1452 GMT - Roche Holding AG is among the most mentioned companies across news items over the past 12 hours, according to Factiva data, after the company's 2022 profit missed expectations and guided for lower sales and earnings in 2023 due to declining Covid-19 sales. The Swiss pharma major's 2022 sales rose on-year and were in line with consensus, though its net profit dropped and missed expectations. It confirmed a CHF5 billion hit from missed Covid-19 product sales as previously announced. For the year ahead, it said it expects a drop in sales in the low-single digits at constant exchange rates, with earnings per share set to develop in line with the sales decline. Excluding Covid-19 sales decline, Roche expects underlying sales growth in both its divisions. It said it would also further increase its dividend. Dow Jones & Co. owns Factiva. (cecilia.butini@wsj.com)


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-02-23 1008ET