---
title: "AstraZeneca Beats Second-Quarter Earnings Forecast"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2026-07-27T07:39:03+00:00"
modified: "2026-07-27T07:39:03+00:00"
date: 2026-07-27
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/astrazeneca-beats-second-quarter-earnings-forecast/"
category: "Health"
categories: ["Health", "Healthcare", "Pharmaceutical"]
tags: ["AstraZeneca", "cancers", "cell therapy", "china", "chinese", "Gracell Biotechnologies", "Lupus", "Pascal Soriot", "T-cell therapy", "treatments", "William Cao"]
image: "https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AstraZeneca.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# AstraZeneca Beats Second-Quarter Earnings Forecast

**Published:** July 27, 2026
**Author:** sharetalk
**Categories:** Health, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical
**Tags:** AstraZeneca, cancers, cell therapy, china, chinese, Gracell Biotechnologies, Lupus, Pascal Soriot, T-cell therapy, treatments, William Cao
**Featured image:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AstraZeneca.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1)

---

[AstraZeneca PLC (LON: AZN, NASDAQ: AZN)](https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/astrazeneca--azn/half-year-financial-report/9687613) reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings as strong growth in oncology and rare diseases helped offset weaker sales in other parts of the business.

Total revenue increased **9% to US$30.7 billion** in the first half of 2026, or **6% at constant exchange rates**. Core earnings per share rose **12% to US$5.21**, while reported earnings increased **4% to US$3.60**.

In the second quarter, core earnings per share climbed **21% to US$2.63**, ahead of the average City forecast of **US$2.48**. Revenue rose **6% to US$15.4 billion**, broadly in line with expectations.

First-half growth was driven by double-digit gains in oncology and rare diseases. This helped offset the loss of US exclusivity for diabetes treatment **Farxiga** and pricing pressure from China’s volume-based procurement programme.

AstraZeneca increased its interim dividend by three cents to **US$1.06 per share**, equivalent to **79.5p**.

The group maintained its full-year guidance, with revenue expected to grow by a mid-to-high single-digit percentage and core earnings per share forecast to increase by a low double-digit percentage.

Chief executive Pascal Soriot acknowledged the recent failure of the key **CARDIO-TTRansform** trial, which contributed to a fall of more than 11% in AstraZeneca’s market value. However, he said the company remained on track to achieve its **US$80 billion revenue target**, which already assumes both clinical successes and setbacks.

Soriot added that AstraZeneca delivered positive results from six other major Phase III programmes during the first half and secured first approvals in eight major markets.

The company said it remained confident in the strength of its pipeline, with more than **20 high-value clinical readouts** expected over the next 18 months.

---

**Original URL:** https://www.share-talk.com/astrazeneca-beats-second-quarter-earnings-forecast/
*Created by [WP Markdown Endpoint](https://wpmarkdownendpoint.com/)*