maintaining a price target of DKK340.00, following the company’s presentation at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
In related news, Eli Lilly’s experimental oral GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, has shown superior results compared to Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide in a clinical trial. The trial indicated greater improvements in blood sugar control and weight loss for orforglipron. These developments highlight ongoing competition and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
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