AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca in brief

• Rank: #5 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #1 of 5 in Healthcare & Pharma.
• WCRC Power Score: 73.28 out of 100.
• Founded: 1999, by Merger of Astra AB and Zeneca Group.
• Owner: AstraZeneca PLC, Cambridge, England.
• Leadership: Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer.
• Latest revenue: $58.7bn revenue (FY2025, year to Dec 2025, +8.0%), group revenue of AstraZeneca PLC, as per company filings.

What makes AstraZeneca powerful

AstraZeneca is one of the UK's largest companies and one of the few British businesses with a truly global research footprint. In 2025 total revenue rose 8% at constant exchange rates to 58.7 billion dollars, core earnings per share rose 11% to 9.16 dollars and reported earnings per share jumped 43% at constant exchange rates. Oncology leads the portfolio, alongside medicines in cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, respiratory and immunology, and rare disease, which spreads its risk across several therapy areas.

The brand's power rests on its pipeline and on the scale of its science base in Cambridge. Under chief executive Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca has become one of the fastest-growing large drugmakers. Guidance for 2026 points to mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth and low double-digit growth in core earnings per share at constant exchange rates.

AstraZeneca's ordinary shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on 2 February 2026, alongside its London listing.

Why AstraZeneca ranks #5

AstraZeneca ranks fifth with a WCRC Power Score of 73.28, behind Tesco and ahead of HSBC. Product and innovation (80) is its strongest pillar, reflecting a pipeline that grew revenue 8% at constant exchange rates in 2025, and digital and financial strength (78) adds to that. Positioning (74) and trust (70) are solid, while sustainability and governance (66) is the pillar that keeps it below the top four.

The Achilles' heel

AstraZeneca's growth is increasingly tied to the United States, where drug pricing reform and tariff threats can change the economics of its best-selling medicines quickly. Its harmonised listing in New York from February 2026 also shifts more investor attention across the Atlantic. It faces the usual pharma risk too: late-stage trial failures or patent expiries can remove billions in revenue.

The 2026 story

AstraZeneca opened 2026 by reporting 2025 revenue of 58.7 billion dollars, up 8% at constant exchange rates, with core earnings per share up 11%. On 2 February 2026 its ordinary shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under a harmonised listing structure across London, New York and Stockholm, while it kept its London listing and Cambridge headquarters. The company guided to mid-to-high single-digit revenue growth for 2026 and low double-digit core EPS growth at constant exchange rates, with Pascal Soriot still chief executive.

Pillar profile

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

Questions people ask

Also featured in

• Most powerful Healthcare & Pharma brands
• Top 10 Best British Brands
• UK's 50 Most Valuable Brands
• Biggest British Brands by Revenue
• Most Famous British Brands
• UK's Most Trusted Brands
• Most Innovative British Brands
• Fastest-Growing British Brands
• Most powerful brands in England

Key facts

Sources

• Revenue figure published by AstraZeneca PLC
• Company website, official announcements and press releases
• Published interviews and statements by the leadership
• WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data