LLY Stock Up 7% Pre-Market As Mounjaro, Zepbound Sales Smash Expectations – Retail Bets On Run Toward $1,000

• Earnings of $8.55 per share far exceeded consensus estimates of $6.79 per share.
• Mounjaro revenue rose 125% to $8.7 billion globally in the first quarter.
• Lilly also raised its full-year 2026 outlook for both revenue and earnings per share.

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) surged more than 7% in pre-market trading on Thursday, as an earnings beat sparked strong investor enthusiasm, powered by soaring demand for its blockbuster GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.

If the levels hold at close, LLY shares could post their biggest single-day gains in nearly three months.

Mounjaro Sales Sees Triple-Digit Growth

First-quarter revenue rose 56% to $19.8 billion, well above Wall Street’s estimates of $17.8 billion, according to Fiscal.ai data. Earnings of $8.55 per share far exceeded consensus estimates of $6.79 per share.

Demand for its blockbuster drugs remained strong, with Mounjaro revenue rising 125% to $8.7 billion globally, including $4.2 billion in the U.S. Zepbound also delivered solid gains, with U.S. revenue up 79% to $4.1 billion.

On the heels of a smashing Q1, Lilly raised its full-year 2026 outlook, now expecting revenue between $82 billion and $85 billion, up from its earlier guidance of $80 billion to $83 billion. The company also expects earnings per share in the range of $35 to $37, compared to $33.50 - $35.

Fiscal.ai data shows street expectation for FY 2026 revenue is pegged at $81.7 billion, and EPS at $34.53.

Push Beyond Obesity Pipeline

Lilly has been ramping up its 2026 dealmaking, marking its sixth acquisition with the purchase of Ajax Therapeutics earlier this month, as it looks to expand beyond weight-loss drugs and strengthen its oncology pipeline. Lilly had earlier acquired Orna Therapeutics and Kelonia to expand its oncology pipeline.

Revenue from its key drugs across immunology, oncology, and neuroscience surged 160% in Q1.

Management was also optimistic about Lilly’s GLP-1 pill, Foundayo.

“A key milestone was the U.S. FDA approval of Foundayo—the only approved GLP-1 pill that can be taken any time of day, without food and water restrictions. Foundayo will meaningfully expand the number of people who can benefit from GLP-1s,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO.

How Did Retail Traders React?

Retail sentiment on Stocktwits turned ‘extremely bullish’ from ‘bullish’ a day earlier, amid ‘high’ message volumes.

One user called the results a “powerful beat” and expects the stock to climb to $1,000. It's currently at $914.

However, another user raised concerns about Foundayo’s market performance amid competition with Novo Nordisk (NVO). According to a Bloomberg report last week, Lilly’s new weight loss pill is seeing a muted early rollout.

The stock has been under some selling pressure so far this year, shedding more than 21%.

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