Could Genmab (GMAB) Stock Win as Royalty Growth Fuels a New Earnings Cycle?

Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB) boosted its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $4.325 billion to $4.525 billion, up from its previous outlook of $4.065 billion to $4.395 billion. The upward revision underscores the strong commercial momentum across the company’s royalty streams and proprietary portfolio.

For the first half of 2026, GMAB reported total revenue of $2,051 million, representing a 25% year-over-year growth. Royalty revenue increased 24% to $1,708 million, heavily supported by $8,171 million in net sales of DARZALEX by Johnson & Johnson. Meanwhile, global net sales of EPKINLY/TEPKINLY surged 48% to $312 million. Operating profit came in at $555 million, while adjusted operating profit rose 18% to $656 million.

Following the robust print, Guggenheim analyst Michael Schmidt raised the firm’s price target on Genmab to $42 from $40 while maintaining a Buy rating on August 7.

This brings up a key question: Does this guidance raise reflect a permanent, high-margin inflection for Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)’s pipeline, or will rising operating expenses eventually weigh on its bottom line?

Could Genmab A/S (GMAB) Stock Win as Royalty Growth Fuels a New Earnings Cycle?

Bull Case

Genmab’s broad-based top-line expansion, driven equally by DARZALEX royalties and EPKINLY net sales, demonstrates a diversified, partner-plus-proprietary revenue model. This setup reduces reliance on any single product, securing predictable royalties that fund ongoing commercial rollouts. Furthermore, a Phase III PFS win for epcoritamab in B-cell malignancies strengthens its clinical proof, expanding label potential and long-term royalty streams across geographies. Additionally, Genmab’s high cash conversion and strong balance sheet provide ample organic financing to fund late-stage programs without risking shareholder dilution.

Bear Case

Conversely, leverage levels remain a consideration, limiting overall financial flexibility. Should interest or refinancing costs shift, capital allocation toward expensive confirmatory trials could face pressure. Margin compression also poses a near-term risk as adjusted operating expenses climbed 28% to $1,270 million in H1 2026 due to pipeline investments like Rina-S and petosemtamab. Lastly, competitive landscapes in key indications and regulatory hurdles surrounding overall survival data could slow peak adoption and shorten royalty durations for new assets.

Insider Monkey’s Hedge Fund Data Analysis

Hedge fund sentiment around Genmab has turned noticeably positive. According to Insider Monkey’s database, 30 hedge funds held positions in Genmab in Q1 2026, up from 24 funds in Q4 2025. Major institutional holders include Paradigm Biocapital Advisors with 13,133,131 shares valued at $360.77 million (representing a 65% increase in position) and Orbis Investment Management with 11,368,161 shares valued at $312.28 million.

What Investors Should Watch Next

Investors should keep a close eye on whether Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB) can sustain its 20%+ royalty growth rate through the second half of 2026 without letting R&D and integration expenses erode operating margins. Additionally, key regulatory updates regarding epcoritamab’s expanded indications and early pipeline updates for Rina-S will be vital in determining whether the stock can meet Wall Street’s higher price targets.

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