As the Q2 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the branded pharmaceuticals industry, including Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SUPN) and its peers.

Looking ahead, the branded pharmaceutical industry is positioned for tailwinds from advancements in precision medicine, increasing adoption of AI to enhance drug development efficiency, and growing global demand for treatments addressing chronic and rare diseases. However, headwinds include heightened regulatory scrutiny, pricing pressures from governments and insurers, and the looming patent cliffs for key blockbuster drugs. Patent cliffs bring about competition from generics, forcing branded pharmaceutical companies back to the drawing board to find the next big thing.

The 10 branded pharmaceuticals stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.1%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.7% on average since the latest earnings results.

Best Q2: Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SUPN)

With a diverse portfolio of eight FDA-approved medications targeting neurological conditions, Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SUPN) develops and markets treatments for central nervous system disorders including epilepsy, ADHD, Parkinson's disease, and migraine.

Supernus Pharmaceuticals reported revenues of $165.5 million, down 1.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 7.4%. Overall, it was an incredible quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.

"Our strong operating performance in the first half of the year was driven by continued strong sales growth of Qelbree and GOCOVRI, which combined accounted for 72% of total net sales in the second quarter of 2025," said Jack Khattar, President and CEO of Supernus.

Interestingly, the stock is up 28.6% since reporting and currently trades at $48.27.

Is now the time to buy Supernus Pharmaceuticals? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)

With roots dating back to 1887 and a transformative merger in 1989 that gave the company its current name, Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) discovers, develops, and markets prescription medications for serious diseases including cancer, blood disorders, immunological conditions, and cardiovascular diseases.

Bristol-Myers Squibb reported revenues of $12.27 billion, flat year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.8%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 4.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $43.84.

Is now the time to buy Bristol-Myers Squibb? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Corcept (NASDAQ: CORT)

Focusing on the powerful stress hormone that affects everything from metabolism to immune function, Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CORT) develops and markets medications that modulate cortisol to treat endocrine disorders, cancer, and neurological diseases.

Corcept reported revenues of $194.4 million, up 18.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Corcept delivered the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 13.4% since the results and currently trades at $76.

Read our full analysis of Corcept’s results here.

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY)

Founded in 1876 by a Civil War veteran and pharmacist frustrated with the poor quality of medicines, Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) discovers, develops, and manufactures pharmaceutical products for conditions including diabetes, obesity, cancer, immunological disorders, and neurological diseases.

Eli Lilly reported revenues of $15.56 billion, up 37.6% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 5.4%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Eli Lilly scored the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is up 10.8% since reporting and currently trades at $828.25.

Read our full, actionable report on Eli Lilly here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)

With roots dating back to 1849 when two German immigrants opened a fine chemicals business in Brooklyn, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells medicines and vaccines for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Pfizer reported revenues of $14.65 billion, up 10.3% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 7.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Pfizer pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 4.7% since reporting and currently trades at $24.65.

Read our full, actionable report on Pfizer here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Market Update

The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025.

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