Headline: Eli Lilly Exceeds 2026 Profit Forecasts on Weight-Loss Drug Demand - LLY

[Para 1: The Lead] Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) exceeded 2026 profit forecasts, buoyed by robust demand for its weight-loss drugs. The company forecast earnings above Wall Street estimates, attributing growth to the launch of its oral weight-loss pill later this year. [Para 2-3: Supporting details & Context] Shares of Eli Lilly surged nearly 7% in premarket trading. Last year, Lilly became the first pharmaceutical company to reach a $1 trillion valuation, driven by the popularity of its blockbuster weight-loss drug, Zepbound, and a growing obesity market shifting toward cash-pay options and telehealth. For the quarter, Lilly reported a profit of $7.54 per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $6.67. This year, the company expects earnings of $33.50 to $35 per share on an adjusted basis, exceeding analysts' average estimate of $33.23 per share.