Biopharmaceutical giant Amgen (AMGN -0.71%) got off to a solid start to 2024, based on the first-quarter earnings report it released on May 2. The company outperformed analysts' earnings expectations as it essentially met their consensus revenue forecast. Revenue surged by 22% to $7.45 billion, in line with analysts' projections.
| Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2024 Analysts Estimate | Q1 2023 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-GAAP EPS | $3.96 | $3.88 | $3.98 | (0.5%) |
| Total revenue | $7.45 billion | $7.45 billion | $6.11 billion | 21.2% |
| Product sales | $7.12 billion | N/A | $5.85 billion | 21.7% |
| Operating cash flow | $700 million | N/A | $1.1 billion | (36.4%) |
Data source: Company results from company. Analyst estimates from FactSet.
Amgen at a glance
Amgen, headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, ranks among the world's largest biotech companies. It specializes in developing novel treatments aimed at challenging diseases in areas with significant unmet medical needs. With a rich history of innovation, it continues to expand its portfolio through both in-house developments and strategic acquisitions.
Recent business highlights include its acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, which added critical treatments for rare, autoimmune, and severe inflammatory diseases to Amgen's product line. The company's in-house R&D pipeline also includes the promising weight loss candidate MariTide, now in a phase 2 trial that should read out late this year.
Quarter in review
The first quarter saw Amgen capitalize on its strategic acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics -- that purchase contributed $914 million in sales to the top line and demonstrably enhanced its revenue streams. Factoring out the impact of the Horizon purchase, product sales grew by 6%. And management highlighted that 10 drugs in its portfolio produced double-digit percentage sales volume gains in the quarter.
However, Amgen's non-GAAP operating margin fell by 5.1 percentage points to 43.2%, reflecting increased operational costs due in part to the Horizon acquisition and escalated R&D expenses. These investments, though they took a toll on margins in the short term, are integral to Amgen's strategy for sustained long-term growth.
Product sales grew by 22% on 25% volume growth, indicative of strong demand across its portfolio. The company's focus on strategic acquisitions has not only bolstered its product lineup, but has set the stage for ongoing revenue growth in a competitive pharmaceutical industry.
Looking ahead
Amgen adjusted its total revenue guidance for 2024 to a range of $32.5 billion to $33.8 billion, raising the bottom of the range by $100 million.
Investors are encouraged to monitor Amgen's strategic investments and pipeline developments, notably the milestones related to MariTide. These elements could be pivotal in shaping its financial trajectory and market positioning in the upcoming years.
