GSK Posts Q1 Profit Growth and Reaffirms 2026 Financial Outlook

GSK has started the 2026 fiscal year on a positive note, reporting first-quarter pretax profits of £2.14 billion, a slight increase from the £2.11 billion recorded in the same period last year. The results indicate stable operational performance for the pharmaceutical giant. Core financial metrics showed stronger growth when adjusted for currency fluctuations. Core operating profit reached £2.65 billion, representing a 10% increase on a constant exchange rate (CER) basis and a 5% increase on an actual exchange rate (AER) basis. Similarly, core earnings per share (EPS) rose to 46.5 pence, up 9% at CER. Total sales for the quarter climbed to £7.6 billion, marking a 5% increase at CER and a 2% increase at AER. These figures underscore the company's ability to maintain revenue momentum across its global portfolio. Looking ahead, GSK has affirmed its full-year 2026 guidance. The company expects turnover growth to land between 3% and 5%, while projecting that both core operating profit and core EPS will grow within a range of 7% to 9%. Despite the positive earnings beat and reaffirmed outlook, the market reaction remained muted. GSK shares were trading at 2,027.50 pence at the last close, reflecting a marginal decline of 0.025%.