Novartis continues strong momentum in Q3 with 10% sales growth, 20% core operating income growth, and important innovation milestones; raises FY 2024 guidance

In This Article:

Novartis Pharma  AG
Novartis Pharma AG

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

  • Q3 net sales grew +10% (cc1, +9% USD) with core operating income up +20% (cc, +17% USD)

    • Sales growth driven by continued strong performance from Entresto (+26% cc), Cosentyx (+28% cc), Kisqali (+43% cc), Kesimpta (+28% cc), Pluvicto (+50% cc) and Leqvio (+119% cc)

    • Core operating income margin 40.1%, +340 basis points (cc), mainly driven by higher net sales

  • Q3 operating income grew +123% (cc, +106% USD); net income up +121% (cc, +111% USD)

  • Q3 core EPS grew +20% (cc, +18% USD) to USD 2.06

  • Q3 free cash flow1 of USD 6.0 billion (+18% USD) driven by higher net cash flows from operating activities

  • Strong nine months performance with sales up +11% (cc, +9% USD) and core operating income up +20% (cc, +17% USD)

  • Q3 selected innovation milestones:

    • Kisqali FDA approval and positive CHMP opinion for HR+/HER2- stage II and III eBC

    • Fabhalta FDA accelerated approval for IgAN

    • Pluvicto FDA filing for pre-taxane mCRPC

  • Full-year 2024 guidance raised2

    • Net sales expected to grow low double-digit (from high single to low double-digit)

    • Core operating income expected to grow high teens (from mid to high teens)

Basel, October 29, 2024 – commenting on Q3 2024 results, Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, said:
“Novartis delivered another quarter of strong operational performance in Q3, with sales up 10% and core operating income up 20%. All key growth drivers contributed to the momentum. We achieved important indications expansions for Kisqali in early breast cancer and Fabhalta in IgA nephropathy, and we completed our PSMAfore filing for Pluvicto in the US. With the momentum in our business and pipeline, we were able to once again upgrade our full-year guidance and remain highly confident in our mid-term outlook.”

Key figures

Continuing operations3

 

Q3 2024

Q3 2023

% change

9M 2024

9M 2023

% change

 

USD m

USD m

USD

cc

 

USD m

USD m

USD

cc

Net sales

12 823

11 782

9

10

 

37 164

34 017

9

11

Operating income

3 627

1 762

106

123

 

11 014

7 187

53

61

Net income

3 185

1 513

111

121

 

9 119

5 934

54

62

EPS (USD)

1.58

0.73

116

127

 

4.50

2.84

58

67

Free cash flow

5 965

5 043

18

 

 

12 618

11 019

15

 

Core operating income

5 145

4 405

17

20

 

14 635

12 551

17

20

Core net income

4 133

3 585

15

17

 

11 822

10 320

15

18

Core EPS (USD)

2.06

1.74

18

20

 

5.83

4.95

18

21


1. Constant currencies (cc), core results and free cash flow are non-IFRS measures. An explanation of non-IFRS measures can be found on page 46 of the Interim Financial Report. Unless otherwise noted, all growth rates in this Release refer to same period in prior year.  2. Please see detailed guidance assumptions on page 7.   3. As defined on page 35 of the Interim Financial Report, Continuing operations include the retained business activities of Novartis, comprising the innovative medicines business and the continuing corporate activities and Discontinued operations include operational results from the Sandoz business.