The advent of GLP-1 weight-loss medicine via Novo Nordisk (NVO +1.74%) could have modified the pharmaceutical trade perpetually. Even though there are drawbacks to taking GLP-1 medicine (corresponding to muscle loss), they’re seen as a miracle drug via many that have struggled for years with weight problems. That mentioned, which corporate is the most productive funding? Listed here are 3 alternative ways to play the gap in 2026.
Eli Lilly: Nonetheless the trade chief
Novo Nordisk was once first to marketplace, however Eli Lilly‘s (LLY 0.52%) GLP-1 shot proved simpler. And when Novo Nordisk confronted manufacturing problems, the verdict to make a choice Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound over Novo Nordisk’s Wagovy become even more straightforward. The expansion of Mounjaro and Zepbound has been not anything wanting exceptional, with Mounjaro’s gross sales up 125% within the first quarter of 2026, and Zepbound up via 80%.
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Eli Lilly not too long ago offered a GLP-1 tablet, nevertheless it has a distinct energetic factor, and uptake has been just a little slow (extra in this underneath). Nonetheless, the power of Mounjaro and Zepbound stays spectacular, and traders have taken realize. If you want to stick to trade leaders, Eli Lilly might be the fitting selection to your portfolio. The only downside is that the inventory is pricey, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 35x, as income seem to be catching as much as the inventory’s lofty payment.
These days’s Trade
(-0.52%) $-5.31
Present Worth
$1016.10
Key Information Issues
Marketplace Cap
$962B
Day’s Vary
$1003.70 – $1037.88
52wk Vary
$623.78 – $1133.95
Quantity
96K
Avg Vol
3.1M
Gross Margin
82.83%
Dividend Yield
0.63%
Novo Nordisk: The underdog is making a return
Novo Nordisk was once the primary to marketplace with a GLP-1 shot, and it was once the primary to marketplace with a GLP-1 tablet. Particularly, the drug corporate’s tablet accommodates the similar drug because the shot, so docs and sufferers have already got a large number of details about the tablet to paintings off of. And it seems that to be simpler than Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 tablet. Uptake for the Wagovy tablet has been very sturdy and seems to be attracting new consumers to weight-loss medicine.
These days’s Trade
(1.74%) $0.77
Present Worth
$45.05
Key Information Issues
Marketplace Cap
$149B
Day’s Vary
$44.45 – $45.24
52wk Vary
$35.12 – $81.44
Quantity
355K
Avg Vol
20M
Gross Margin
81.84%
Dividend Yield
4.07%
The issue is that pricing pressures and patent expirations are anticipated to be important headwinds for Novo Nordisk within the close to time period. However with the inventory down 45% from its 52-week excessive, Novo Nordisk is usually a sturdy turnaround alternative within the GLP-1 house, given the long-term enlargement attainable of GLP-1 medicine. The P/E is a much more interesting 10x, for the ones with a price focal point.
Viking Theraputics: The GLP-1 start-up
In case you are an actual risk-taker, Viking Theraputics (VKTX +3.66%) is a money-losing pharma start-up with GLP-1 medicine in medical trials. The inventory has skilled dramatic payment swings during the last 12 months however has long gone actually nowhere, up not up to 1% as of this writing. Then again, the fee swings recommend {that a} leap forward would most probably result in a subject matter percentage payment advance. Most effective essentially the most competitive enlargement traders must most likely imagine this one.
These days’s Trade
(3.66%) $1.04
Present Worth
$29.44
Key Information Issues
Marketplace Cap
$3.3B
Day’s Vary
$28.61 – $29.68
52wk Vary
$22.96 – $43.15
Quantity
1.6M
Avg Vol
2.4M
A number of GLP-1 choices
In case you are having a look to spend money on the GLP-1 house, the most productive steadiness of threat and praise is perhaps Novo Nordisk. Then again, Eli Lilly is the present chief within the area of interest, a place the corporate is the use of to diversify its drug pipeline. And for some traders, high-risk Viking Theraputics is usually a wildcard that will pay off.
