Should I Buy Amgen Stock in 2025? NZ Expert Analysis

What is Amgen?

How much is the Amgen stock?

The price of Amgen stock is rising this week. Amgen is currently trading at $283.54 USD, posting a 24-hour gain of $5.14 (+1.85%) and a strong weekly growth of 4.50%.

With solid financials and a robust market presence, Amgen provides an attractive option for NZ investors looking for stability and long-term growth potential.

Our full analysis on Amgen stock

Having thoroughly examined Amgen’s latest quarterly results and reviewed the stock’s performance over the past three years, we have leveraged a multi-faceted analytical approach—combining financial metrics, technical indicators, competitive landscape data, and sector dynamics—through our proprietary screening algorithms. This comprehensive synthesis indicates that the next phase for Amgen may be particularly compelling for investors seeking robust exposure to global biotechnology leaders. So, why might Amgen stock once again become a strategic entry point into the healthcare and life sciences sector in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) currently trades at $283.54 as of 30 May 2025, reflecting a notable rebound of +1.85% over the last 24 hours and a solid gain of +4.5% for the past week. While the stock shows a modest positive move over the past six months (+0.24%), it's worth noting the annual performance stands at -4.33%, largely attributable to broader sectoral rotations and macro-driven volatility. This places Amgen near the lower boundary of its 52-week range ($253.30 to $346.85), suggesting a period of consolidation that often precedes accumulation phases among institutional investors.

Recent months have brought a series of positive corporate developments. Amgen delivered exceptional results in Q1 2025, with both revenue and earnings per share decisively surpassing consensus expectations. The company also announced a series of strategic investments, including $900 million in new manufacturing capacity in Ohio, $1 billion to expand in North Carolina, and $200 million directed at international growth in India. On the regulatory front, Amgen has secured major product approvals—including UPLIZNA (FDA approval for IgG4-related disease), TEPEZZA (marketing authorized in the UK), and IMDELLTRA (launched in Japan)—reinforcing the company’s pipeline momentum and geographic expansion initiatives.

The broader healthcare and biotechnology sector continues to benefit from defensive flows amid late-cycle macroeconomic uncertainty, persistent global demographic shifts, and ongoing innovation in therapeutics and biosimilars. For New Zealand investors, these themes reinforce Amgen’s potential as an anchor stock for diversified global portfolios oriented towards resilience and long-term growth.

Technical Analysis

From a technical perspective, Amgen’s setup appears increasingly conducive to a bullish reversal. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on a 14-day basis currently registers in the 40-45 range—neutral to slightly oversold—suggesting limited downside risk and the possibility of renewed buying pressure as momentum recovers. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) signals remain mixed (ranging from -3.72 to +0.82), a classic precursor for active technical traders watching for confirmation of a trend reversal.

Key technical support remains firm at $253.30 (the 52-week low), which has been tested and held on several occasions, underscoring demand from longer-term buyers. Immediate resistance is found at $346.85 (the 52-week high). The recent uptick in price action, coupled with stabilising technical oscillators, points towards the probability of a base-building scenario—often a favoured entry zone for investors aiming to capture the next upward phase. Short- and medium-term momentum structures show clear signs of inflection, supported by robust volume spikes during positive earnings releases.

Fundamental Analysis

Fundamentally, Amgen stands out as a leader in biotech, distinguished by accelerating growth, strong profitability, and a robust innovation engine. For Q1 2025, the company generated $8.1 billion in revenue—up 9% year-over-year—while product sales surged 11%. Most impressively, adjusted earnings per share reached $4.90 (up 24% YoY and well ahead of consensus), while GAAP EPS swung to $3.20 from a loss in the prior year quarter.

Amgen’s brand strength, clinical development pipeline (over 40 ongoing trials), and global footprint (active in over 100 countries) remain central to its durable competitive positioning. The company’s ability to consistently exceed analyst expectations, coupled with its strategic expansion in biomanufacturing and international markets, justifies renewed investor focus.

Volume and Liquidity

With a 3-month average daily trading volume of 3.1 million shares and a total market capitalization of $152.46 billion, Amgen consistently features high liquidity—translating into efficient execution and dynamic price discovery. This sustained volume, even during periods of macro volatility, strongly suggests rising institutional conviction in the company’s fundamentals and outlook.

Furthermore, Amgen’s share float is conducive to dynamic valuation re-rating, with significant room for upward price movement as sentiment improves or as major catalysts are realised. For New Zealand investors entering via global brokerages, the high liquidity profile ensures ease of entry and exit with minimal friction, adding practical appeal to the investment case.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Amgen’s visible pipeline momentum and diversified product suite provide numerous catalysts for an optimistic outlook in 2025 and beyond:

• Product Launches and Approvals: Expansion of the biosimilar business (+35% YoY to $735 million in Q1), and the commercial rollout of high-potential drugs like UPLIZNA, TEPEZZA, and IMDELLTRA.
• Pipeline Innovation: The phase II/III candidate MariTide (AMG 133) for obesity is drawing significant attention with its potential for monthly dosing, positioning Amgen as a potential disruptor in the high-growth metabolic disease segment—distinct from current market leaders Ozempic and Wegovy.
• Strategic Expansion: Over $2 billion in announced manufacturing investments propels Amgen’s global supply capacity and provides optionality for addressing future demand surges, including in emerging markets.
• ESG and Governance: Strong community engagement (e.g., $10 million wildfire donation) reflects a mature ESG ethos and responsible stewardship, appreciated increasingly by global investors.
• Guidance and Street Projections: Management has guided for 2025 revenue of $34.3–35.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $20.00–21.20, with a consensus analyst price target of $323.62 (+14%) and upside scenarios targeting the $368.60 area (+30% from current levels).

Taken together, these factors present a context ripe for upward re-rating, particularly as fundamental momentum meets technical inflection.

Investment Strategies

• Short-term: With Amgen trading near the lower end of its 52-week range and following a recent technical bounce, opportunistic investors may target entries around established support levels ($260–$270), especially ahead of major product launches or the next earnings catalyst. The stabilising RSI and improving MACD support near-term momentum upside, with potential for a swift move towards the $300–$310 zone in the coming months.
• Medium-term: As Amgen deploys significant capital towards global expansion and steps up its focus on biosimilar diversification, medium-horizon investors may look to build positions over multiple tranches into strength. The convergence of improving revenue growth, outsized EPS beats, and the execution of manufacturing investments creates a scenario where consensus upgrades could provide tailwinds and reward patient holders.
• Long-term: Given Amgen’s long history of dividend growth, exceptional cash flow resilience, and best-in-class R&D pipeline, the stock is highly suitable for investors seeking compounding wealth via the healthcare megatrend. With a forward P/E well below peers and a strong pipeline to offset near-term biosimilar risks, Amgen appears well-placed to outperform over multiple years—particularly for those aiming to capture both capital appreciation and a defensive dividend yield.

Is it the right time to buy Amgen?

Amgen combines technical resilience, compelling valuation metrics, and an enviable suite of growth catalysts—ranging from fresh product approvals and clinical pipeline depth to massive investments in global manufacturing capacity and proven balance sheet strength. The company’s recent record of exceeding expectations, its forward-looking approach to innovation, and a steadily rising dividend signify a business that is not only weathering macro transitions but positioning to thrive in the next cycle.

For New Zealand investors seeking a globally diversified healthcare anchor, Amgen’s fundamentals, dynamic market position, and robust technical posture seem to represent an excellent opportunity for renewed interest as 2025 unfolds. The stock may be entering a new bullish phase, underpinned by multiple near- and medium-term catalysts, a favourable macroeconomic context, and resilient cash generation. While appropriate risk management remains paramount given sectoral volatility, the case for considering Amgen in a buy-oriented investment strategy stands out as both timely and well-supported.

Amgen’s current trajectory, supported by tangible results, innovation, and strategic investments, suggests that investors with a keen eye for quality in the healthcare sector should keep this stock firmly on their radar as the next act for biotechnology unfolds.

How to buy Amgen stock in New Zealand?

To buy Amgen (AMGN) shares online from New Zealand is simpler and safer than ever, thanks to regulated brokers that provide secure platforms and investor protections. As a retail investor, you can choose between two main methods: traditional spot purchase (owning the shares outright), or trading via Contracts for Difference (CFDs), which track the share price without you owning the underlying asset. Both avenues are accessible online, often with just a few clicks and local NZD accounts. To help you select the right broker for your needs, a detailed, up-to-date broker comparison is available further down the page.

Spot Buying

A “cash” or spot purchase means you directly buy and hold Amgen shares in your name via a broker. This is the classic way to invest, giving you all shareholder rights, including dividend payments. Most New Zealand brokers charge a fixed commission per order, typically between NZ$5 and NZ$25, plus minimal FX conversion costs for US shares.

Informations importantes

Let’s look at a concrete example:
Suppose Amgen shares are trading at US$283.54 (roughly NZ$465 depending on exchange rates), and you want to invest NZ$1,000. After factoring in a typical brokerage commission of NZ$5, you can buy about 2 shares of Amgen.
✔️ Gain scenario: If Amgen’s share price rises by 10%, your shares would now be worth NZ$1,100.
Result: That’s a gross gain of NZ$100, or +10% on your initial investment.

Trading via CFD

CFDs offer a way to trade on Amgen’s share price changes without owning the shares themselves. Instead, you enter a contract with the broker to exchange the difference in price from the opening to the closing trade. CFD trading enables leverage, letting you control a larger position with a smaller outlay—but this also increases risk. The key fees here are the spread (the small difference between buy and sell prices) and overnight financing charges for holding positions.

Informations importantes

Example with NZ$1,000 and 5x leverage:
You open a CFD position on Amgen worth NZ$5,000 (5 × NZ$1,000).
✔️ Gain scenario: If Amgen’s stock rises by 8%, your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: That’s a gain of NZ$400 on your NZ$1,000 stake, excluding trading fees and overnight charges.

Final Advice

It’s essential to compare broker fees, currencies supported, platform features, and the risks of each method before investing in Amgen shares. Each approach suits different objectives: spot buying for long-term growth and dividends, CFDs for shorter-term, leveraged trading. To make an informed choice, review our broker comparison table further down the page and consider what best fits your investment goals and risk profile.

Our 7 tips for buying Amgen stock

The latest news about Amgen

Amgen shares experienced a robust 4.5% increase over the past week, following strong Q1 2025 financial results that decisively beat analyst expectations. In the first quarter of 2025, Amgen reported revenue of $8.1 billion (up 9% year-on-year) and an adjusted earnings per share of $4.90, outperforming consensus estimates by 18% and representing a 24% annual growth. This performance was primarily driven by double-digit growth in fourteen key products and a notable 35% surge in biosimilars, signaling operational strength and innovation capabilities highly relevant to institutional investors in New Zealand exposed to healthcare sector equities or to those seeking diversified international income streams.

Amgen’s dividend yield has reached 3.36% with a quarterly payout increase of 6%, reinforcing its appeal for income-focused NZ investors. The annual dividend rate now stands at $9.52 per share, underpinning Amgen’s stability and commitment to shareholder returns even in volatile market conditions. Given New Zealand’s established dividend-oriented investment culture, Amgen’s stable and rising dividend profile, supported by over $8.8 billion in cash reserves and improving free cash flow, makes it an attractive holding for local funds and private investors seeking exposure to global health innovation with consistent yields.

The company’s international expansion—over $2 billion invested in new manufacturing facilities across the US, India, and broader global operations—strengthens its supply chain and growth prospects. Amgen’s ongoing investments, including a $900 million plant in Ohio and a $200 million expansion in India, aim to boost production capacity and global reach. With pharmaceutical market access being critical for supply security in New Zealand, such expansion is a constructive signal for local wholesalers, hospital networks, and policy makers reliant on international pharma supply for the national health sector.

Amgen’s product pipeline advanced significantly this quarter, with recent FDA approval of UPLIZNA for IgG4-RD and new product launches in major markets. The FDA’s nod for UPLIZNA in April 2025 and launches like IMDELLTRA in Japan and TEPEZZA in the UK expand Amgen’s therapeutic footprint. The company also reports progress on MariTide (AMG 133), a promising monthly obesity treatment that could address patient needs beyond rivals such as Ozempic, a therapy already established in Oceania markets. These developments are poised to bolster future revenue streams and could benefit New Zealand, where demand for novel biologics and biosimilars continues to grow.

Market sentiment remains optimistic, with a consensus analyst price target of $323.62—representing over 14% upside from current levels and a broad “Buy” recommendation. Analysts acknowledge Amgen’s financial momentum, innovative pipeline, and defensive market position, contributing to maintained outperform ratings. This positive outlook supports confidence for NZ-based investors and institutions evaluating global health stocks as part of a broader portfolio, particularly amidst heightened interest in healthcare sector resilience and biopharma innovation following recent global health events.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.