Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) stands on the brink of sustained growth in the upcoming quarters, fueled by its strategic global expansion to meet the growing demand for advanced medical technologies. While a positive 2023 outlook fosters confidence, challenges such as foreign exchange fluctuations and a downturn in COVID-related sales present hurdles.
Over the past year, Abbot stock has experienced a modest 2.4% decline, a contrast to the 3.1% industry drop and the 15.5% surge of the S&P 500 composite. With a market capitalization of $178.59 billion, Abbott anticipates a 9% growth trajectory over the next five years, emphasizing its commitment to sustaining robust performance. Notably, Abbott has consistently surpassed earnings estimates over the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 6.76%.
Let’s explore the key factors influencing Abbott’s current standing:
1. Robust Core Diagnostics Segment
Abbott is actively fortifying its Diagnostics business, contributing 24% to the company’s total revenues in Q3 2023. Despite a decline in demand for COVID-19 diagnostic tests, Abbott offsets this through burgeoning growth in other sectors. The U.S. and international markets, in particular, showcase an increased appetite for routine diagnostics. Abbott’s Alinity, an integrated molecular diagnostics analyzer, continues its successful rollout, enhancing test menus across various platforms.
2. Diabetes Care Boosted by FreeStyle Libre
Abbott’s Diabetes Care business remains buoyant, propelled by the remarkable sales of its sensor-based continuous glucose monitoring system, FreeStyle Libre. Achieving global leadership in constant glucose monitoring for both Type 1 and Type 2 users, FreeStyle Libre garnered FDA clearance for the Freestyle Libre 3 system in 2022. Notably, the system received national reimbursement in France in 2023 and gained FDA clearance for connectivity with automated insulin delivery systems. Abbott’s collaboration with insulin pump manufacturers further reinforces its position in the diabetes care market.
3. Positive Guidance Amid Challenges
Abbott’s upbeat guidance for full-year adjusted earnings (excluding specified items) in the range of $4.42-$4.46 reflects confidence in its performance. The company projects low double-digit organic sales growth for 2023, excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, with an additional revenue stream of around $1.5 billion from COVID-19 testing.
Despite these strengths, Abbott faces certain downsides:
Foreign Exchange Challenges
A significant portion of Abbott’s revenue comes from outside the United States, exposing it to the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations. The strengthening of the euro and other developed market currencies adversely affects the company’s performance in international markets, resulting in a 1.4% year-over-year decrease in sales in Q3 2023.
COVID Testing Decline
While Abbott experienced robust revenue growth from diagnostic tests during the COVID-19 pandemic, the conclusion of the public health emergency led to a decline in demand for COVID-19 tests. In Q3 2023, Rapid Diagnostics sales plummeted by 59.2% from the previous year due to reduced demand for COVID-19 tests.
Estimate Trends
Despite challenges, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Abbott’s earnings in the past 90 days has seen a positive shift of 4.40% to $4.44. However, the consensus estimate for the company’s 2023 revenues is pegged at $40.01 billion, indicating an 8.4% decline from the year-ago quarter.
In conclusion, Abbott’s strategic initiatives, diverse product portfolio, and positive outlook position it for long-term growth, but investors should remain vigilant to potential challenges in the global market and the evolving landscape of healthcare demands.
Featured Image: Unsplash
Author Faith Yakubu 
