Core Viewpoint - The healthcare sector is often avoided by investors due to a lack of reliable dividend payers, but notable exceptions exist in companies like Amgen and AbbVie, which have attractive dividend policies [1][2]. Group 1: Amgen - Amgen is recognized for its strong performance in the obesity drug market and has a robust lineup of blockbuster drugs and a promising pipeline [3]. - In the previous year, Amgen's overall revenue increased by 19% to over $33.4 billion, with net income at nearly $4.1 billion, despite higher costs in research and development [5]. - Amgen raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to $2.38 per share, resulting in a yield of approximately 3%, which is nearly double the average yield of S&P 500 companies [6]. Group 2: AbbVie - AbbVie emphasizes its quarterly dividend, currently yielding over 3%, and has a history of regular dividend increases, with a recent 6% hike to $1.64 per share [8]. - Over the past decade, AbbVie has more than tripled its per-share payout, demonstrating a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders [9]. - AbbVie reported a nearly 4% increase in total net revenue to $56.3 billion, with net income slightly down to just under $4.3 billion due to rising costs [11]. - The company is well-positioned for future growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue in the high single-digit percentages through 2029, and an increased sales forecast for its drugs Rinvoq and Skyrizi to $31 billion by 2027 [12].

Core Viewpoint - AbbVie has successfully managed the loss of exclusivity for its blockbuster drug Humira by launching new immunology drugs, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which are expected to drive revenue growth in the coming years [5][6][24]. Financial Performance - AbbVie stock has increased by 16.1% this year, outperforming the industry average of 4.0% and also surpassing the sector and S&P 500 index [1][3]. - The company anticipates a return to robust revenue growth in 2025, following the decline due to Humira's loss of exclusivity [6][24]. - AbbVie’s ex-Humira drugs saw a reported growth of approximately 19% in 2024, exceeding internal expectations [23]. Product Performance - Skyrizi and Rinvoq generated combined sales of $17.7 billion in 2024, with expectations to exceed $31 billion by 2027 due to strong market growth and new indications [8][9]. - The drugs are particularly strong in the inflammatory bowel disease market, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and have shown competitive advantages in clinical studies [8][9]. Pipeline and Acquisitions - AbbVie has a diverse pipeline with several early/mid-stage candidates that have blockbuster potential, with multiple regulatory submissions and approvals expected in the next 12 months [11][12]. - The company has been actively acquiring new technologies and candidates, signing over 20 early-stage deals since the beginning of 2024, including a recent entry into the obesity treatment space [13]. Challenges and Market Conditions - AbbVie faces challenges such as the erosion of Humira's sales due to biosimilars and declining sales of Juvederm fillers, which fell by 14.6% in 2024 [14][15]. - The aesthetics portfolio's global sales declined by 0.6% in 2024, with a lowered long-term growth guidance for this segment [16]. Valuation and Estimates - AbbVie shares currently trade at a price/earnings ratio of 16.21, slightly lower than the industry average of 16.28, but higher than its five-year mean of 11.88 [17]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has increased from $12.18 to $12.30 per share over the past 60 days, indicating positive sentiment [19].

If tariffs are put in place, it will be a big change for the industry. A 1994 World Trade Organization agreement eliminated levies on a whole swath of pharmaceutical products and the substances used to make them. This gave rise to companies pursuing a host of business strategies aimed at lowering tax rates. "This is largely due to low tax rates in these countries," Wells Fargo analyst Mohit Bansal said. "These companies pay lower overall taxes due to these manufacturing operations and oftentimes [intellectu ...

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or ...

Group 1 - The last analysis on AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) stock was published over a month ago, comparing it with Johnson & Johnson [1] - The article emphasized actionable and clear investment ideas derived from independent research [1] Group 2 - The service has assisted members in outperforming the S&P 500 and avoiding significant drawdowns amid extreme market volatility in both equity and bond markets [2] - A trial membership is available to evaluate the effectiveness of the proven investment method [2]

Group 1: Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Laboratories is considered a safe investment within the healthcare sector due to its diverse operations and strong dividend history [2][4] - The company offers an above-average dividend yield of 1.9%, with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases, indicating reliable income potential [3][5] - In the last year, Abbott generated $19 billion from medical devices, $9 billion from diagnostics, $8 billion from nutritional sales, and $5 billion from established pharmaceuticals, resulting in an overall growth rate of just under 5% [4][5] Group 2: AbbVie - AbbVie has effectively navigated the challenges of losing patent protection for its top-selling drug, Humira, which accounted for 65% of its revenue by 2017 [6][7] - The company has introduced successor products, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, projected to generate combined sales of $24 billion in 2023 and over $31 billion by 2027 [8] - AbbVie is recognized as a Dividend King with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases and offers a forward dividend yield of 3.25% [9] Group 3: Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson maintains a AAA credit rating, reflecting the strength of its balance sheet despite ongoing lawsuits related to talc-based products [11] - The company reported a 4.3% year-over-year increase in revenue to $88.8 billion and an 11.3% increase in earnings per share to $5.79 in 2024 [12] - Johnson & Johnson's recent cancer drug, Carvykti, saw sales grow by 92.7% year over year to $963 million, contributing to its strong growth outlook [13][14]

Core Insights - Allka Research has over two decades of experience in investment, focusing on uncovering undervalued assets in various sectors including ETFs, commodities, technology, and pharmaceuticals [1] - The company emphasizes a conservative investment approach, aiming to deliver substantial returns and strategic insights to clients [1] - Allka Research is committed to simplifying investment strategies, making them accessible to both seasoned and novice investors [1] Company Mission - The mission of Allka Research is to empower individuals financially by sharing knowledge and insights through platforms like Seeking Alpha [1] - The company aims to demystify investing, fostering a community of informed investors capable of navigating the markets intelligently [1] - Allka Research seeks to contribute thought-provoking analyses and informed perspectives to enhance the investment experience for its audience [1]

Core Insights - AbbVie is set to present new data from its early oncology research at the upcoming AACR Annual Meeting, focusing on investigational molecules ABBV-969 and ABBV-514 for hard-to-treat tumors [1][4][12] - The company aims to advance innovative therapies for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers, emphasizing the importance of early-stage research in addressing unmet medical needs [1][9] AbbVie’s Investigational Therapies - ABBV-969 is a dual-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to target tumor cells expressing STEAP1 and/or PSMA antigens, currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) [1][7][12] - ABBV-514 is a novel CCR8-targeting antibody that shows promise in enhancing anti-tumor immunity and is being evaluated in Phase 1 trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck cancer [1][7][12] Research Focus Areas - Presentations will include analyses of treatment resistance and biomarker discovery based on real-world data, which are critical for developing precision medicine [1][5][12] - A study will explore the overlap of folate receptor alpha expression in ovarian cancers, potentially aiding in treatment matching and sequencing [5][12] - Another study will utilize multi-omics approaches to understand long-term responses and resistance to immunotherapy in NSCLC [5][12] Clinical Trials and Presentations - ABBV-969 data will be presented in an oral session on April 27, 2025, highlighting its potential as a first-in-class treatment for advanced prostate cancer [3][4] - ABBV-514 data will be showcased in a poster presentation on April 29, 2025, focusing on its ability to deplete immunosuppressive Tregs in tumors [3][4] - Additional presentations will cover various aspects of cancer research, including germline variants and their association with patient prognosis [5][12]

Group 1: AbbVie - AbbVie experienced a significant drop in share price following a clinical setback for emraclidine, an investigational schizophrenia treatment acquired for $8.7 billion [3] - Despite the setback, AbbVie has shown strong financial performance, with 2024 revenue reaching $56.3 billion, a 3.7% year-over-year increase, which is impressive given the recent loss of patent exclusivity for Humira [5] - AbbVie has a robust pipeline with several dozen programs and has entered a partnership with Gubra A/S to develop a weight loss therapy, indicating potential for future growth [6] - AbbVie is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased its dividends by 310% since splitting from Abbott, with a forward yield of 3.1% [7] Group 2: Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Laboratories operates in multiple healthcare sectors, including medical devices, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics, and is a leader in several markets [8] - The company has a strong culture of innovation and has successfully navigated the highly regulated healthcare industry, providing steady and reliable financial results [9] - Abbott's FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system has significant growth potential, with only 1% of adults with diabetes globally using CGM technology as of last year [10] - Abbott has a track record of increasing payouts annually for 53 consecutive years, with a forward yield of 1.9%, making it a solid option for income-focused investors [11]

Industry Overview - The drug and biotech sector has shown recovery in recent months, driven by better-than-expected fourth-quarter performances from large drugmakers and an optimistic outlook for the year [1] - Key areas of innovation include rare diseases, next-generation oncology treatments, obesity, immunology, and neuroscience, with R&D innovation expected to remain a focus in 2025 [1] - M&A activity is anticipated to stay strong, particularly with the potential return of Trump to the White House [1] Challenges and Headwinds - The sector faces challenges such as pipeline setbacks, slow ramp-up of new drugs, patent cliffs, regulatory risks, and broader economic concerns [2] - Uncertainty exists regarding the new Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s approach to the drug and biotech sector due to his vaccine skepticism [2] - Despite these challenges, large drugmakers are generally profitable and have robust revenue streams, making them attractive for investment [2] Key Players - Notable large drugmakers include AbbVie (ABBV), Novo Nordisk (NVO), Novartis (NVS), Pfizer (PFE), and Bayer (BAYRY), which are recommended for portfolio retention [3] Industry Characteristics - The Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry consists of major global companies developing multi-million-dollar drugs across various therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, cardiovascular, metabolism, rare diseases, immunology, and oncology [4] - Continuous innovation and investment in drug development are defining characteristics of these companies, with a significant focus on R&D and collaboration deals [5][6] M&A Activity - The industry is characterized by aggressive M&A activities, with large pharmaceutical companies acquiring innovative small and mid-cap biotech firms to enhance their pipelines [6][7] - Recent M&A deals, such as J&J's offer to buy Intra-Cellular Therapies for approximately $14.6 billion, highlight the ongoing trend in the sector [8] Performance Metrics - The Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry currently ranks 67, placing it in the top 27% of 247 Zacks industries, indicating a bright outlook [12] - The industry has outperformed the Zacks Medical Sector and the S&P 500 year-to-date, with a collective rise of 6.3% compared to the Medical Sector's 4.3% and the S&P 500's decline of 4.1% [13] Valuation - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.69X, lower than the S&P 500's 20.77X and the Zacks Medical Sector's 20.56X [15] Company Highlights - **Novo Nordisk (NVO)**: Strong presence in diabetes care with successful semaglutide products driving growth; addressing supply constraints and making progress in its pipeline [17][18] - **Bayer (BAYRY)**: Key drugs like Nubeqa and Kerendia are fueling growth; plans to launch new drugs in 2025 [21][22] - **Pfizer (PFE)**: Strengthened oncology position with Seagen acquisition; facing challenges from declining COVID-19 product sales but expects growth from non-COVID drugs [25][26][27] - **AbbVie (ABBV)**: Navigating Humira's loss of exclusivity with new immunology medicines; expects mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2025 [30][33][34] - **Novartis (NVS)**: Strong oncology portfolio and recent acquisitions enhancing its pipeline; solid top-line performance expected to continue [36][37]