15 Best Wide Moat Dividend Stocks to Invest in

9. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62

On February 4, RBC Capital raised its price recommendation on Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) to $360 from $335. The firm also kept an Outperform rating and pointed to a strong fourth quarter on both revenue and earnings. According to the research note, the upside was largely driven by Prolia, Repatha, Evenity, and Uplizna. On MariTide, Amgen did not provide new details on part II of the recently reported trial, but management reiterated that there are multiple ways to win in obesity.

A day earlier, on February 3, Amgen reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations. Shares moved modestly higher after the release, supported by continued confidence in its experimental weight-loss drug MariTide.

Quarterly revenue rose 9% year over year to $9.9 billion, topping the $9.5 billion consensus estimate from LSEG. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $5.29, roughly flat compared with last year but well ahead of expectations of $4.73. That gap stood out, especially in a quarter where pricing pressure remained visible. Amgen is currently running six Phase 3 trials for MariTide across obesity and related conditions, including heart disease and sleep apnea. The company also plans to begin Phase 3 studies in diabetes patients later this year. Alongside that effort, Amgen is enrolling obese adults in a Phase 1 trial for another weight-loss candidate, AMG513. The pipeline remains busy, and management continues to signal long-term commitment to this space.

Looking ahead to 2026, Amgen expects adjusted earnings per share between $21.60 and $23.00. Wall Street currently estimates $22.09. The company also forecast full-year revenue of $37 billion to $38.4 billion, compared with analysts’ expectations of $37.1 billion.

In the fourth quarter, product sales volumes rose 10%, while net prices declined 4%. That mix resulted in 7% quarter-over-quarter growth, a reminder of how much volume continues to matter as pricing headwinds persist.

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) develops, manufactures, and delivers medicines aimed at some of the most challenging diseases. Its strategy remains centered on areas of high unmet medical need, with a pipeline designed to support growth beyond its established products.