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Eli Lilly & Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 54% on volume: Revenue was $17.60 billion, up 54%, from 62% volume growth partly offset by 10% lower realized prices. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $7.02: Non-GAAP net income was $6.31 billion and EPS $7.02, against $1.06 billion and $1.18 in Q3 2024. Source
  • U.S. Zepbound revenue more than tripled: U.S. Zepbound revenue rose 184% to $3.57 billion, mainly from higher demand, partly offset by lower realized prices. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 82.9%: Reported gross margin was 82.9% of revenue, up 1.9 points, mainly from product mix, partly offset by lower realized prices. Source
  • U.S. prices down high single digits: Excluding a favorable one-time rebate and discount adjustment in Q3 2024, U.S. price declined by high single digits. Source
  • Orforglipron positive in four Phase 3 trials: Four Phase 3 trials of orforglipron produced positive results across type 2 diabetes and obesity, with obesity submissions planned by year-end. Source

“We advanced orforglipron through four additional Phase 3 trials, enabling global obesity submissions by year-end, and we achieved U.S. FDA approval of Inluriyo (imlunestrant) - marking key progress across our pipeline.”

David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull-year 2025$63.0 billion to $63.5 billionRaised from $60.0 to $62.0 billion
Performance margin (reported) Sourcefull-year 202543.5% to 44.5%Raised from 42.0% to 43.5%
Performance margin (non-GAAP) Sourcefull-year 202545.0% to 46.0%Raised from 43.0% to 44.5%
Other income (expense), reported Sourcefull-year 2025($700) to ($600) millionLowered from ($750) to ($650) million
Other income (expense), non-GAAP Sourcefull-year 2025($700) to ($600) millionKept
Effective tax rate Sourcefull-year 2025approximately 19% reported; approximately 17% non-GAAPKept
EPS (reported, diluted) Sourcefull-year 2025$21.80 to $22.50Raised from $20.85 to $22.10
EPS (non-GAAP, diluted) Sourcefull-year 2025$23.00 to $23.70Raised from $21.75 to $23.00
Acquired IPR&D included in guidance Sourcecharges through Q3 2025$2.38 billion or $2.57 per shareRaised from $1.73 billion or $1.86 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 revenue guidance raised to $63.0 billion to $63.5 billion from $60.0 billion to $62.0 billion, citing underlying performance and foreign exchange rates. Source
  • Guidance raised: Reported EPS guidance raised to $21.80 to $22.50 and non-GAAP EPS guidance raised to $23.00 to $23.70. Source
  • Guidance raised: Reported performance margin guidance raised to 43.5% to 44.5%; non-GAAP raised to 45.0% to 46.0%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Estimated effective tax rate kept at about 19% reported and 17% non-GAAP. Source
  • Guidance kept: Non-GAAP other income (expense) guidance kept at $700 million to $600 million of expense. Source
  • New: The company announced it will acquire Adverum Biotechnologies. Source
  • New: Plans announced for a $6.5 billion active pharmaceutical ingredient facility in Texas and a $5 billion facility in Virginia. Source
  • New: Anne White is retiring as Executive Vice President and President, Lilly Neuroscience. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 54% on volume: Revenue was $17.60 billion, up 54%, from 62% volume growth partly offset by 10% lower realized prices. Source
  • Reported EPS rose to $6.21: Reported net income was $5.58 billion and diluted EPS $6.21, against $970.3 million and $1.07 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose to $7.02: Non-GAAP net income was $6.31 billion and EPS $7.02, against $1.06 billion and $1.18 in Q3 2024. Source
  • Acquired IPR&D charges fell: Acquired IPR&D charges were $655.7 million, mainly from the SiteOne Therapeutics acquisition, down from the Q3 2024 charges tied to Morphic Holding. Source

Products and regional revenue

  • U.S. Zepbound revenue more than tripled: U.S. Zepbound revenue rose 184% to $3.57 billion, mainly from higher demand, partly offset by lower realized prices. Source
  • Mounjaro outside U.S. grew with volume: Mounjaro revenue outside the U.S. reached $2.97 billion, up from $728.0 million, driven mainly by volume growth. Source
  • Outside-U.S. revenue up 74%: Revenue outside the U.S. rose 74% to $6.30 billion, from 66% volume growth and a 6% favorable foreign exchange effect. Source
  • Verzenio U.S. sales flat: U.S. Verzenio revenue was $880.3 million against $878.8 million, with higher volume offset by lower realized prices. Source
  • Milestone and divestiture added revenue: Revenue included a $200.0 million Jardiance sales milestone and $180.0 million from divesting Cialis rights in select markets outside the U.S. Source
  • Retail pick-up for Zepbound launched: LillyDirect and Walmart Pharmacy launched a retail pick-up option with direct-to-consumer pricing for Zepbound. Source

“We continue to increase manufacturing capacity, announcing new facilities in Virginia and Texas and an expansion of our site in Puerto Rico.”

David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose to 82.9%: Reported gross margin was 82.9% of revenue, up 1.9 points, mainly from product mix, partly offset by lower realized prices. Source
  • R&D spending up 27%: R&D expense rose 27% to $3.47 billion, or 19.7% of revenue, reflecting investment across early and late-stage pipeline. Source
  • Selling costs up 31% on launches: Marketing, selling and administrative expense rose 31% to $2.74 billion, mainly promotion for current and upcoming launches. Source
  • U.S. prices down high single digits: Excluding a favorable one-time rebate and discount adjustment in Q3 2024, U.S. price declined by high single digits. Source

Pipeline and regulatory progress

  • Orforglipron positive in four Phase 3 trials: Four Phase 3 trials of orforglipron produced positive results across type 2 diabetes and obesity, with obesity submissions planned by year-end. Source
  • Verzenio survival benefit reported: Verzenio increased overall survival in high-risk early breast cancer when given for two years, per the announcements listed in the release. Source
  • Olomorasib receives breakthrough designation: The FDA granted olomorasib Breakthrough Therapy designation for certain newly diagnosed KRAS G12C-mutant lung cancers. Source

Manufacturing and capital returns

  • Texas active ingredient plant planned: A new $6.5 billion facility to make active pharmaceutical ingredients is planned in Texas. Source
  • Virginia plant and Puerto Rico expansion: A $5 billion Virginia facility is planned, and more than $1.2 billion will go into the Puerto Rico site for oral medicine capacity. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised 15%: Dividends paid were $1.50 per share in Q3 2025, up from $1.30 a year earlier. Source

Deals, AI and leadership

  • Adverum acquisition announced: The company announced an agreement to acquire Adverum Biotechnologies, alongside a San Diego Gateway Labs opening. Source
  • NVIDIA AI supercomputer partnership: Lilly is partnering with NVIDIA to build an AI supercomputer for medicine discovery and delivery. Source
  • TuneLab AI platform launched: The TuneLab platform gives biotech companies access to AI-enabled drug discovery models built from over $1 billion of research investment. Source
  • Neuroscience head to retire: Anne White, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Neuroscience, is retiring. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2025

  • Orforglipron obesity submissions by year-end: The company plans to submit orforglipron to global regulators for obesity by the end of 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Mounjaro revenue, Q3 2025 Source$6,515.1 million, up 109%
Zepbound revenue, Q3 2025 Source$3,588.1 million, up 185%
Verzenio revenue, Q3 2025 Source$1,470.2 million, up 7%
Key Products revenue, Q3 2025 Source$11.98 billion
Inluriyo FDA approval SourceApproved for advanced or metastatic ESR1-mutated breast cancer
Omvoh FDA approval SourceSingle-injection maintenance regimen, ulcerative colitis
Kisunla EU marketing authorization SourceEarly symptomatic Alzheimer's disease

Risks management discussed

  • External: Guidance excludes policy shifts, including pharmaceutical sector tariffs, that could affect the business. Source
  • Regulatory: Q3 special charges of $364.9 million were mainly a litigation charge, plus Verve acquisition and integration costs. Source
  • Financial: U.S. tax law changes enacted in the quarter raised the Q3 2025 effective tax rate. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The Q2 release said Lilly would acquire Verve. The Q3 release refers to costs tied to the closing of that acquisition. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it plans to submit orforglipron to global regulators for obesity by the end of the year. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.