AbbVie Stock Fell Into A Correction
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is a leading biopharma company navigating the biosimilar erosion of its highly successful immunology drug, Humira. Despite that, AbbVie posted a pretty solid earnings scorecard in April 2024. In addition, AbbVie also raised guidance at its Q1 earnings release. Accordingly, AbbVie's revised outlook suggests an adjusted EPS guidance range of between $11.13 to $11.33.
Notwithstanding management's optimism, ABBV has suffered a pullback from its March 2024 highs, dropping into correction territory after declining nearly 16% through this week's lows. As a result, it has underperformed its healthcare sector (XLV) peers since April, as the market reallocated out of ABBV.
I last updated ABBV investors in March 2024, maintaining my Hold thesis on ABBV. Although I acknowledged that AbbVie investors have proved me wrong as ABBV stock surged to a new high in early 2024, I assessed the surging optimism as unsustainable. As a result, I urged ABBV investors who missed buying its lows to wait patiently for an anticipated pullback to add exposure.
With ABBV's decline over the past two months putting it into correction territory, I believe it's timely for me to update investors about my current assessment.
AbbVie Has Rock-Solid Profitability
Investors must remember that ABBV is still a highly profitable company, with a best-in-class "A+" profitability grade relative to its healthcare peers. As a result, AbbVie has significant ammo to execute R&D activities or business development opportunities to bolster its well-diversified portfolio (immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care).
AbbVie is still expected to deliver a free cash flow margin of nearly 35% this year, notwithstanding the pricing impact from Humira. AbbVie management assured investors that AbbVie has considered competition from biosimilars and changes to formularies from PBMs in its annual guidance. Moreover, AbbVie emphasized that it expects "the significant majority of Humira's erosion in 2024 will be due to price rather than volume, with solid contracts in place through 2024." As a result, the company is confident in mitigating Humira's impact on its bottom line with the robust performances of Skyrizi and Rinvoq. AbbVie also highlighted that it has observed "a significant move" to these drugs, underscoring its visibility and outlook.
AbbVie's Long-Term Guidance Is Robust
Therefore, ABBV remains on track to outperform AbbVie's raised >$27B guidance for Skyrizi and Rinvoq by 2027. Furthermore, expectations of "robust sales growth" into the 2030s should alleviate the market's concerns about its long-term outlook. As a result, I believe the recent pullback doesn't suggest a falling knife to avoid. In contrast, the correction should represent a significant dip-buying opportunity for investors who believe in the company's ability to reignite its growth momentum.
Furthermore, the company has several key events lined up through 2025 to maintain investor confidence about its portfolio developments. AbbVie has also completed its ImmunoGen acquisition and integrated its "flagship cancer therapy, Elahere." Therefore, given its solid profitability profile, it should bolster the market's confidence in AbbVie's ability to execute further business development opportunities.
ABBV Stock Valuation Isn't Cheap Though
However, ABBV isn't valued at a discount ("D" valuation grade). ABBV's forward adjusted PEG ratio of 1.9 aligns with its sector median. In addition, its forward adjusted EBITDA multiple of 12.3x is well above its 10Y average of 10.6x.
Hence, I have not assessed a valuation bifurcation in ABBV, suggesting further downside volatility might be possible. Notwithstanding my caution, ABBV's relatively attractive forward dividend yield of 4% should bolster buying sentiments. It's markedly higher than its industry average of 3%. With the Fed's rate hikes likely peaked, income investors are expected to view ABBV's forward yield favorably, providing much-needed valuation support.
Is ABBV Stock A Buy, Sell, Or Hold?
ABBV's price chart suggests a bullish reversal isn't imminent. However, it remains in an uptrend bias, suggesting investors should monitor ABBV's price action carefully for clues to enter.
I expect dip-buyers to return with higher conviction after the consolidation took another tumble last week. If buyers fail to hold above the $154 level, we might see further downside toward the gap between the $135 and $154 zone before a bottom could be assessed.
Notwithstanding the near-term caution, I assess that ABBV's fundamentally strong business model should underpin the market confidence in AbbVie's long-term thesis. Although I don't glean significant undervaluation, I have confidence that the pullback should remain supported close to the $150 level, given the current dynamics.
Consequently, ABBV investors waiting patiently should find the recent pullback an attractive opportunity to buy more shares.
Rating: Upgrade to Buy.
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