Britain’s biggest drugmaker AstraZeneca announced a robust sales and profit outlook for 2026, while BP saw its shares tumble after reporting a sharp fall in annual earnings.
AstraZeneca outlook
Chief executive Pascal Soriot said the FTSE 100 group is targeting $80 billion in annual sales by 2030, driven by cancer treatments and newer drugs as it expands in the United States and China. The company has earmarked $50 billion for the US and $15 billion for China over the coming years and listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange on 2 February, keeping its primary listing in London.
For 2026, AstraZeneca projects revenue growth of a mid‑to‑high single‑digit percentage at constant‑currency rates and core profit growth in the low double‑digit range. In 2025, sales rose 8 % to $58.7 billion and profits increased 11 %, while fourth‑quarter sales reached $15.5 billion, slightly ahead of analyst expectations.
Sales of cancer medicines jumped 20 % to $7 billion in the latest quarter, but revenue from cardiovascular drugs fell 6 % to $3.05 billion as generic competition intensified. Soriot noted that the group now has 16 blockbuster drugs in its portfolio.
BP profit slump and strategic shift
BP’s shares were among the FTSE 100’s biggest losers, falling more than 4 % in early trading after the oil major reported underlying earnings of just under $7.5 billion for 2025, down from almost $9 billion in 2024. The drop follows three consecutive years of falling oil prices, the steepest decline since the Covid pandemic.
The company announced it will suspend its quarterly share‑buy‑back programme for the first time since the pandemic‑era collapse, aiming to shore up its balance sheet and fund oil‑and‑gas opportunities. Activist shareholders are urging BP to prepare for a long‑term decline in fossil‑fuel demand.
Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill, formerly head of Woodside Energy, will grab the reins in April as BP’s third chief executive in as many years. She is expected to bring “rigour” to the turnaround plan, while the firm trims capital expenditure to the lower end of its guidance range and executes a $20 billion disposal programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sales growth does AstraZeneca expect for 2026?
The company forecasts revenue growth of a mid‑to‑high single‑digit percentage at constant‑currency rates and core profit growth in the low double‑digit range for 2026.
Why did BP suspend its share‑buy‑back programme?
BP halted share buy‑backs to strengthen its balance sheet after a 30 % quarter‑on‑quarter profit decline in Q4 2025, citing sharply lower oil prices as the primary cause.
How many blockbuster medicines does AstraZeneca currently have?
CEO Pascal Soriot said AstraZeneca now has 16 blockbuster medicines in its portfolio.
What do you think these developments mean for investors in the UK pharmaceutical and energy sectors?
Keep reading