AstraZeneca posts third-quarter revenue of $16.209 billion and reaffirms 2026 guidance
Key Facts
AstraZeneca said on October 30 that revenue reached $16.209 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 7% on a reported basis and 7% at constant exchange rates from the same period a year earlier. Core earnings per share rose to $2.79, up 17% on a reported basis and 19% at constant exchange rates, while reported earnings per share were $2.02, up 23% and 26%, respectively. The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance, which forecasts mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit growth in core earnings per share at constant exchange rates. Reaffirming the outlook means AstraZeneca kept its annual range despite continued revenue and earnings growth in the quarter and first nine months. It also expects the core tax rate for the fiscal year to be between 18% and 22%.
In the first nine months of 2026, the company recorded revenue of $46.881 billion, up 8% on a reported basis and 7% at constant exchange rates from the corresponding period last year. Core earnings per share were $8, up 14% on both bases, while core operating profit reached $16.4 billion, up 14% at constant exchange rates. The company said revenue grew 7% at constant exchange rates during the period, with double-digit growth in oncology, respiratory and immunology, and rare diseases. Growth in those areas offset pressure from loss of exclusivity for Farxiga and Brilinta, as well as the impact of volume-based procurement in China. The period’s results therefore combined growth in total sales, earnings per share and core operating profit with a clear divergence among business areas.
Oncology was AstraZeneca’s largest business area in the first nine months, with revenue of $21.889 billion, or 47% of the total, and growth of 16% at constant exchange rates. Rare diseases generated revenue of $7.544 billion, up 11% on the same basis. By contrast, revenue from biopharmaceuticals fell 5% to $16.731 billion. Performance within the business differed: respiratory and immunology revenue rose 10% to $7.268 billion. Cardiovascular, renal and metabolism recorded revenue of $8.728 billion, down 14%, while infectious disease revenue fell 12% to $735 million. All business-area growth and decline rates are at constant exchange rates.
AstraZeneca linked its growth prospects to a development portfolio of 180 projects, including 116 novel molecules or major life-cycle management projects in Phase II or III. It said 20 novel molecules had reached late-stage development and that it had delivered 14 novel molecules toward its target of 20 by 2030. The company said 12 Phase III programmes had reported positive results, with potential peak annual revenues for those programmes exceeding $10 billion. Chief Executive Pascal Soriot added that the readouts expected in 2027 have peak-sales potential of more than $20 billion. Since its fourth-quarter 2025 results, the company has received 47 approvals in major regions, including the first approvals for four new medicines, and announced first Phase III data for three novel medicines.
AstraZeneca had scheduled its results announcement for 07:00 GMT on October 30, 2026, with a webcast for investors and analysts at 14:30 the same day. EL7 data showed the company’s shares, traded under the ticker AZN, closed at $174.4 on October 29, before the results were released. This closing price is the latest daily price in the information available before the announcement and does not include any share movement after the results were published. The webcast was part of the company’s results presentation programme for investors and analysts on the announcement day. The company’s fiscal 2026 guidance remains for mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit growth in core earnings per share at constant exchange rates.