Finance

GSK beats quarterly profit estimates on strength in respiratory, general medicines

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 29, 2026

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· Last updated: April 29, 2026

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GSK beats quarterly profit estimates on strength in respiratory, general medicines

GSK posts quarterly profit beat in boost for new CEO Miels

GSK’s First-Quarter Earnings and Outlook

By Bhanvi Satija

Quarterly Performance Overview

LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - British drugmaker GSK reported first-quarter profit above analysts' expectations on Wednesday, helped by strong sales of its respiratory and other general medicines, giving a boost for new CEO Luke Miels who took the helm this year.

Core Earnings and Revenue Figures

GSK reported core earnings per share of 46.5 pence (63 cents) for the three months ended March 31, compared with analyst expectations of 43.3 pence, according to company-provided consensus estimates.

CEO Transition and Strategic Challenges

The results mark the first full quarter under Miels, who took over on January 1 and is tasked with navigating the 2028 patent expiration for GSK's key HIV medicine, dolutegravir, by bolstering its pipeline of newer drugs.

Miels, who previously served as the company's chief commercial officer, is under pressure to prove that GSK's research and development engine can deliver on its long-term revenue targets of over 40 billion pounds by 2031.

Sales Growth and Future Guidance

GSK posted first-quarter revenue of 7.63 billion pounds ($10.30 billion), compared to expectations of 7.58 billion pounds. It backed its 2026 forecast of 3% to 5% sales growth and core operating profit growth of 7% to 9%.

Additional Information

($1 = 0.7405 pounds)

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in London; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Louise Heavens)

Key Takeaways

  • GSK’s Q1 core EPS of 46.5 pence beat the 43.3 pence consensus, boosting investor confidence
  • Growth was fueled by strength in respiratory treatments like Trelegy (up 15 %) and stable general medicines sales
  • While specialty medicines continue to drive momentum, GSK signals that vaccines and general medicines may see low‑single‑digit headwinds in 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did GSK report for its first-quarter core earnings per share?
GSK reported core earnings per share of 46.5 pence for the first quarter.
What contributed to GSK's better-than-expected quarterly profits?
Strong sales of respiratory and general medicines helped GSK exceed profit estimates.
How did GSK's profits compare to analyst expectations?
GSK's core earnings per share outpaced the 43.3 pence expected by analysts.
Which segment of GSK's business drove its Q1 performance?
The respiratory and other general medicines segment drove GSK's Q1 performance.

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