Wrapping up Q1 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the generic pharmaceuticals stocks, including Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMPH) and its peers.

The generic pharmaceutical industry operates on a volume-driven, low-cost business model, producing bioequivalent versions of branded drugs once their patents expire. These companies benefit from consistent demand for affordable medications, as they are critical to reducing healthcare costs. Generics typically face lower R&D expenses and shorter regulatory approval timelines compared to branded drug makers, enabling cost efficiencies. However, the industry is highly competitive, with intense pricing pressures, thin margins, and frequent legal challenges from branded pharmaceutical companies over patent disputes. Looking ahead, the industry is supported by tailwinds such as the role of AI in streamlining drug development (reverse engineering complex formulations) and manufacturing efficiency (optimize processes and remove inefficiencies). Governments and insurers' focus on reducing drug costs can also boost generics' adoption. However, headwinds include escalating pricing pressure from large buyers like pharmacy chains and healthcare distributors as well as evolving regulatory hurdles.

The 4 generic pharmaceuticals stocks we track reported a mixed Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.9%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 6.3% since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q1: Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMPH)

Founded in 1996 and known for its expertise in complex drug formulations, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMPH) develops and manufactures technically challenging injectable and inhalation medications, including both generic and proprietary pharmaceutical products.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals reported revenues of $170.5 million, flat year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with some shareholders anticipating a better outcome.

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $24.20.

Read our full report on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals here, it’s free.

Best Q1: ANI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ANIP)

With a diverse portfolio of 116 pharmaceutical products and a growing rare disease platform, ANI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ANIP) develops, manufactures, and markets branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals, with a focus on rare disease treatments.

ANI Pharmaceuticals reported revenues of $197.1 million, up 43.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.8%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.

ANI Pharmaceuticals achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 20.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $57.27.

Is now the time to buy ANI Pharmaceuticals? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Viatris (NASDAQ: VTRS)

Created through the 2020 merger of Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn division, Viatris (NASDAQ: VTRS) is a healthcare company that develops, manufactures, and distributes branded and generic medicines across more than 165 countries worldwide.

Viatris reported revenues of $3.25 billion, down 11.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. It was a mixed quarter as it posted a narrow beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates but full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

Viatris delivered the slowest revenue growth and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $8.51.

Read our full analysis of Viatris’s results here.

Amneal (NASDAQ: AMRX)

Founded in 2002 and growing into one of America's largest generic drug producers, Amneal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMRX) develops, manufactures, and distributes generic medicines, specialty branded drugs, biosimilars, and injectable products for the U.S. healthcare market.

Amneal reported revenues of $695.4 million, up 5.5% year on year. This number lagged analysts' expectations by 3.4%. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Amneal had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 3.2% since reporting and currently trades at $7.49.

Read our full, actionable report on Amneal here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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