Why Novo Nordisk’s Obesity Drug Will Skyrocket This Year
Obesity drug stocks are the hottest thing in pharma right now, and Novo Nordisk is still in the race. Even after a rough year, some of Wall Street’s sharpest voices think this company is far from finished. In fact, they are betting Novo’s next move could bring a 35% surge over the next 12 months.
Let’s be clear: this is not just some fluffy stock hype. The numbers, the science, and the strategy tell a different story. While competitors like Eli Lilly have taken the spotlight lately, Novo Nordisk is quietly setting up a rebound that could shock investors.
The Obesity Drug Wars
Obesity drug makers are locked in a fierce battle, and Novo Nordisk is still holding strong. Yes, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound showed better weight loss results in a recent study. And yes, that news hit Novo’s share price hard. But one study doesn’t end the war.
Freepik / Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy is still one of the top players on the market. It is approved, it is selling, and it is driving major revenue.
Add in Ozempic, their type 2 diabetes blockbuster, and you have a company still pulling serious weight in this space. These drugs use semaglutide, and that compound is not going anywhere. It is the foundation of their future pipeline, and Wall Street knows it.
Analysts See a 35% Upside
Obesity drug optimism is baked into Wall Street’s latest price targets for Novo. The average 12-month target is $89.99, 35% higher than the stock’s current price. Some analysts are even more bullish, seeing a potential double in share price.
However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Out of 12 analysts, only six say “buy.” Four say “hold,” and two are bearish. However, even the most negative prediction still sees only a 9% dip from current levels. That is rare!
Usually, the worst-case scenarios are much harsher. It suggests that even the skeptics believe Novo won’t fall apart. They just don’t see fireworks yet.
Pills Over Injections
Novo is waiting for the green light on something big: an oral obesity drug using semaglutide. If approved, this could change the game. People hate injections. If you give them a pill that works just as well, you have just opened up a whole new market.
MSN / Novo Nordisk is also targeting MASH, a serious liver condition that could add another growth stream. And in 2026, Novo plans to file for approval of CagriSema, a new drug that may tackle both obesity and type 2 diabetes.
These are late-stage, high-stakes bets, and they could fuel the next wave of growth.
The Core Business Is Solid
Yes, Novo Nordisk cut its full-year forecast. That is never good news. But the cut came primarily because of illegal compounding of semaglutide in the U.S. Basically, smaller facilities were making their own versions of the drug. That hurt revenue and confused the market.
Now the FDA is cracking down. A court ruling just gave them more power to shut those operations down. That is a win for Novo. It won’t solve the issue overnight, but it gives the company a clearer path forward. And investors know it.
Eli Lilly is a beast. Mounjaro and Zepbound are flying off the shelves. Lilly is also working on orforglipron, an oral obesity drug that could make a splash soon. Then there are competitors like Amgen, Pfizer, Roche, Viking Therapeutics, and more. The list of challengers is long.
But don’t count Novo out. It is a $400 billion company with deep R&D pipelines, a global footprint, and years of experience selling obesity drugs.