AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amidst Strategic ...

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  • Total Revenue Growth: 10% in Q1 2025.
  • Core Operating Profit Growth: 12% increase.
  • Core EPS Growth: 21% increase, benefiting from a lower tax rate.
  • Gross Margin: 84% in Q1 2025.
  • Core R&D Costs: Increased by 16%, representing 23% of total revenue.
  • Core SG&A Costs: Increased by 4%.
  • Core Operating Profit Margin: 35%.
  • Core Tax Rate: 16% in Q1 2025.
  • Cash Inflows from Operating Activities: $3.7 billion.
  • CapEx: Approximately $500 million, expected to increase by 50% this year.
  • Net Debt: Increased by $1.5 billion to $26.1 billion.
  • Oncology Revenue Growth: 13% to $5.6 billion in Q1 2025.
  • Biopharmaceuticals Revenue Growth: 12% to $5.6 billion in Q1 2025.
  • Rare Disease Revenue: $2 billion, stable year-on-year.
  • Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with FNNNF.

Release Date: April 29, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) reported a strong start to 2025 with a 10% increase in total revenue, driven by demand for innovative medicines.
  • Core operating profit increased by 12% and core EPS rose by 21%, reflecting effective cost management and operating leverage.
  • The company secured 13 approvals in key regions, showcasing the global impact of its diverse portfolio.
  • AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) announced five positive Phase III results, including two NMEs, indicating strong pipeline delivery.
  • The company is on track to deliver at least 20 NMEs by 2030, with nine novel medicines already approved.

Negative Points

  • AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) faces anticipated headwinds, including Medicare Part D redesign in the US, which could impact revenue.
  • The company expects a decline in total revenue gross margin by 60 to 70 basis points in 2025 due to various factors, including SOLIRIS biosimilar competition.
  • There is a potential impact from VBP inclusion in China, which could affect pricing and revenue for certain products.
  • AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) anticipates a lower gross margin in the second half of the year due to seasonal patterns and other factors.
  • The company is facing increased competition in the rare disease segment, which could impact growth in this area.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How should we think about the impact of the Medicare Part D redesign in the US as we move through the year? Was it mostly Q1 weighted or do you expect further impact from here? A: David Fredrickson, Executive Vice President - Oncology Business Unit: The Part D redesign is a rebasing that happened at the beginning of the year. The catastrophic coverage is triggered on the first fill within our oral oncology products, so it will not grow from here. We saw a 20% increase in volumes for Tagrisso in the US, driven by ongoing launches and reduced free good utilization, offsetting the gross to net impact from Part D redesign. We expect continued revenue growth throughout 2025.

Q: Can you talk about the oral PCSK9 program and its potential market impact? A: Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President - BioPharmaceuticals Business Unit: The oral PCSK9 has the potential to unlock a large market opportunity, addressing the 70% of patients not at cholesterol goal. It offers a more accessible option compared to injectables, especially in emerging markets. The product is a true small molecule, allowing for potential combinations with other treatments like Crestor, enhancing its market potential.

Q: Are you considering any incremental US manufacturing investments? A: Aradhana Sarin, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director: We are taking actions to manage the minority of products imported from Europe to the US, including tech transfers and capacity building. We have dual-source supply and capacity within existing facilities, so incremental investment will be manageable. Our CapEx is expected to be 50% higher than last year, and future investments will depend on the success of our pipeline.

Q: Could you provide an update on the AVANZAR trial and its significance? A: Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President - Oncology and Research and Development: AVANZAR is progressing well, with results expected in the second half of the year. The trial focuses on the non-squamous patient population and incorporates the QCS biomarker. We have confidence in the combinability of Datroway with Imfinzi, and the trial is an important part of our broader strategy for Datroway across multiple indications.

Q: What is the outlook for AstraZeneca's growth in China? A: Iskra Reic, Executive Vice President - Vaccines and Immune Therapies: We saw strong performance in China with 5% growth in Q1, driven by Forxiga and the launch of Enhertu. Our underlying business is growing at 9% when adjusting for Pulmicort's decline. We continue to lead in the respiratory field and see growth opportunities with Tagrisso despite competition. We remain confident in our growth prospects in China.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

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