Novo Nordisk Shares Decline Amid Earnings Miss and Guidance Cut

Novo Nordisk's stock mirrored the trajectory of its flagship weight-loss drug Wegovy on Wednesday, shedding nearly 4% after reporting lackluster earnings. The Danish pharmaceutical giant posted Q2 revenue of $11.9 billion—a 13% annual increase but below analyst expectations. Net income ROSE 32% year-over-year to $4.1 billion, missing consensus estimates by $0.03 per share.

Investor sentiment soured further following the company's late-July guidance reduction for both sales and operating profit. The downward revision reflects intensifying competition in the lucrative obesity drug market where Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic have driven Novo's double-digit growth. Market participants now question whether the firm can maintain its dominance as rivals enter the space.