The FTSE 100's biggest company reports next week, AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) stepping up with a first-quarter trading update on Thursday, preceded by a day by its former close rival GSK PLC (LSE:GSK, NYSE:GSK).
For £187bn AZ, sales momentum remains key for investors, analysts reckon, with the company having given guidance for low-to-mid single digit total revenues growth, or low-double digits if excluding Covid medicines.
For the first quarter, the City analyst consensus estimate is for top-line sales of US$10.7bn, core operating profit of US$3.5bn and core diluted earnings per share of US$1.68. Income will be boosted by a recently updated agreement with Sobi.
Its key sales drivers, which had a softer performance in the final quarter of last year, will be a key focus said UBS, with Tagrisso expected to make sales of around US$1,418mln, Lynparza US$712mln, Imfinzi US$712mln and Calquence US$601mln.
Rather than past sales, upcoming trial updates are “dominating the narrative”, according to Barclays.
UBS agreed, saying it will welcome updates on dato-dxd’s TROPION-Lung01 trial, due soon, and Enhertu’s Destiny-Breast06 trial due in the second half, "as these could propel AstraZeneca 's medium to long term growth trajectory if successful".