Erste Group lifts AbbVie stock rating to Buy on growth forecast

Published 17/03/2025, 14:48
Erste Group lifts AbbVie stock rating to Buy on growth forecast

On Monday, Erste Group upgraded AbbVie stock (NYSE:ABBV) from Hold to Buy, citing the pharmaceutical company’s robust sales growth forecast and promising pipeline of new products. With a substantial market capitalization of $372.4 billion and annual revenue of $56.3 billion, AbbVie has recently reaffirmed its expectation to achieve annual sales growth in the high single-digit percentage range through to 2029, which underpins the analyst’s positive outlook. The company’s strong performance is reflected in its impressive year-to-date return of 20.3%.

The company’s anticipated launch of numerous potential new products in the upcoming years is expected to bolster this growth trajectory. Additionally, AbbVie projects a significant increase in its earnings per share (EPS) for 2025, with estimates ranging between approximately $12.12 and $12.32. According to InvestingPro, which offers 14+ additional exclusive insights, the company maintains a strong financial health score and has consistently raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years.

Erste Group’s analyst highlighted the valuation of AbbVie shares, with the stock currently trading at a P/E ratio of 88.03 and offering a dividend yield of 3.1%. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $218.66, and the average analyst consensus maintains a Buy rating with a score of 1.96. Based on InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis, the stock appears to be fairly valued at current levels.

Abbvie’s financial position appears to be strengthening, as reflected in the upgraded rating, and the company’s strategic focus on expanding its product portfolio seems poised to contribute to its sustained growth and profitability in the long term. The forecasted EPS increase for 2025 further underscores the company’s positive financial outlook.

Investors may find the upgraded rating and the underlying reasons for it, particularly AbbVie’s growth prospects and valuation, to be key points of interest when evaluating the company’s stock performance and future potential.

In other recent news, AbbVie has been in the spotlight with several significant developments. Berenberg increased its price target for AbbVie to $195, maintaining a Hold rating, following a review of the company’s 2024 annual report and revised earnings forecasts. The report highlighted stronger-than-expected immunology sales, particularly from the drug Skyrizi. Meanwhile, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an Outperform rating for AbbVie, with a $215 price target, after the company announced a licensing agreement with Gubra for a long-acting Amylin analogue, GUB14295, currently in phase 1 development. This deal involves an upfront payment of $350 million and potential milestone payments, reflecting AbbVie’s strategic move to expand its treatment portfolio.

Additionally, Bernstein SocGen Group maintained a Market Perform rating and a $203 price target for AbbVie, emphasizing the company’s entry into the obesity treatment market through the Gubra agreement. This move is seen as a strategic diversification, aligning with AbbVie’s history of successful ventures outside its core focus. BofA Securities also updated its outlook on AbbVie, raising the price target to $223 from $200 while keeping a Neutral rating. This adjustment considers AbbVie’s robust financial performance and its recent entry into the obesity market, which is expected to enhance its long-term potential.

These recent developments indicate that AbbVie is actively pursuing growth opportunities across various therapeutic areas, with analysts expressing both optimism and caution regarding the company’s strategic direction.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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