On Monday, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) (BofA) increased its price target on AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) to $167 from $165, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. This adjustment follows AbbVie's robust fourth-quarter earnings, which exceeded expectations by $309 million in revenue and $0.03 in earnings per share (EPS). Additionally, the company has uplifted its 2024 EPS forecast to a range of $11.05 to $11.25.
AbbVie's shares experienced a positive response, attributed to the company's optimistic long-term financial prospects. These include a revision of combined Skyrizi and Rinvoq 2027 revenue projections to over $27 billion, up from the previous $21 billion estimate. The company also expects Ubrelvy and Qulipta to achieve peak sales surpassing $3 billion, and foresees a return to growth in oncology revenue by 2026. Furthermore, peak sales for its Aesthetics products are projected to exceed $9 billion in 2029, with Vraylar's peak sales nearing $5 billion.
The company's management has provided guidance for $7.8 billion in U.S. Humira sales, with a -36% erosion rate, which is more favorable than the -40% market consensus. BofA has revised its own 2024 U.S. Humira sales estimate to $7.4 billion, reflecting a -39% erosion compared to its previous -43% projection. This revision is supported by increased formulary status visibility and a supply agreement with Caremark/Cordavis (CVS).
Despite the positive developments, BofA remains cautious.
"Overall, our 24-29’ sales CAGR is 4% (vs. “a high single-digit” CAGR) as we think there are clinical and commercial (e.g., I&I pricing pressures, macro uncertainty continuing to limit Aesthetics uptake, oral CGRP prescribing dynamics skewed in favor of PCP’s) overhangs ex-Humira that may limit upside," said the analysts.
InvestingPro Insights
AbbVie's recent performance and Bank of America's updated price target have put the company in the spotlight. In the midst of these developments, InvestingPro Insights offer a deeper dive into the company's financial health and market position. Notably, AbbVie has a market capitalization of 303.27 billion USD, reflecting its significant presence in the pharmaceutical industry. The company's Price/Earnings (P/E) Ratio stands at 46.92, which suggests a higher valuation compared to the average in the sector. However, when adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q4 2023, the P/E Ratio becomes more favorable at 22.68.
One of the InvestingPro Tips highlights that AbbVie has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years, which may appeal to income-focused investors. Additionally, analysts expect net income to grow this year, providing a positive outlook for the company's profitability. With a dividend yield of 3.68% as of the latest data, and a dividend growth of 4.73% over the last twelve months, AbbVie shows potential as a steady income-generating investment.
For those interested in further analysis and additional InvestingPro Tips, there are 14 more tips available on the InvestingPro platform, which can be accessed by visiting: https://www.investing.com/pro/ABBV. Currently, InvestingPro is offering a special New Year sale with discounts of up to 50%. Additionally, readers can use coupon code "SFY24" to get an additional 10% off a 2-year InvestingPro+ subscription, or "SFY241" to get an additional 10% off a 1-year InvestingPro+ subscription.
AbbVie's strong free cash flow yield, as indicated by its valuation, and its status as a prominent player in the Biotechnology industry, are factors that investors might consider. Moreover, the company's stock has been trading near its 52-week high, reinforcing the positive sentiment surrounding its financial prospects and market performance.
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