Novo Nordisk Dips After Tightening Its Outlook: Wegovy's Success Can't Mask Ozempic's Miss

Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant, saw its shares dip after the company tightened its outlook for the year, despite the strong performance of its weight-loss drug Wegovy. The company's third-quarter earnings report revealed a mixed bag of results, with Wegovy's sales beating estimates while its diabetes drug Ozempic missed expectations.

Wegovy, a semaglutide-based treatment for chronic weight management, reported a 79% increase in sales to DKK 17.3 billion ($2.5 billion), surpassing analyst estimates. The drug's international expansion has been a significant driver of its growth, with sales rising by about 50% in the US despite lower prices. This strong performance has reassured investors about the obesity market's growth potential and Novo Nordisk's ability to capitalize on it.

However, Ozempic, Novo Nordisk's top-selling drug, missed expectations with a 5% shortfall in sales, coming in at DKK 29.8 billion. The company attributed this miss to supply constraints and increased competition in the diabetes market. Despite being the company's cash cow, Ozempic's sales growth has slowed, raising concerns about its long-term prospects.

Novo Nordisk's full-year outlook narrowed due to a combination of factors, including the strong demand for Wegovy, periodic drug shortages across several products, and the slight miss in Ozempic sales. The company now expects sales growth between 23% to 27% and operating profit growth of 21% to 27% this year, compared to the previous range of 22% to 28%.


Novo Nordisk's shares dipped 2.6% in premarket trading on Wednesday, reflecting investor sentiment that while Wegovy's growth is reassuring, Ozempic's shortfall may temper enthusiasm. The company's narrowing outlook suggests a strategic shift in resource allocation, focusing on expanding Wegovy's reach and addressing supply constraints, which could temporarily impact Ozempic's growth.

Analysts' ratings and price targets for Novo Nordisk stock may shift in response to the revised outlook. The average price target for Novo Nordisk stock is $139.33, representing a potential increase of 26.51% from the current stock price of $110.13. However, the range of estimates varies from a low of $115 to a high of $160, indicating differing opinions on the stock's future performance.


In conclusion, Novo Nordisk's mixed performance in the third quarter highlights the importance of staying informed and adaptable in a changing market landscape. While Wegovy's strong performance suggests continued growth in the obesity market, Ozempic's sales miss raises concerns about pricing pressures and competition in the diabetes market. As the company invests in expanding production capacity and launching new drugs like CagriSema, investors will closely monitor its ability to maintain growth momentum and adapt to market dynamics.