Novo Nordisk, the maker of weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, posted fourth-quarter earnings comfortably above estimates early Wednesday. The results looked to ease some of investors' recent concerns about the pharma giant's future trajectory amid fierce competition from Eli Lilly. Yet, it wasn't all good news for the Danish drugmaker.

   -- Novo Nordisk reported earnings of 6.34 Danish kroner ($0.88) a share on 
      sales of 85.7 billion DKK ($11.9 billion) for the quarter, beating 
      expectations for earnings of 5.98 DKK a share on sales of 80.1 billion 
      DKK, according to FactSet. 
 
   -- However, it also said it sees 2025 sales growth between 16% and 24% in 
      2025, less than the 26% growth observed in 2024. 
 
   -- Sales of Wegovy more than doubled from the same period last year, and 
      came largely in line with analysts' expectations at 19.9 billion DKK. 
 
   -- Shares have taken a beating in recent months, punished by growing worries 
      that sales of its blood sugar and appetite controlling GLP-1 drugs 
      wouldn't live up to the hype. 

What's Next: The coming quarters will be crucial for Novo Nordisk as the narrative around the company has recently begun to shift for the worse. Its main rival, U.S.-based Eli Lilly, is set to report earnings Thursday and investors will be on the lookout for clues on the future of the GLP-1 market, as well as how the Novo-Lilly rivalry is shaping up.

-- Elsa Ohlen and Josh Nathan-Kazis

***

Dear Quentin,

I just visited my 62-year-old friend in the hospital and am dumbfounded. He has been given a diagnosis of stage four cancer. Because he has had organ transplants, chemotherapy isn't an option. If he gets stronger and can do radiation, they may be able to extend his life from a week or two to six months, maybe longer.

Most of our visit was spent talking about memories we had and about his end-of-life wishes. He has a 30-year-old son and two grandchildren, and his wife is stepmother to his son. He received a $250,000 inheritance last year and would like to take that money and pay off his $150,000 mortgage so that his wife will have the house paid off. I don't know the interest rate. His big wish is for his son to get the house after his wife dies. At this point, what can be done? He was weak, and it was hard to determine what his will says.

Assuming he gets stronger and doesn't die soon, what is the best course of action? Obviously, see a lawyer. I have seen letters where one spouse dies and the children don't get what the will specifies. Is some kind of trust better? I have no reason to distrust his wife, but I don't know her very well. At this point, does he just hope everything works out OK? From what I know, I don't think his wife can afford the house on her income alone. She has worked as a waitress in a local restaurant for over 20 years.

Without his disability checks, his wife might end up having to sell the house. She would like to retire, but I don't know how much Social Security she would get on her own or using his earnings history. They have no savings other than the $250,000 from the inheritance. I wish I had known about this months and years ago so I could have helped, but I never felt it was my place to ask. It all feels so pointless and discouraging. I feel the big lesson here isn't to put off estate planning and to ensure your wishes are followed -- especially if a stepparent is involved.

-- A Friend

Read the Moneyist's response here.

-- Quentin Fottrell

***

-- Newsletter edited by Liz Moyer, Patrick O'Donnell, Callum Keown

This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

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February 05, 2025 07:09 ET (12:09 GMT)

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