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Abbott LabsABTTOP PICKMar 15, 2022Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 18, 2026. Market Open.
It is a diversified global health care company with four operating divisions. Sales dropped dramatically after benefiting during Covid but the basic business is doing well with all divisions growing organically. Weight loss patients are using their drugs to monitor glucose. It has had 51 years of dividend increases. Buy 19 Hold 7 Sell 0
(Analysts’ price target is $116.88)Has owned this many years. She likes healthcare because of aging demographics. They made a lot of cash during Covid and have used that cash for M&A and R&D. Pays a nice 2.5% dividend. Has an established track record of raising their dividend annually. Trades at a reasonable PE. Lags healthcare, but still likes ABT.
Defensive. Very strong growth platform. Diagnostic business is right-sizing now, but organic growth of other businesses is double digits. Valuation is a bit more expensive at 23x earnings, but free cashflow yield is about 4%.
Instead of innovation, they tend to acquire and enhance, which has been a knock against them. Big wins in cardiac portfolio and FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring. Businesses are right in the sweet spot. Yield is 1.83%.
They made the Covid testing kits which generated $20 billion in revenues, so shares got ahead of itself. The market has ignored any such companies since then, but these earnings will eventually work their way up again. ABT has given guidance ex-Covid tests, meaning double-digit organic growth. This is a long-time core holding. They're in medtech and medical procedures are ramping up (a tailwind). Pays a constant and long-growing dividend now around 2.5%. She likes healthcare as a play on the aging population.
Has owned this for years, but is buying at current prices. They make the Covid-testing kits, totalling $10 billion revenues. Demand here will likely soften. The stock price is flat over the year, despite those revenues, but at least the cash flow from the testing can lead to more products and acquisition. They forecast they can grow revenues around 9%. Attractive stock price now. Diagnostic and medical devices are good business. Pharmas are selling to emerging markets. Their glucose monitoring system is doing well. Their heart products are a new source of growth. Attractive PE. (Analysts’ price target is $139.72)