Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Technology, Basic Materials and Healthcare sectors led shares lower.
At the close in...
Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Technology, Basic Materials and Healthcare sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 declined 0.60%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Elia (EBR:ELI), which rose 1.52% or 0.95 points to trade at 63.65 at the close. Meanwhile, Warehouses de Pauw Comm VA (EBR:WDPP) added 0.96% or 0.20 points to end at 20.96 and Lotus Bakeries (EBR:LOTB) was up 0.81% or 70.00 points to 8,690.00 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Argen-X (EBR:ARGX), which fell 2.32% or 14.20 points to trade at 597.20 at the close. Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) declined 1.96% or 0.50 points to end at 24.98 and Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) was down 1.81% or 1.05 points to 56.95.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 59 to 31 and 16 ended unchanged.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 1.19% or 34.41 to $2,861.49 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April fell 0.91% or 0.64 to hit $69.71 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract fell 1.16% or 0.85 to trade at $72.72 a barrel.
EUR/USD was unchanged 0.07% to 1.04, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.15% to 0.83.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 107.25.
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Perrigo Company plc PRGO reported adjusted earnings of 93 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2024, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92 cents. The reported figure increased 8% year over year, primarily due to improved margins and lower variable expenses.
Net sales declined 1.6% year over year to $1.14 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20 billion. The downside was due to the loss of sales stemming from exited businesses and product lines.
During the quarter, sales dropped 2.1% year over year on account of exited businesses and product lines and another 0.1% from unfavorable currency movement. At constant currency (excluding foreign currency translation), sales fell 1.5%. Organic net sales (excluding the effects of acquisitions and divestitures and the impact of currency) rose 0.7%.
See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.
Year to date, shares of Perrigo have lost 6.1% against the industry’s 11% growth.
More on PRGO’s Earnings
Perrigo reports its results under the following segments — Consumer Self Care Americas (CSCA) and Consumer Self Care International (CSCI).
CSCA: The segment’s net sales in the quarter came in at $744 million, flat year over year. Though sales grew across the Nutrition, Skin Care and Women's Health categories, sales in the Pain & Sleep Aids, Upper Respiratory and Digestive Health categories offset this growth. Organic net sales rose 0.1%.
CSCI: The segment reported net sales of $394 million, down 4.5% from the year-ago period’s levels due to product line exits and unfavorable currency movements. At constant currency rates, sales were down 4.1% year over year. Organically, sales increased 1.8%.
Full-Year 2024 Results
Perrigo reported revenues of $4.37 billion, down 6.1% year over year. Net sales also fell 4.5% organically.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $2.57 per share for 2024, down 0.4% year over year.
PRGO’s 2025 Guidance
Perrigo will be hosting a virtual Investor Day today, where management will share the company’s 2025-2027 strategic plan to boost performance. During the event, management will also issue its financial guidance for the full year 2025.
PRGO’s Zacks Rank
Perrigo currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Perrigo Company plc Price
Perrigo Company plc price | Perrigo Company plc Quote
Our Key Picks Among Biotech Stocks
Some better-ranked stocks are argenx ARGX, Pacira BioSciences PCRX and 89bio ETNB. While ARGX and PCRX sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, ETNB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Estimates for argenx’s 2025 earnings per share (EPS) have increased from $2.07 to $3.13 over the past 60 days, while the same for 2026 has increased from $9.08 to $10.85. ARGX’s shares have gained 2% year to date.
argenx's earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark in the other two, delivering an average surprise of 339.37%.
Estimates for Pacira BioSciences’ 2025 EPS have increased from $3.16 to $3.20 over the past 60 days, and the same for 2026 has risen from $2.79 to $3.59. PCRX’s shares have surged 35% year to date.
Pacira’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, missed once and met in the other, delivering an average surprise of 7.13%.
Estimates for 89bio’s loss per share have narrowed from $3.22 to $3.19 for 2025 in the past 60 days. The loss per share estimate for 2026 has narrowed from $3.19 to $2.51 in the same time frame. ETNB’s shares have risen 19% year to date.
89bio’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed in the other two, delivering a negative average surprise of 37.49%.
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
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Argenx's Q4 Sales Backed by Vyvgart's Growth, Oppenheimer Says
Argenx's Q4 sales of $737 million, up 29% quarter-on-quarter, were backed by increasing Vyvgart usage through prescriber breadth and depth, Oppenheimer said in a note to clients Friday.
The investment firm said Q4's "significant beat" was largely due to Vyvgart's chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy indication, with uptake outpacing estimates, as there were no major changes in the myasthenia gravis dynamics. Vyvgart's growth was driven mainly by the US market, as sales outside the US only grew modestly, according to the note.
Label-expansion studies for Vyvgart and phase 4 treatment decisions are expected to further facilitate usage, the investment firm said.
Oppenheimer also highlighted the approximately 25% increase in the company's 2025 guidance for research and development spending as well as selling, general and administrative expenses to about $2.5 billion, with 10 phase 3 studies and 10 phase 2 trials still ongoing.
Oppenheimer raised Argenx's price target to $704 from $675, and maintained the stock's outperform rating.
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argenx Is Maintained at Outperform by Citizens Capital Markets
(15:44 GMT) argenx Price Target Raised to $701.00/Share From $696.00 by Citizens Capital Markets
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IOVA Q4 Earnings Beat, Stock Down on Looming Economic Uncertainty
Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. IOVA incurred a fourth-quarter 2024 loss of 26 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 27 cents. In the year-ago quarter, the company reported a loss of 45 cents per share.
During the quarter, the company generated total revenues of $73.7 million, entirely from the product sales of its two marketed drugs. The reported sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $72.1 million. In the year-ago quarter, Iovance recorded total revenues of $0.5 million.
See the Zacks Earnings Calendarto stay ahead of market-making news.
More on IOVA’s Earnings
Iovance currently has two marketed drugs in its portfolio, the IL-2 product Proleukin (aldesleukin) and the TIL therapy Amtagvi. While Proleukin is approved to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma in adults, Amtagvi is approved for advanced melanoma indication.
This marked the third quarter of recording revenues from Amtagvi sales since its approval in February. Iovance recorded $48.7 million from the drug’s sales during the fourth quarter compared with $42.1 million in the third, driven by encouraging patient demand. Sales of the drug missed our model estimates of $57 million.
Proleukin added $25 million during the quarter compared with $0.5 million in the year-ago period. Per management, the surge in sales can be attributed to the drug’s use in the Amtagvi treatment regimen. The metric beat our model estimate of $15 million.
Discussion on IOVA’s Operating Costs
Research & development expenses totaled $72.2 million, down 17% from the year-ago quarter’s level. This downside was primarily caused by the transition to commercial Amtagvi manufacturing during the quarter.
Selling, general and administrative expenses surged 42% from the prior-year quarter’s figure to $42.5 million. This upside can be attributed to an increase in headcount and other related costs.
Full-Year 2024 Results
Iovance generated total revenues worth $164.1 million in 2024 compared with $1.2 million in the year-ago period.
The company incurred a loss of $1.28 per share for 2024 compared with a loss of $1.89 in the year-ago period.
IOVA’s Guidance
For 2025
Iovance reiterated its previously issued product revenue guidance for 2025. It expects this metric to be between $450 million and $475 million. Management forecasts cash burn for the year to be under $300 million.
Beyond 2025
The company expects significant growth in total product revenues for 2026 and beyond. It expects gross margins to increase over time and surpass 70% in the next several years.
Updates on IOVA’s Pipeline & Other News
Despite the better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, shares of Iovance fell nearly 19% in after-market trading yesterday. This was due to a warning in the company’s annual SEC filing where management cautioned investors of facing economic uncertainty due to geopolitical conflicts and inflation, that could harm its business and market performance.
Year to date, the stock has lost 29% against the industry’s 6% growth.
Regulatory applications for Amtagvi in melanoma indication are currently under review in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, with potential approvals expected throughout this year. Filings in Australia and additional countries with significant populations of advanced melanoma patients are expected later this year.
IOVA is also evaluating Amtagvi, combined with Merck’s PD-L1 inhibitor, Keytruda, in the phase III TILVANCE-301 study as a potential treatment for frontline advanced melanoma. This study will also serve as a confirmatory study seeking full approval for Amtagvi in the melanoma indication.
Iovance is accelerating enrolment in the phase II IOV-LUN-202 study, which evaluates Amtagvi in post-anti-PD-1 NSCLC. An update from this study is expected before this year’s end. If the study's data is positive, management expects to secure label expansion for the drug from the FDA in the given indication in 2027. Amtagvi is also being evaluated in separate mid-stage studies for cervical and endometrial cancer indications.
IOVA’s Zacks Rank
Iovance currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. Price
Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. price | Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. Quote
Our Key Picks Among Biotech Stocks
Some better-ranked stocks are argenx ARGX, Pacira BioSciences PCRX and 89bio ETNB. ARGX and PCRX each currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and ETNB carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Estimates for argenx’s 2025 earnings per share (EPS) have increased from $2.07 to $3.13 in the past 60 days, while the same for 2026 has increased from $9.08 to $10.85. ARGX’s shares have gained 2% year to date.
argenx's earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark in the other two, delivering an average surprise of 339.37%.
Estimates for Pacira BioSciences’ 2025 EPS have increased from $3.16 to $3.20 in the past 60 days and the same for 2026 has risen from $2.79 to $3.59. PCRX’s shares have surged 35% year to date.
Pacira’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, missed once and met in the other, delivering an average surprise of 7.13%.
Estimates for 89bio’s loss per share have narrowed from $3.22 to $3.19 for 2025 in the past 60 days. The loss per share estimate for 2026 has narrowed from $3.19 to $2.51 in the same time frame. ETNB’s shares have risen 19% year to date.
89bio’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed in the other two, delivering a negative average surprise of 37.49%.
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
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argenx Is Maintained at Buy by HC Wainwright & Co.
(12:17 GMT) argenx Price Target Raised to $720.00/Share From $717.00 by HC Wainwright & Co.
Risk Warnings and Disclaimers
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Argenx Se : H.C. Wainwright Raises Target Price To $720 From $717
You understand and acknowledge that there is a high degree of risk involved in trading. Following any strategies or investment methods may lead to potential losses. The content on the site is provided by our contributors and analysts for information purposes only. You are solely responsible for determining whether any trading assets, securities, strategy, or any other product is suitable for investing based on your own investment objectives and financial situation.
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