Hims & Hers Health Inc. (HIMS) is having one of those days where good news just can't compete with scary news. The telehealth company rolled out a hefty $250 million share buyback authorization on Monday, which would normally send investors into celebration mode. Instead, shares dropped more than 3% because Hims has bigger problems to worry about.
The Novo Nordisk Curveball
Here's what's actually spooking the market: Novo Nordisk just slashed the U.S. self-pay prices on its blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic from $499 to $349 per month. That's a 30% price cut on the very medications that Hims has been building a business around through its compounded versions. When the original manufacturer starts playing hardball on pricing, it makes life considerably harder for the competition.
Management Signals Confidence
The new $250 million buyback program, set to roll out over the next three years, comes right after Hims wrapped up a $100 million repurchase. CEO Andrew Dudum framed the move as an opportunity to "capitalize on... valuation disconnects," which is executive-speak for "we think our stock is way too cheap." It's a bold signal that management believes the market is overreacting to competitive threats.
Expanding Beyond Weight Loss
The timing is interesting because Hims just launched Labs, a new comprehensive testing service that pushes the company beyond its weight-loss focus. The platform offers annual biomarker testing plans priced at $199 and $499, covering heart health, hormones, and metabolism through a partnership with Quest Diagnostics. It's a smart diversification play, but the market isn't giving them credit for it today.
From a growth perspective, the company is firing on multiple cylinders. Market data shows Hims earning a Growth score of 92.75, reflecting its aggressive expansion strategy. But when you're competing against pharmaceutical giants willing to cut prices dramatically, even impressive growth metrics take a backseat to competitive reality.
Hims & Hers Health shares were trading at $35.86, down 3.03% at the time of publication Monday. The real question now is whether management's confidence in their valuation will prove prescient, or if Novo Nordisk's pricing power will continue to weigh on the stock.