Pfizer Q2FY26 Results: Revenue tops estimates, guidance raised by $500 million
- Pfizer reported Q2 2026 revenues of $50 billion, exceeding expectations, with 1% operational YoY growth and 5% operational growth excluding COVID products
- Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.77, beating expectations; reported loss per share was -$0.04 due to a $4.3 billion non-cash intangible asset impairment for SV
- Full-year 2026 revenue guidance raised by $500 million at the midpoint to $60.5 billion to $62.5 billion; adjusted diluted EPS guidance reaffirmed at $2.80 to $3.00
- Launch and acquired products delivered $3.2 billion in revenue, growing 18% operationally, or 27% excluding one-time items from Q2 2025
- Total net cost savings from expanded programs now expected to reach approximately $9.7 billion through 2029

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Pfizer reported second-quarter 2026 revenues of $50 billion, exceeding expectations, with adjusted diluted EPS of $0.77, marking the ninth time in the last 10 quarters the company beat consensus revenue expectations.
Q2 2026 financial highlights
The company delivered 1% year-over-year operational revenue growth in the second quarter. Excluding COVID products, the underlying business delivered 5% operational revenue growth. Launch and acquired products contributed $3.2 billion in revenue, growing 18% operationally, though this growth rate was tempered by one-time items recorded in the second quarter of 2025 mostly impacting the legacy Seagen inline portfolio. Excluding that impact, the growth rate was 27%.
| Metric | Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Total revenue | $50 billion (ahead of expectation) |
| Revenue growth (operational, YoY) | 1% |
| Revenue growth ex-COVID (operational) | 5% |
| Adjusted diluted EPS | $0.77 |
| Reported loss per share | -$0.04 |
| Adjusted gross margin | 76% |
| Adjusted operating margin | 35% |
| Total adjusted operating expenses | $6.1 billion |
| Operating cash flow | $3.45 billion |
| Leverage | 2.7 times |
| Launch and acquired product revenue | $3.2 billion |
| Launch and acquired product growth (operational) | 18% |
Adjusted SG&A expenses decreased 3% operationally, reflecting lower spending in corporate enabling functions. Adjusted R&D expenses increased 12% operationally, driven by higher spending in certain oncology and obesity product candidates. The Q2 reported loss per share of -$0.04 reflects a $4.3 billion non-cash intangible asset impairment recorded for SV following a Phase 3 readout in second-line-plus non-small cell lung cancer and, to a lesser extent, the removal of revenue projections for Xbrighter.
Full-year 2026 guidance update
Pfizer raised the midpoint of its full-year 2026 revenue guidance by $500 million to a range of $60.5 billion to $62.5 billion, up from the prior range of $59.5 billion to $60.5 billion. The updated guidance reflects strong non-COVID product performance and revised COVID-19 revenue expectations of approximately $4 billion, down from $5 billion. Adjusted diluted EPS guidance was reaffirmed at $2.80 to $3.00, absorbing an approximately $0.10 unfavorable impact related to the $650 million acquired in-process R&D charge from the Innovent Biologics transaction, which closed in July.
| Guidance component | Updated range |
|---|---|
| Full-year 2026 revenue | $60.5 billion to $62.5 billion |
| Adjusted diluted EPS | $2.80 to $3.00 |
| COVID-19 revenues | Approximately $4 billion |
| Adjusted gross margin | Mid-70s range |
Cost savings and productivity programs
Pfizer announced an expansion of its ongoing cost improvement programs expected to generate approximately $2.5 billion in additional net cost savings from 2027 through 2029. This comprises approximately $1 billion in additional net cost savings from productivity enhancements through technology and simplification efforts, and approximately $1.5 billion from the next phase of its multi-year manufacturing optimization program. Total net cost savings from the manufacturing program are now expected to reach approximately $3 billion through 2029. Combined with prior initiatives, total net savings are now expected to reach approximately $9.7 billion through 2029. The company continues to expect $700 million in savings from phase one of its manufacturing optimization program in 2026, with $175 million realized in Q2.
Capital allocation and balance sheet
In the first half of 2026, Pfizer invested $5.5 billion in internal and external R&D and returned $4.9 billion to shareholders via quarterly dividends. The Innovent Biologics deal closed in July, resulting in an initial $650 million upfront payment to be recorded as acquired in-process R&D expense in the third quarter. Following this transaction, business development capacity stands at approximately $6 billion. Earlier in the quarter, Pfizer made its final TCJA repatriation tax payment of approximately $2.6 billion and closed its exit of VEE, providing approximately $1.65 billion in net cash proceeds.
Pipeline and R&D progress
Through the first half of 2026, Pfizer's R&D organization achieved three regulatory approvals, six key data readouts, and eight pivotal study starts. Key pipeline developments in the quarter included:
- The FDA expanded the approval of Padcev plus pembrolizumab to muscle-invasive bladder cancer regardless of cisplatin eligibility, based on Phase 3 results showing a 35% reduction in the risk of death versus standard of care.
- Phase 2b data for berabenatide at 4.8 mg showed placebo-corrected weight loss of up to 12.3% in the VESPA-3 trial; three Phase 3 trials — VESPA-4, VESPA-5, and VESPA-6 — are now fully enrolled.
- Phase 3 data for Litfulo in non-segmental vitiligo showed a placebo-adjusted response rate of 19.5% at week 52 on the facial VASI-75 endpoint at the 100 milligram dose.
- The MEFRA-1 Phase 3 study of the EZH2 inhibitor plus Xtandi in post-abiraterone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is fully enrolled, with a first readout expected in the fourth quarter.
- Updated Phase 1 data for SV plus pembrolizumab in first-line non-small cell lung cancer with high PD-L1 expression showed an unconfirmed objective response rate of approximately 82%.
Looking ahead, Pfizer expects five regulatory decisions, eight key readouts, and 19 pivotal study starts over the next 12 months.
Historical Stock Returns for Pfizer
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.82% | -0.86% | -16.60% | -15.74% | -20.27% | 0.0% |
How will the $4.3 billion SV impairment impact Pfizer's strategic prioritization of its oncology pipeline and future M&A criteria?
Can Pfizer's berabenatide program effectively compete with established GLP-1 therapies given the current Phase 2b weight loss data of 12.3%?
What specific operational milestones must be met to ensure the realization of the $9.7 billion in total net cost savings through 2029?
































