**Eli Lilly Prepares for Crucial Earnings Report: Can 2025 Be a Year of Redemption?**

As pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly approaches its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings announcement on February 6, 2025, investors and analysts are watching closely. With a challenging 2024 behind it—marked by missed revenue targets and a slower-than-expected rollout of its flagship weight-loss drug, Zepbound—the company faces mounting pressure to prove it can regain momentum in the coming year.

At the core of investor concerns is Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s key contender in the booming GLP-1 weight-loss drug market. Initially expected to rival Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, Zepbound stumbled in its early launch stages, leading to disappointing sales figures. The company had already warned in January that fourth-quarter revenues would fall below expectations, exacerbating concerns after a lackluster third quarter in 2024. As a result, Eli Lilly’s stock fell 15% from its August 2024 peak of $972.53, shaking investor confidence.

“It’s clear that demand for GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound exists, but Eli Lilly faces real challenges in ramping up supply and meeting investor expectations,” said Courtney Breen, an analyst at Bernstein. The company is not relying solely on Zepbound, however. Promising developments include tirzepatide, Zepbound’s primary ingredient, and orforglipron, an experimental obesity pill that could offer an easier-to-produce oral alternative, potentially reshaping the market.

Despite last year’s hurdles, a sense of optimism is emerging in 2025. Eli Lilly’s stock has climbed 9% so far this year, and analysts predict strong growth for both Zepbound and Mounjaro, another top-performing diabetes and weight-loss drug. Forecasts for 2025 estimate Zepbound sales to reach $10.39 billion—double its 2024 performance—while Mounjaro is expected to jump from $11.63 billion to an impressive $18.17 billion.

Competition remains fierce, particularly from Novo Nordisk, which continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities. However, Eli Lilly is seeing improvements in its supply chain, and Zepbound is no longer classified as “in shortage” by the FDA—a notable advantage over Novo Nordisk, which is still working through supply limitations.

Beyond weight-loss treatments, Eli Lilly has a diverse pipeline of therapies that could bolster its long-term success. Verzenio is gaining traction in the breast cancer market, Omvoh shows promise for ulcerative colitis treatment, and Kisunla—its Alzheimer’s drug—continues to attract investor interest as clinical trials progress. These products could provide critical growth opportunities outside the competitive obesity drug space.

Stock performance predictions add another layer of intrigue. Analysts such as Wells Fargo’s Mohit Bansal expect slightly stronger-than-anticipated earnings in 2025, estimating between $23 and $24.50 per share. If these projections hold, Eli Lilly may even explore a stock split, as suggested by Bank of America, to make its shares more accessible to investors.

As the February 6 earnings report approaches, key questions loom: Can Eli Lilly establish itself as the dominant force in weight-loss treatments? Will its broader pharmaceutical portfolio help offset past concerns? Investors, healthcare professionals, and industry watchers alike are eager for answers. The next few weeks will be critical in determining whether Eli Lilly can bounce back from a turbulent 2024 and solidify its place as an innovation leader in the pharmaceutical space.