Why Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Topped the Market Today
Key Points
Investors were impressed by the company's performance in the final quarter of 2025.
It beat analyst expectations on both the top and bottom lines.
- 10 stocks we like better than Bristol Myers Squibb ›
Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) stock was a rare bright light on a very dim Thursday for American equities. Encouraged by the company's good quarterly and annual earnings release, market players pushed the stock up by more than 3% on a day when the S&P 500 index slumped by more than 1%.
Newer products carried the day
Bristol Myers' fourth quarter of 2025 saw the veteran pharmaceutical company grow revenue by 1% year over year to $12.5 billion. Much of this was attributable to its so-called "growth portfolio," the take for which rose by a robust 15% to bring in $7.4 billion.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
Image source: Getty Images.
By contrast, net income not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) sank across that one-year stretch. It came in at $2.6 billion ($1.26 per share) from the year-ago profit of $3.4 billion.
Analysts tracking Bristol Myers stock were expecting a more dramatic bottom-line swoon, however. They were collectively modeling only $1.12 per share for non-GAAP (adjusted) net income. The company also beat on the top line, as the average pundit projection for revenue was a bit over $12.2 billion.
In its earnings release, the company quoted CEO Christopher Boerner as saying that, in addition to the growth portfolio, it benefited from "a strengthened balance sheet that provides the strategic flexibility to continue investing in growth drivers."
Quite a legacy
Another element of Bristol Myers' earnings release that please investors was full-year 2026 guidance. Management believes the company will earn revenue of $46 billion to $47.5 billion, with adjusted profitability of $6.05 to $6.35 per share. As with the trailing results, these top the consensus analyst estimates ($44.2 billion for revenue, and $6.02 per share for adjusted net income).
Like the investors who bid up the stock on Thursday, I see a lot to like in the quarter's results. I'd be a bit concerned about the legacy portfolio, however, which still remains sizable -- and suffered a 16% decline in revenue during the period.
Should you buy stock in Bristol Myers Squibb right now?
Before you buy stock in Bristol Myers Squibb, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Bristol Myers Squibb wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $432,297!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,067,820!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 894% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 5, 2026.
Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bristol Myers Squibb. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
