Ethereum traded near $1,764.43 on July 5, according to crypto.news market data. The token was up 0.2% over 24 hours and 11.58% over seven days. Its market cap stood near $212.91 billion, while 24-hour volume was about $11.16 billion.

The latest daily range showed ETH moving between $1,751.18 and $1,801.59. That placed the token close to the $1,800 resistance area after a recovery from the June low near $1,500.

ETH/USDT remains in a broader downtrend from the May highs. Still, the short-term chart has improved after buyers defended the $1,500 region and pushed price back above $1,700.

Liquidation clusters keep ETH boxed in

Traders are watching two large liquidity zones around Ethereum. One sits above price near $1,800 to $1,830, while another sits below around $1,700. This keeps ETH inside a narrow range where quick moves can reverse fast.

One trader said, “As long as Ethereum stays in this range, I’d expect chop and fakeouts.” The same view points to a bigger move only after one side of the liquidity zone gets cleared.

Crypto.news previously reported that Ethereum liquidation heatmap data showed large leverage clusters near $1,700 to $1,760 and another major zone near $1,800. Those levels remain close to the current price range.

Professor Crypto also said ETH has started to build momentum after defending the $1,500 area. He said bulls need to reclaim and hold $1,800 before the market can target $1,900 to $2,000.

Momentum improves, but confirmation is limited

The daily chart shows ETH struggling to extend above $1,780 to $1,800. The latest candle opened near $1,780.64, reached $1,780.75, and dipped to $1,748.79 before stabilizing.

Nearby support sits around $1,700. A loss of that level could return focus to $1,600 and then $1,550. A clean break above $1,800 may bring $1,830 to $1,850 into focus.

The MACD continues to improve. The histogram is positive near 30.20, while the MACD line stays above the signal line. That shows short-term bullish momentum.

Still, the MACD line remains below zero. This means ETH is in a recovery phase, not a confirmed trend reversal. Volume near 315,730 ETH also remains moderate, so buyers still need stronger activity to confirm continuation.

Source: TradingView

Crypto.news reported that Ethereum recently targeted $1,800 after a rare TD buy signal. The report also said failure to hold $1,700 could return focus to $1,650 and the lower support area near $1,500.

Vitalik’s Lean Ethereum roadmap adds long-term focus

Ethereum’s price action also came as Vitalik Buterin shared a new long-term roadmap called Lean Ethereum. The plan focuses on faster verification, stronger security and better scalability over the next several years.

The roadmap includes native recursive STARKs, post-quantum cryptography, new virtual machine designs and a larger state architecture. Reports also said the upcoming Glasterdam upgrade may raise Ethereum’s gas limit.

The plan does not guarantee short-term price gains. It does, however, shift part of the discussion away from daily ETH moves and toward Ethereum’s technical future.

For now, ETH traders remain focused on the same near-term levels. Ethereum needs to hold $1,700, break $1,800, and attract stronger volume before the recovery can target the $1,900 to $2,000 zone.

Key Takeaways

• ASTS shares are hovering near $85.13, while optimistic projections suggest a fair value reaching $170 — approximately 50% upside from present levels
• Recent achievements include full operational status for BlueBird satellites and establishment of a subsidized joint venture with Rakuten in Japan
• CNBC’s Jim Cramer labeled ASTS “a great speculative stock,” expressing confidence the firm could achieve profitability in under two years
• While Pictet Asset Management boosted holdings by 146.8% during Q1, Wall Street consensus remains at “Reduce” with a mean target of $85.09
• Company insiders have liquidated more than $280 million in stock over the past quarter, with the CFO alone selling $4.3 million worth in June

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) started Friday’s session at $85.13, almost perfectly aligned with the Street’s consensus price objective of $85.09 — creating an intriguing juncture for evaluating the investment opportunity.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc., ASTS

The satellite communications company has experienced significant developments recently. The firm’s BlueBird satellite constellation has achieved full operational capability, while simultaneously finalizing a Japanese joint venture partnership with Rakuten that includes government financial support. These represent tangible achievements for an enterprise still advancing toward full commercial deployment.

Looking at recent performance, ASTS gained 19.15% over the trailing week. However, extending the timeframe to 30 days reveals a contrasting narrative — shares declined 20.65% across that period. The 12-month view shows an 86.69% advance, demonstrating substantial longer-term appreciation despite recent volatility.

The Bull Case: $170 Valuation Target

An optimistic analyst framework establishes fair value at $170 per share — representing nearly 100% potential appreciation from current trading levels. This projection depends on AST successfully expanding its BlueBird satellite network, transforming carrier agreements into stable recurring revenue streams, and ultimately achieving telecommunications-scale operations. The valuation employs a 7.108% discount rate.

The company’s financial position lends some credibility to this outlook. According to March 31, 2026 figures, AST maintained approximately $3.5 billion in cash reserves, with management stating no plans for additional convertible debt issuance during the current year. For a company in aggressive expansion mode, this represents considerable financial flexibility.

Yet valuation concerns persist. The price-to-book ratio stands at 12.2x, dramatically exceeding the US telecom sector’s 1.6x average. Even relative to immediate competitors at 12.6x, the premium appears justified only marginally. This represents an elevated multiple for an enterprise still generating substantial losses.

Wall Street Split, Executives Exiting

Analyst opinions vary considerably. Roth MKM maintains a buy recommendation with a $108 price target. Barclays holds an underweight stance at $65. Deutsche Bank downgraded from buy to hold while reducing its target to $106. UBS remains neutral at $80. MarketBeat’s aggregated consensus settles on “Reduce.”

First quarter results disappointed investors. AST disclosed a per-share loss of $0.66, substantially missing the consensus forecast of -$0.23. Revenue totaled $14.73 million versus analyst expectations of $39.01 million. Despite year-over-year revenue expansion of 1,952%, the significant shortfall drew attention.

Insider transaction activity has been uniformly negative. Over the previous three months, company insiders liquidated more than 3.1 million shares totaling approximately $280.6 million. CFO Andrew Martin Johnson sold 45,809 shares at $93.81 per share on June 11, decreasing his position by 8.34%.

Institutional activity presents a contrasting picture. Pictet Asset Management expanded its stake by 146.8% in Q1, concluding the quarter holding 79,666 shares worth $6.6 million. Total institutional ownership represents 60.95% of outstanding shares.

Jim Cramer offered his perspective recently, characterizing ASTS as “a great speculative stock” while expressing belief the company could reach profitability within a two-year horizon. He positioned it as a high-risk, high-conviction play — emotion-driven rather than data-driven.

The 52-week trading range extends from $36.08 to $133.86. The 50-day moving average sits at $87.38 while the 200-day moving average is $89.44. Current analyst projections anticipate a full-year per-share loss of $1.47.

South Africa’s tax authority, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), has published draft guidance that explains how crypto assets should be taxed under the country’s existing income tax and capital gains tax frameworks. The proposed rules—released on Wednesday—aim to offer interpretive clarity rather than create entirely new obligations.

In a draft notice issued for public comment, SARS indicates that many common crypto activities, including trading, swapping and using crypto to pay for goods or services, are likely to be treated as disposals for tax purposes. However, the tax outcome would still depend on the taxpayer’s specific facts and circumstances, with the guidance stressing that intention and conduct over time matter.

Key takeaways

• SARS says crypto should generally be treated as an intangible asset, not legal tender or foreign currency, for tax purposes.
• Many crypto activities may trigger tax events because they can be viewed as disposals under existing income tax and capital gains tax rules.
• Whether someone is a trader or a long-term investor hinges on behavior, transaction frequency, and the purpose of holding crypto.
• The draft also suggests crypto can potentially fall under donations tax if transferred as “property,” with donation tax rates between 20% and 25% depending on value.
• The guidance is open for public comment until August 31 and is not yet final law.

Why SARS is issuing draft crypto tax guidance

The publication of draft guidance marks another step in South Africa’s effort to bring greater consistency to crypto taxation. SARS says the intent is to clarify how the existing tax regime applies to crypto, particularly under the Income Tax Act, 1962, along with capital gains tax principles.

That matters for local holders because tax treatment can affect how individuals and businesses account for crypto-related gains and losses—especially when transactions involve frequent trading or payments. SARS also noted in 2024 that at least 5.8 million residents held crypto assets, underscoring the scale of potential compliance implications if the guidance is adopted.

Crypto is treated as property, not currency

A central theme in the draft is how SARS characterizes crypto assets legally for tax purposes. According to the guidance, crypto assets are not treated as legal tender or foreign currency. Instead, SARS describes them as intangible assets—“not ‘currency’” and therefore not “foreign currency.”

The guidance draws a line between the asset and its function. While crypto can be used in ways that resemble money—such as trading, settlement, or payment—it is still framed as a distinct tax object. That distinction can be important because different categories of assets may be taxed under different rules, and the tax analysis may change depending on how SARS views the nature of the instrument involved.

Disposals, trading activity, and the role of intent

The draft repeatedly returns to the idea that many real-world crypto actions are economically similar to selling or exchanging an asset, which under tax law can amount to a disposal. SARS states that most crypto activities—including trading, swapping and spending—are generally treated as disposals and may trigger tax events.

At the same time, SARS cautions that the tax treatment will not be uniform for everyone. A key determinant is the taxpayer’s intention. The guidance explains that classification as a trader versus a long-term investor depends on behavior, including how often transactions occur and why the crypto is being held.

SARS also highlights that intention is not necessarily static. In the agency’s view, tax assessment should consider the taxpayer’s intention:

• at the time of acquisition,
• at the time of selling or disposing, and
• while holding the asset—recognizing that a person’s purpose can change over time.

This approach implies that taxpayers who rotate between investment and active trading could face different outcomes for different periods or different lots, depending on the evidence available. SARS says this requires a broad assessment of all relevant facts and circumstances, which may increase the importance of record-keeping—particularly for frequent traders and those who use crypto for payments rather than holding it untouched.

Potential reach to donations tax

The draft guidance also extends beyond routine trading and investing. SARS indicates that crypto assets may fall within South Africa’s donations tax rules because the assets are treated as “property” under tax law.

Under the framework described in the guidance, donations tax rates range from 20% to 25%, depending on the value of the donation. While the draft does not claim that every crypto transfer will automatically be subject to donations tax, it signals that SARS is prepared to treat certain transfers as taxable events in the context of property transfers, not just in the context of sale-like disposals.

What happens next: comment period and broader market context

The guidance is not final legislation. SARS says the draft is open for public comment until August 31, and the agency positions it as interpretive clarity rather than an attempt to introduce new legal obligations.

For market participants, this timing is significant. Many taxpayers will be deciding how to interpret their existing tax position in the lead-up to any final version of the rules. If the final guidance meaningfully narrows or expands the application of concepts like intention, disposal treatment, or property classification, taxpayers may need to adjust accounting methods and documentation practices accordingly.

South Africa is also one of Africa’s most active crypto markets. According to Chainalysis’ October 2024 report, the country received about $26 billion in crypto value during the one-year period covered by the study. Chainalysis also found that institutional and professional-sized transactions were the largest contributors, particularly from late 2023 through the first quarter of 2024, pointing to a gradual shift toward larger and more structured activity.

That trend can heighten the importance of clear tax rules for compliance. As trading volumes rise and more professional participation enters the market, inconsistency or uncertainty in how transactions are classified can translate into larger compliance risks—making guidance like SARS’s particularly relevant not only for retail investors but also for intermediaries and more active market participants.

As the August 31 comment deadline approaches, holders, traders, and businesses will want to watch for how SARS responds to submissions and whether the final version tightens the standard for determining intent, the treatment of swaps and payments, and the boundaries between trading and long-term investing.

Key Takeaways

• NBIS shares surged 19.5% in June before erasing most gains during early July trading
• First quarter 2026 revenue skyrocketed 684% compared to the prior year, with full-year guidance exceeding $3 billion
• Strategic partnership with Meta Platforms valued at $27 billion plus support from Nvidia have fueled investor enthusiasm
• Year-to-date gains stand at 158%, though shares have retreated 16% in the most recent five-day period to approximately $215
• Analyst consensus leans toward Moderate Buy with a mean price target of $237.38, suggesting roughly 10% potential upside

Nebius Group (NBIS) has emerged as a 2026 market leader. This AI-focused cloud infrastructure provider has delivered a remarkable 158% gain since January, with shares more than quadrupling over the trailing twelve months. However, recent volatility serves as a stark reminder of the stock’s unpredictable nature.

Nebius Group N.V., NBIS

Shares experienced a 19.5% June rally before surrendering nearly all those advances during the opening week of July. Trading at approximately $215.62 as of July 5, NBIS declined almost 6% in a single session.

Recent selling pressure intensified following a Bloomberg report suggesting Meta Platforms might monetize its surplus computing resources. Certain market participants interpreted this news as potentially problematic for neocloud providers like Nebius. However, counterarguments emphasized that AI computational demand continues to significantly exceed available supply.

The situation carries notable complexity — Meta simultaneously represents one of Nebius’ most significant clients. Their collaboration encompasses a $27 billion commitment, with Meta supporting approximately 300 MW of AI infrastructure capacity. Additionally, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has actively facilitated connections between AI-focused enterprises and Nebius, further validating the company’s market position.

Astronomical Revenue Expansion

The financial performance of Nebius presents compelling evidence of growth. Second quarter 2025 revenue totaled merely $105 million. By the fourth quarter, annualized revenue reached a run rate of $1.25 billion. The first quarter of 2026 showcased extraordinary 684% year-over-year revenue acceleration.

Executive leadership now projects 2026 revenue will surpass $3 billion, with projections suggesting another potential doubling throughout 2027. Supporting this trajectory requires substantial data center infrastructure expansion.

Contracted power capacity projections have escalated dramatically from a minimum 1 GW last August to exceeding 4 GW currently. Nebius has already locked in 1.2 GW of power resources and real estate for a Pennsylvania-based AI facility. The company also formalized a strategic alliance with Bloom Energy to deploy supplementary power infrastructure for ongoing data center construction.

Analyst Community Remains Divided

Skepticism persists regarding current valuation sustainability. NBIS has achieved approximately $55 billion in market capitalization, representing an aggressive multiple even against projected 2027 revenue figures.

Northland analyst Nehal Choksi maintains a Buy rating alongside a $248 price target, highlighting Nebius’ strategic pivot toward more profitable AI-native clientele as justification for optimism. He views the Tavily acquisition as enhancing customer value propositions.

Morgan Stanley’s Josh Baer presents a contrasting perspective. His Hold rating accompanies a $144 price target — substantially below present trading levels. While Baer recognizes customer momentum, he contends that near-term objectives appear overly ambitious, citing unproven profitability metrics and substantial additional bookings needed to achieve guidance.

The Street’s aggregate assessment registers as Moderate Buy, comprising six Buy recommendations and four Hold ratings. The consensus price target of $237.38 suggests approximately 10% appreciation potential from current pricing.

Competitor CoreWeave operates within identical market segments, and any deceleration in AI infrastructure investment could disproportionately impact NBIS compared to the broader technology sector.

The stock’s 52-week trading range spanning $43.89 to $299.86 provides clear evidence of the extraordinary volatility investors have navigated.

Key Takeaways

• CRM shares opened Friday at $165.94, reflecting a ~41% decline year-to-date and a ~58% drop from the late-2024 high
• Guggenheim shifted its stance from Neutral to Buy, establishing a $228 target and arguing valuations reflect an “Armageddon” baseline
• Analyst consensus averages Moderate Buy, with a mean target near $254 — suggesting potential gains of 55%–57%
• Q1 results topped forecasts: EPS reached $3.88 against $3.13 estimates, while revenue hit $11.13B, climbing 13.3% year-over-year
• The company’s AI portfolio — spanning Agentforce and Slack-integrated agents — now drives more than $2.3B in ARR

Shares of Salesforce (CRM) began Friday trading at $165.94, marking a steep year-to-date decline of approximately 41% and a roughly 58% retreat from the late-2024 high around $276.80. The downturn stems primarily from investor anxiety that AI-powered agents might render conventional CRM platforms redundant.

Salesforce, Inc., CRM

Yet a growing number of Wall Street voices believe the market has overreacted.

This week, Guggenheim analyst John DiFucci elevated CRM from Neutral to Buy, establishing a $228 price objective. His rationale: trading at approximately 3.7x recurring revenue and 11x EV/NTM free cash flow, the valuation assumes perpetual 5% business contraction — a scenario he deems implausible.

Citigroup likewise moved Salesforce to Buy this week, joining a widening group of analysts convinced the correction has exceeded rational bounds.

Current Street consensus shows Moderate Buy, with 28 Buy ratings, 6 Hold recommendations, and 4 Sell calls.

The mean price objective hovers around $254, pointing to approximately 55%–57% potential appreciation from present levels. Citizens JMP maintains the Street’s highest conviction with a $315 target.

Strong Q1 Results and Forward Outlook

Salesforce delivered Q1 figures on May 27th that surpassed Wall Street projections. Earnings per share landed at $3.88, topping the $3.13 consensus by $0.75. Revenue totaled $11.13 billion, representing 13.3% year-over-year growth and edging past the $11.05 billion forecast.

For fiscal 2027, management projects full-year EPS in the $14.060–$14.120 range. Second-quarter fiscal 2027 guidance calls for EPS between $3.250 and $3.270.

The stock trades within a 52-week range of $146.32 to $276.80. The 50-day moving average currently stands at $173.23, while the 200-day moving average registers at $197.71.

AI Product Suite Driving Material Revenue

Despite apprehension surrounding AI-driven disruption, Salesforce’s proprietary AI offerings are already delivering substantial financial contributions. The product lineup — encompassing Agentforce, Data 360, Slack-integrated AI agents, and Headless 360 APIs — currently generates north of $2.3 billion in rapidly expanding annual recurring revenue.

This metric serves as a focal point for analysts arguing the enterprise isn’t merely protecting existing market share — it’s actively capturing emerging opportunities.

On the institutional front, Kepler Cheuvreux Suisse SA expanded its CRM position by 284.1% during Q1, acquiring an additional 12,568 shares to reach a total stake of 16,992 shares valued around $3.17 million.

Vanguard Group maintains 89.8 million shares worth approximately $23.8 billion. State Street controls 50 million shares, with institutional investors collectively representing 80.43% of outstanding equity.

Salesforce distributed a $0.44 quarterly dividend per share on July 2nd, equating to a $1.76 annualized payout and yielding roughly 1.1%.

The board greenlit a $25 billion buyback authorization in March, permitting repurchases of up to 14.1% of outstanding shares via open market transactions.

HC Wainwright took a contrarian stance, lowering CRM to Negative on June 18th — representing one of just four Sell-rated opinions currently assigned to the stock.

Artem Tolkachev is Chief RWA Officer at Falcon Finance, which builds collateral-first dollar infrastructure.

What actually determines whether a stablecoin gets used, not just parked, is whether the venues where people trade, borrow and hedge will accept it as collateral. Can you post it as margin on an exchange? Does it get a sensible loan-to-value in a lending market? Can it move across venues without losing so much to haircuts that it becomes irrelevant? Collateral acceptance is the line between a dollar token that sits in a wallet earning a coupon and one that does real work in the financial system.That difference, parked versus used, isn’t academic. A parked token is inert capital; a token the market accepts as collateral lets its holder trade, borrow and hedge without selling it, which is the whole reason to hold a dollar on-chain rather than dollars in a bank.

This is the variable almost no one is pricing in. We are about to add tens of billions of dollars in new stablecoin supply on the assumption that supply equals genuine adoption. It doesn’t. If that supply arrives while exchange and venue risk teams leave their collateral frameworks exactly where they are, the result won’t be adoption, it will be stranded collateral: tens of billions of dollars that are technically live, dutifully earning their 3%, and going precisely nowhere.

In the Nevada Supreme Court, Kalshi lost an effort a few days ago to halt a requirement that it block its customers in the state from much of the platform’s trading activity. The denial signed by three state justices on Wednesday said they were “not persuaded” by the business’ emergency motion, and Kalshi may also face legal trouble for failing to geofence its business by a court-imposed deadline.

In Ohio, Kalshi sued the gaming regulator on Monday — following earlier, parallel court arguments from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission — seeking to halt Ohio’s penalty against the company on accusations it’s run an unlicensed sports-betting operation.

The next day, a local court in Michigan granted that state’s gaming regulators a temporary, two-week restraining order against Kalshi to stop it from offering, advertising or facilitating sports betting there.

“Kalshi is targeting Michigan’s most vulnerable residents with sports betting dressed up as investing — and without intervention, the harm will keep getting worse,” said Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams in a Tuesday statement.

On the positive side for prediction platforms: The CFTC and its pro-innovation chairman, Mike Selig, are aggressively trying to make the case that Kalshi and the others belong under the sole jurisdiction of the agency as the U.S. derivatives regulator, arguing in its own lawsuits against several states that the contracts sold in the prediction markets are effectively the same as those an agricultural business might buy to hedge against future crop prices changes.

XRP traded near $1.13 on July 5, according to crypto.news market data. The token was down 1.04% over 24 hours but remained up 7.79% over seven days. Its market cap stood near $70.26 billion, while 24-hour volume was about $1.67 billion.

The price remains close to a key technical zone after a short recovery from the $1 area. XRP has moved back above short-term support, but it has not reclaimed the higher resistance area near $1.20.

A post from ChartNerd warned that XRP is close to printing a weekly 20 EMA and 200-week SMA death cross. The analyst said the 200-week SMA near $1.20 may turn from a support floor into a supply ceiling.

That level now matters because price remains below it. A weekly close above $1.20 would weaken the bearish case. Failure to reclaim it may keep sellers active during future rallies.

Weekly death cross keeps traders cautious

A death cross happens when a shorter moving average falls below a longer moving average. In this case, the focus is on the weekly 20 EMA and the 200-week SMA.

The signal does not confirm an instant drop by itself. It shows that medium-term momentum has weakened against the long-term trend. Traders often watch how price reacts after the cross appears.

ChartNerd said “the 200-week SMA ($1.20) now has the potential to flip from a historical support floor into a supply ceiling.” The analyst added that XRP must reclaim that area to reject the bearish setup.

The analyst also pointed to two past examples. In 2022, XRP formed a bottom shortly after a similar signal. In the 2018 to 2020 bear market, the final low came months later after repeated failures near the 200-week SMA.

Daily chart shows short-term recovery

The XRP/USDT daily chart still shows a broader downtrend, with lower highs from May into late June. The token recently bounced from the lower Bollinger Band near $1 and moved back above the middle band.

The latest candle is red near $1.1325, showing a pullback after the rebound. Price remains between the middle Bollinger Band near $1.1064 and the upper band near $1.2094.

Holding above $1.1064 keeps the short-term recovery alive. A drop below that level would weaken the bounce and bring the $1.00 to $1.03 area back into focus.

The MACD has improved, with the MACD line above the signal line and a positive histogram. Still, both lines remain below zero. That means momentum is recovering, but the wider trend has not fully turned.

Source: TradingView

Crypto.news data keeps $1.20 in focus

Crypto.news reported on July 3 that XRP climbed to a three-day high after Ripple’s European expansion and a fresh Supertrend buy signal. The report said XRP moved from around $1.02 on July 1 to an intraday high near $1.11.

A separate crypto.news analysis said XRP needed to reclaim $1.20 to $1.25 to support a stronger rebound. It also placed $1.10 as a key support level and warned that wider weakness could bring $0.90 and $0.80 back into view.

The same report said a monthly close above $1.40 would help confirm a stronger double-bottom case. Until then, XRP remains in a cautious zone, even after the recent rebound.

At press time, traders are watching three levels. XRP must hold $1.10 to protect the short-term bounce, reclaim $1.20 to weaken the death cross warning, and clear $1.40 to improve the larger structure.

Key Highlights

• Eli Lilly shares began trading at $1,208.37, marking a 14.4% gain year to date and outpacing the S&P 500
• GLP-1 therapies Mounjaro and Zepbound represented approximately 65% of first-quarter 2026 revenue
• The pharmaceutical giant introduced Foundayo, its oral GLP-1 treatment, with projections showing GLP-1 drugs will surpass 65% revenue share in Q2
• First-quarter earnings per share reached $8.55, exceeding analyst forecasts of $6.97, while revenue hit $19.80 billion — a 55.5% year-over-year jump
• The company deployed over $20 billion across acquisitions and strategic partnerships throughout 2026 to expand beyond its GLP-1 portfolio

Eli Lilly (LLY) shares opened Friday’s session at $1,208.37, hovering close to the 52-week peak of $1,238.00. The pharmaceutical giant’s stock has climbed 14.4% since January, outperforming the pharma sector’s 11.6% advance and the broader S&P 500 index.

Eli Lilly and Company, LLY

The Indianapolis-based drugmaker delivered first-quarter 2026 earnings of $8.55 per share, significantly surpassing Wall Street’s consensus forecast of $6.97. Total revenue reached $19.80 billion, beating projections of $17.82 billion and representing a 55.5% increase compared to the prior-year quarter.

The company’s dual GLP-1 blockbusters, Mounjaro and Zepbound, powered the majority of revenue expansion. These two medications alone contributed roughly 65% of all first-quarter sales. Following the U.S. market introduction of Foundayo — Lilly’s oral formulation for obesity treatment — analysts anticipate GLP-1 products will account for more than 65% of second-quarter revenue.

Foundayo’s arrival reignites direct market rivalry with Novo Nordisk (NVO), which introduced an oral Wegovy formulation in January 2026, securing a temporary first-mover advantage.

Strategic Expansion Beyond Weight-Loss Therapeutics

Lilly has accelerated efforts to broaden its product portfolio outside the obesity and diabetes segment. The pharmaceutical company is developing multiple therapeutic franchises designed to reduce dependence on GLP-1 revenue streams.

The diversification pipeline includes Omvoh for inflammatory bowel conditions, Jaypirca addressing specific blood malignancies, Ebglyss approved for atopic dermatitis treatment, Kisunla targeting early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and Inluriyo recently launched for metastatic breast cancer.

Jaypirca has emerged as a standout performer. The FDA broadened its indication in late 2025 to include patients with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL. Subsequently, Europe’s CHMP issued a positive recommendation for expanded approval covering all CLL treatment lines, with final European Commission authorization expected soon.

Lilly awaits a comparable FDA label expansion ruling for Jaypirca scheduled for later this year. Approval would substantially expand the addressable patient population across U.S. markets.

Regarding mergers and acquisitions, Lilly allocated more than $20 billion throughout 2026 toward deals encompassing oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular therapeutics, gene editing platforms, and vaccine development. This represents a substantial commitment to long-range portfolio diversification.

Stock Valuation and Wall Street Perspectives

At present trading levels, LLY shares command a forward earnings multiple of 30.67 — exceeding the pharmaceutical industry average of 18.76 while remaining below the company’s five-year historical mean of 34.56. Market capitalization currently stands at $1.14 trillion.

Full-year 2026 EPS projections have trended upward during the past 60 days, climbing from $33.86 to $35.67. Looking ahead to 2027, estimates advanced from $42.56 to $44.61.

Institutional investors control 82.53% of outstanding shares. World Investment Advisors expanded its position by 12.1% during the first quarter of 2026, purchasing 2,936 additional shares to reach a total holding of 27,134.

Wall Street analysts maintain predominantly bullish outlooks. Goldman Sachs assigns a buy rating with a $1,283 price objective. Jefferies recently elevated its target to $1,350, maintaining a buy recommendation. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed its overweight stance in June.

Among 30 analysts monitored by MarketBeat, 23 recommend buying the stock, with a median price target of $1,235.07.

The sole dissenting voice: HSBC downgraded shares to reduce in March, establishing an $850 price target.

Lilly’s official fiscal year 2026 guidance projects EPS between $35.50 and $37.00, while the current sell-side consensus estimate sits at $35.74.