UCB jumps to record high on H1 beat, outlook hike

UCB SA

31/07/2025 08:09

** Shares in UCB UCB.BR jump as much as 11.4% to an all-time high after the Belgian biopharmaceutical company posted its first-half results above expectations and raised full-year forecasts

** It booked its adjusted EBITDA in the period at 1.03 billion euros ($1.18 billion), 11% above average analyst expectations, per Jefferies

** The broker says the beat was driven by sales of Bimzelx  and Cimzia drugs that offset greater-than-expected SGA and R&D expenses

** "This suggests clear upside to Bimzelx FY consensus of €1.4B (+132%)," Cowen analysts say

** "There is a scarcity value for UCB given few companies with clear visibility into the value drivers for the next few years – with accelerating – and durable – earnings potential," the broker adds

** UCB now forecasts its revenue in 2025 to be at least 7 billion euros against 6.5 billion-6.7 billion expected earlier

** But Jefferies says the new guidance "seems timid  relative to H1 performance"

** Stock up around 8% at 0709 GMT, among top performers on Europe-wide STOXX 600 .STOXX index

($1 = 0.8731 euros)

 (Reporting by Boleslaw Lasocki)

 ((boleslaw.lasocki@thomsonreuters.com; +48 58 769 66 00;))