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Pfizer Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 lowered, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 6% on COVID products: Third-quarter revenues were $16.7 billion, down 6% reported and 7% operationally, mainly from lower COVID-19 product revenue. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 18% to $0.87: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.87 against $1.06, down 18%. Reported diluted EPS was $0.62 against $0.78, down 21%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted diluted EPS guidance was raised and narrowed to $3.00 to $3.15, with the revenue range unchanged. Source
  • Eliquis rose 22% operationally: Eliquis revenue was $2.0 billion, up 22% operationally, on higher global demand and favorable U.S. net price from the Part D coverage gap change. Source
  • Cost of sales fell to 25% of revenue: Reported cost of sales was 25.0% of revenues, against 29.7%, helped by a favorable accrued royalty revision and a lower Comirnaty and Paxlovid sales mix. Adjusted was 23.9%, against 27.5%. Source
  • Metsera deal at $47.50 per share: Pfizer agreed to acquire Metsera for $47.50 cash per share, an enterprise value of about $4.9 billion. A contingent value right of up to $22.50 per share was included. Source
  • Novo Nordisk rival bid and lawsuits: Novo Nordisk made a competing Metsera proposal on October 25. Pfizer filed lawsuits, and said it is confident in the merits of these cases. Source

“I am proud of Pfizer’s leadership as the first in our industry to reach an agreement with the U.S. Government, which we believe provides greater clarity for our business.”

Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceFull-year 2025$61.0 to $64.0 billionKept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull-year 2025$3.00 to $3.15Raised from $2.90 to $3.10
Adjusted SI&A expenses SourceFull-year 2025$13.1 to $14.1 billionKept
Adjusted R&D expenses SourceFull-year 2025$10.0 to $11.0 billionLowered from $10.4 to $11.4 billion
Effective tax rate on Adjusted income SourceFull-year 2025Approximately 11.0%Lowered from Approximately 13.0%
Diluted weighted-average shares SourceFull-year 2025Approximately 5.71 billion sharesLowered from Approximately 5.72 billion shares
Share repurchases SourceFull-year 2025No share repurchases in 2025Kept
Revenue impact from generic and biosimilar competition SourceFull-year 2025Approximately $0.4 billionLowered from Approximately $0.5 billion
Overall anticipated net cost savings SourceBy end of 2027Approximately $7.2 billionKept
Net cost savings from cost realignment program SourceBy end of 2025Approximately $4.5 billionKept
Manufacturing Optimization Program net savings SourceBy end of 2027Approximately $1.5 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted diluted EPS guidance was raised to $3.00 to $3.15 from $2.90 to $3.10. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted R&D expense guidance was lowered to $10.0 to $11.0 billion from $10.4 to $11.4 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The guided effective tax rate on Adjusted income was lowered to approximately 11.0% from approximately 13.0%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2025 revenue guidance was reaffirmed at $61.0 to $64.0 billion. Source
  • New: Pfizer entered a definitive agreement to acquire Metsera, a clinical-stage obesity and cardiometabolic company. Source
  • New: Pfizer reached a voluntary agreement with the U.S. Government on drug pricing, a direct purchasing platform and tariff grace period. Source
  • New: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period for the Metsera acquisition. Source
  • New: Novo Nordisk made a competing proposal for Metsera on October 25, and Pfizer filed lawsuits in response. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 6% on COVID products: Third-quarter revenues were $16.7 billion, down 6% reported and 7% operationally, mainly from lower COVID-19 product revenue. Source
  • Non-COVID portfolio grew 4%: Commercial execution lifted the non-COVID portfolio 4% operationally. Nine-month revenue was $45.0 billion, down 2%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 18% to $0.87: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.87 against $1.06, down 18%. Reported diluted EPS was $0.62 against $0.78, down 21%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted diluted EPS guidance was raised and narrowed to $3.00 to $3.15, with the revenue range unchanged. Source
  • Nine-month reported net income up 24%: Nine-month reported net income was $9.4 billion, against $7.6 billion a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.56, up 3%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Biopharma revenue down 6%: Biopharma revenue was $16.3 billion, down 6% reported and 7% operationally. Pfizer CentreOne rose 21% to $344 million; Pfizer Ignite had no revenue. Source
  • U.S. down 11%, international up 6%: U.S. revenue was $10.7 billion, down 11%. International revenue was $6.0 billion, up 6% reported and 2% operationally. Source
  • Alliance and royalty revenue grew: Alliance revenues were $2.3 billion, up 21%. Royalty revenues were $436 million, up 13%. Source

“Additionally, our recent strategic actions have strengthened opportunities to advance innovation that could address significant medical needs in high growth markets”

Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer

Products and customers

  • Eliquis rose 22% operationally: Eliquis revenue was $2.0 billion, up 22% operationally, on higher global demand and favorable U.S. net price from the Part D coverage gap change. Source
  • Nurtec ODT/Vydura up 22%: Nurtec ODT/Vydura revenue was $412 million, up 22% operationally, on U.S. demand and recent launches in certain international markets. Source
  • Vyndaqel family up 7%: Vyndaqel family revenue was $1.6 billion, up 7% operationally, on continuing uptake in patient diagnosis and improved U.S. patient affordability. Source
  • Paxlovid fell 55%: Paxlovid revenue was $1.2 billion, down 55% operationally, also reflecting a stockpile purchase that did not recur from the prior year. Source
  • Comirnaty fell 20%: Comirnaty revenue was $1.2 billion, down 20% operationally. The decline was partly offset by a lower returns provision and higher U.S. market share. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Cost of sales fell to 25% of revenue: Reported cost of sales was 25.0% of revenues, against 29.7%, helped by a favorable accrued royalty revision and a lower Comirnaty and Paxlovid sales mix. Adjusted was 23.9%, against 27.5%. Source
  • SI&A and R&D spending fell: Adjusted SI&A expenses fell 3% operationally on lower marketing and corporate spending. Reported R&D expenses were $2.5 billion, down 2%, on pipeline focus. Source
  • Acquired IPR&D charge of $1.35 billion: Acquired in-process R&D expense was $1.4 billion, mostly the 3SBio in-licensing charge. Adjusted results include this charge. Source
  • Legal charges and negative tax rate: Other deductions included legal matter charges, mainly product liability. The reported effective tax rate was (6.5)% on jurisdictional mix and tax benefits. Source

“Our third-quarter performance demonstrates our continued focus on execution and financial discipline.”

David Denton, CFO and EVP of Pfizer

Demand and vaccine policy

  • CDC panel backed broad COVID vaccination: A CDC advisory committee voted in September for COVID-19 vaccination of people six months and older, on a shared clinical decision basis. The CDC director adopted the vote. Source
  • Comirnaty eligible population narrowed: The operational revenue decline was mainly driven by a narrower U.S. COVID-19 vaccination scope, which reduced the eligible population for Comirnaty. Source
  • Lower infections cut Paxlovid demand: Paxlovid demand fell with lower COVID-19 infections in the U.S. and international markets, and with lower international government purchases. Source

Pipeline and regulatory milestones

  • Padcev Phase 3 met primary endpoint: The EV-303 trial in muscle-invasive bladder cancer showed a 60% reduction in recurrence, progression or death, with safety consistent with prior reports. Source
  • Tukysa Phase 3 met primary endpoint: HER2CLIMB-05 in first-line HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer improved progression-free survival versus placebo, with generally consistent safety. Source
  • Xtandi overall survival benefit: Final EMBARK results showed 8-year overall survival of 78.9% with Xtandi plus leuprolide, versus 69.5% with leuprolide alone. Xtandi alone did not reach significance. Source
  • Inclacumab Phase 3 did not meet endpoint: The THRIVE-131 study in sickle cell disease did not meet its vaso-occlusive crisis reduction endpoint. Inclacumab was generally well tolerated. Source
  • FDA approved updated Comirnaty: The FDA approved the LP.8.1-adapted COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older and for high-risk individuals aged 5 through 64. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Dividends of $7.3 billion paid: Cash dividends totaled $7.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025, or $1.29 per share of common stock. Source
  • Deals and internal R&D funded: Pfizer invested $7.2 billion in internal R&D and about $1.6 billion in business development in the first nine months, mostly the 3SBio deal. Source
  • No buybacks, $3.3 billion authorization left: No share repurchases were completed in 2025 to date. The remaining authorization was $3.3 billion as of November 4, 2025. Source

Strategy, deals and legal matters

  • Metsera deal at $47.50 per share: Pfizer agreed to acquire Metsera for $47.50 cash per share, an enterprise value of about $4.9 billion. A contingent value right of up to $22.50 per share was included. Source
  • Metsera funded by cash and debt: Pfizer expects to finance Metsera with available cash and new debt. Closing remains subject to customary conditions, including Metsera shareholder approval. Source
  • Novo Nordisk rival bid and lawsuits: Novo Nordisk made a competing Metsera proposal on October 25. Pfizer filed lawsuits, and said it is confident in the merits of these cases. Source
  • U.S. government pricing agreement: Pfizer agreed to offer comparable drug prices to other developed countries and parity pricing for new launches, and to join the TrumpRx.gov platform. Source
  • Tariff grace period tied to U.S. investment: The agreement gives a three-year grace period from tariffs under a Section 232 investigation, provided Pfizer invests further in U.S. manufacturing. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2025

  • Metsera shareholder approval needed: Closing remains subject to customary conditions, including approval by Metsera shareholders. Source
  • Court action on Metsera termination: Pfizer asked the Delaware Court of Chancery for a temporary restraining order to block Metsera from ending the merger agreement. Source
  • Continued debt reduction planned: The company expects to keep de-levering in a prudent manner to maintain balanced capital allocation. Source
  • Buybacks possible but not in guidance: Pfizer keeps flexibility for business development and possible share repurchases. Current guidance assumes none in 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Eliquis revenue, third quarter 2025 Source$2,015 million, up 25% reported and 22% operationally
Paxlovid revenue, third quarter 2025 Source$1,225 million, down 55% operationally
Comirnaty revenue, third quarter 2025 Source$1,151 million, down 19% reported and 20% operationally
Vyndaqel family revenue, third quarter 2025 Source$1,591 million, up 10% reported and 7% operationally
Nurtec ODT/Vydura revenue, third quarter 2025 Source$412 million, up 22%
Padcev EFS hazard ratio, EV-303 SourceHR 0.40; 60% reduction in risk of recurrence, progression or death
Tukysa HER2CLIMB-05 primary endpoint SourceMet (progression-free survival)
Xtandi 8-year overall survival, EMBARK Source78.9% with Xtandi plus leuprolide; 69.5% with leuprolide alone
Inclacumab THRIVE-131 primary endpoint SourceNot met
Research and development expenses, third quarter 2025 Source$2,546 million reported; $2,486 million Adjusted
Loss of exclusivity revenue impact, 2025 guidance SourceApproximately $0.4 billion
Comirnaty 2025-2026 regulatory approval SourceFDA approved, August 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: U.S. Vyndaqel net price fell because of higher manufacturer discounts under the IRA Part D Redesign and new payer contracts. Source
  • Operational: A $260 million intangible impairment was recorded on inclacumab after its Phase 3 study results. Source
  • External: Guidance absorbs the impact of currently imposed tariffs from China, Canada, and Mexico. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management states the R&D re-organization savings of about $500 million remain on track for full realization by end of 2026. Source
  • On track: Phase 1 of the Manufacturing Optimization Program is on track for about $1.5 billion of net savings by end of 2027, with savings contributing in the third quarter. 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.