BMO Capital reiterated a Market Perform rating on Novo Nordisk following management’s discussion of 2026 guidance, with published notes including differing reported price-target figures. One report cited a $45.00 target alongside the Market Perform rating, while a later passage references a maintained $57.00 price target in the context of the same analyst stance. The available record therefore reflects both numbers.
Analysts at BMO point to underlying directional pricing declines of roughly 10-15%, driven by a combination of channel mix shifts, Most Favored Nation pricing pressures, and increasing adoption of cash pay. Management acknowledged these headwinds but expressed confidence that volume improvements could offset some pricing erosion over time, and noted potential upside if generic entrants into loss-of-exclusivity markets internationally are delayed.
Central to Novo Nordisk’s plan to restore revenue momentum is the company’s rollout of an oral version of its obesity therapy, the Wegovy pill. Management said the organization is dedicating significant promotional resources to the launch, including a planned advertisement during the Super Bowl, signaling a major marketing push into 2026. Executives downplayed concerns related to a food effect associated with the product, instead emphasizing the pill’s higher numerical weight-loss outcomes and observed cardiovascular benefits.
The company also outlined intentions to relaunch Rybelsus with positioning as the "Ozempic pill," an effort management expects could reinvigorate that franchise. At the same time, competitive dynamics are evolving: HIMS has announced plans for a compounded version of the Wegovy pill priced from $49 per month. Novo Nordisk’s leadership expressed skepticism about the competitive profile of such compounded alternatives, while acknowledging they could introduce pricing pressure in certain channels.
Beyond the obesity portfolio, Novo Nordisk provided updates on its development pipeline. Progress includes data from the Phase 2/3 HIBISCUS study for Etavopivat in sickle cell disease. The company also flagged that Phase 3 results from the ZEUS trial of Ziltivekimab are expected in the second half of 2026, and that Mim8 could obtain potential U.S. approval in the latter half of 2026. These milestones form part of management’s view of longer-term growth levers outside weight-management products.
On the financial front, Novo Nordisk reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that exceeded consensus estimates. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.02 versus an expected $0.92, and revenue of $12.53 billion compared with consensus expectations of $11.99 billion. Despite those upside surprises, BMO reiterated the Market Perform stance and, in one referenced note, kept a $57.00 price target while citing concerns about soft guidance for 2026.
Investors and market participants consequently face a mix of encouraging near-term earnings data, a heavy commercial emphasis on new oral obesity treatments, and an acknowledged erosion in pricing that could pressure topline metrics through 2026. The public record of analyst commentary includes inconsistent reporting of the specific price-target figure associated with BMO’s call, reflecting a limitation in the presented notes.
What to watch next:
- Progress and market reception of the Wegovy pill launch and promotional cadence going into 2026.
- Commercial performance following any relaunch of Rybelsus as the "Ozempic pill."
- Pipeline readouts and regulatory developments for Etavopivat, Ziltivekimab, and Mim8 through 2026.