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GSK PLC on Wednesday raised guidance after a strong third quarter, which saw sales in all three divisions beat expectations. ‘Sales grew in all areas, with particularly strong performances in Specialty Medicines, driven by double-digit growth in Respiratory Inflammation & Immunology, Oncology and HIV,’ said Emma Walmsley, GSK’s outgoing chief executive. The London-based pharmaceuticals company now expects 2025 turnover growth of 6% to 7%, raised from ‘towards the top end’ of the 3% to 5% range previously. In 2024, GSK reported sales of £31.38 billion. The raised outlook reflects hopes for mid-teens percentage sales growth in Specialty Medicines compared to low teens expected before. Other divisional forecasts were left unchanged. GSK expects full-year core operating profit growth of 9% to 11%, up from ‘towards the top end’ of the 6% to 8% range before, and compared to £9.1 billion in 2024. In addition, GSK projects core earnings per share growth of 10% to 12%, up from ‘towards the top end’ of 6% to 8% previously, and compared to 159.3 pence in 2024. GSK said full-year guidance is ‘inclusive of tariffs enacted thus far and indicated potential European tariffs impact of 15%’. In response, shares in GSK rose 3.8% to 1,706.00 pence each in London on Wednesday morning and are up 25% year-to-date. GSK said pretax profit multiplied to £2.46 billion in the third quarter from £64 million a year before. Last year’s figures were hurt by the $1.8 billion Zantac settlement. Core operating profit rose 8.3% to £2.99 billion from £2.76 billion, with core EPS of 55.0p, 17% ahead of consensus, and up 11% from 49.7p a year ago. Sales climbed 6.7% to £8.55 billion from £8.01 billion a year ago, comfortably ahead of company compiled consensus of £8.24 billion. Specialty Medicines sales rose 16% to £3.41 billion, beating £3.33 billion consensus, led by 39% growth in Oncology to £500,000. Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation sales grew 15% and HIV sales 12%. In Vaccines, sales climbed 2% to £2.68 billion, ahead of £2.55 billion consensus, with Shingrix sales up 13%, Meningitis vaccines sales up 5%, and Arexvy sales up 36%. General Medicines sales grew by 4% to £2.46 billion, ahead of £2.37 billion a year before, with Trelegy sales jumping 25%. CEO Walmsley said the strong quarter positions GSK ‘well for 2026 and achieving our longer-term growth outlooks’. Walmsley is stepping down after eight years at the helm. Chief Commercial Officer Luke Miels will take over the reins at the start of January. GSK declared a dividend of 16 pence per share for the third quarter, up from 15p a year ago, and said it expects a total 2025 dividend of 64p compared to 60p in 2024. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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