Dividend Kings In Focus: Abbott Laboratories – Sure Dividend

Up to date on November 1st, 2024 by Felix Martinez

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has elevated its dividend for over 52 consecutive years, and in consequence, it has joined the record of Dividend Kings.

The Dividend Kings are a gaggle of simply 53 shares which have elevated their dividends for a minimum of 50 years in a row. Given this longevity, we consider the Dividend Kings are among the many highest-quality dividend development shares to purchase and maintain for the long run.

With this in thoughts, we created a full record of all 53 Dividend Kings. You’ll be able to obtain the total record, together with necessary monetary metrics corresponding to dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios, by clicking on the hyperlink beneath:

Abbott is a diversified healthcare large with an extended runway of development forward. Whereas the inventory seems barely overvalued, it might proceed to be relied upon for annual dividend will increase.

This text will focus on the corporate’s enterprise overview, development prospects, aggressive benefits, and anticipated returns.

Enterprise Overview

Abbott Laboratories is a healthcare inventory with a market capitalization of $161 billion. Based in 1888, it’s headquartered in Lake Bluff, Illinois.

Abbott operates in 4 primary segments: Dietary Merchandise, Established Prescribed drugs, Diagnostics, and Medical Units, and enjoys a management place throughout product segments.

Supply: Investor Presentation

Abbott Laboratories reported third-quarter 2024 gross sales of $10.6 billion, a 4.9% enhance in reported gross sales, and an 8.2% rise in natural gross sales development, pushed by sturdy performances in its Medical Units sector. The corporate posted a GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.94 and an adjusted EPS of $1.21, excluding particular objects. Sustaining its full-year steerage, Abbott initiatives natural gross sales development between 9.5% and 10.0%, excluding COVID-19 testing gross sales, and has raised its adjusted EPS forecast to a variety of $4.64 to $4.70.

Abbott continued to reinforce its choices all through the quarter with new product approvals, reimbursement agreements and expanded scientific knowledge. Highlights included the launch of Lingo™, a non-prescription steady glucose monitoring system geared toward wellness-focused customers, and a strategic partnership with Medtronic to combine Abbott’s glucose monitoring know-how with Medtronic’s insulin supply units. Moreover, Abbott accomplished enrollment in its VOLT-AF IDE trial for its Volt™ Pulsed Discipline Ablation System for atrial fibrillation remedy, reinforcing its dedication to advancing well being know-how.

Abbott’s board additionally licensed a $7 billion share repurchase program, signaling confidence within the firm’s development trajectory. The corporate reported continued development in key markets, notably inside its Established Prescribed drugs and Medical Units segments, with merchandise like FreeStyle Libre® and AVEIR® contributing to sturdy gross sales. CEO Robert B. Ford emphasised that these outcomes showcase the power of Abbott’s diversified portfolio and place it to realize the higher finish of its 2024 monetary steerage, setting a powerful basis for continued momentum into 2025.

Progress Prospects

Trying forward, Abbott Laboratories has two main development prospects. The primary is the growing old inhabitants, each inside the USA and internationally. In 2019, 9.1% of the worldwide inhabitants exceeded age 65. This proportion is predicted to achieve 16.7% in 2050.

As individuals age, they have a tendency to want extra medical therapies, together with lots of the therapies that Abbott produces.

The corporate’s concentrate on rising markets is the second broad tailwind that can profit Abbott Laboratories. That is notably true for its Branded Generic Prescribed drugs phase.

Supply: Investor Presentation

Abbott has a powerful place in development markets corresponding to diagnostics. It is the market chief in level–of–care diagnostics and cardiovascular medical units.

Lastly, share repurchases, which Abbott spends billions of {dollars} on yearly, will increase earnings per share.

Consequently, Abbott ought to have the ability to generate enticing lengthy–time period development charges for each earnings–per–share and dividends. General, we anticipate 5% annual earnings-per-share development for Abbott over the subsequent 5 years.

Aggressive Benefits & Recession Efficiency

Abbott Laboratories’ first aggressive benefit is its model recognition amongst its client medical merchandise, notably in its Vitamin phase.

Abbott Laboratories manufacturers, led by noteworthy merchandise just like the Guarantee meal substitute complement, permits its gross sales to face sturdy by means of even the worst financial recessions.

Abbott’s second aggressive benefit element is its concentrate on analysis and growth. The corporate’s R&D expense during the last 5 years is proven beneath:

2018 analysis & growth expense: $2.3 billion
2019 analysis & growth expense: $2.4 billion
2020 analysis & growth expense: $2.4 billion
2021 analysis & growth expense: $2.7 billion
2022 analysis & growth expense: $2.8 billion

Abbott Laboratories’ funding in analysis & growth exhibits that the corporate is keen to play the lengthy sport, constructing out its product pipeline and bettering its long-term enterprise development prospects.

As a big, diversified healthcare enterprise, Abbott Laboratories is very recession-resistant. The corporate truly elevated its adjusted earnings-per-share throughout every year of the 2007-2009 monetary disaster.

2007 earnings-per-share of $2.84
2008 earnings-per-share of $3.03 (6.7% enhance)
2009 earnings-per-share of $3.72 (22.8% enhance)
2010 earnings-per-share of $4.17 (12.1% enhance)

As you possibly can see, Abbott truly grew its earnings-per-share every year through the Nice Recession.

We anticipate this recession-resistant Dividend King to carry out equally nicely throughout future downturns within the enterprise surroundings.

From a dividend perspective, Abbott’s dividend additionally seems very protected. The corporate has a projected dividend payout ratio of 46% for 2023. Abbott has raised its dividend for 51 consecutive years, and has paid dividends to shareholders for almost 100 consecutive years.

Valuation & Anticipated Complete Returns

Based mostly on an anticipated EPS of $4.67 for 2024, Abbott inventory has a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.2. This valuation is noticeably greater than its long-term common.

Our truthful worth price-to-earnings ratio is 22, that means the inventory seems to be barely overvalued. A declining P/E a number of might cut back annual returns by 2% over the subsequent 5 years.

The opposite main element of Abbott Laboratories’ future complete returns would be the firm’s earnings-per-share development. We anticipate 7% annual EPS development for the corporate.

Lastly, Abbott’s complete returns can be boosted by the corporate’s dividend funds. Shares presently yield 1.9%.

General, Abbott Laboratories’ anticipated complete returns may very well be composed of:

7% earnings-per-share development
1.9% dividend yield
-2% a number of reversion

Complete anticipated annual returns are forecasted at 6.9% by means of 2029. Given the valuation decline, we now price Abbott a maintain.

Closing Ideas

Abbott Laboratories has an extended historical past of rising its earnings and dividends, because of its sturdy model portfolio. Whereas the corporate’s present valuation fractionally exceeds its long-term common, Abbott Laboratories stays a maintain.

If you’re all in favour of discovering extra high-quality dividend development shares appropriate for long-term funding, the next Certain Dividend databases can be helpful:

The most important home inventory market indices are one other stable useful resource for locating funding concepts. Certain Dividend compiles the next inventory market databases and updates them month-to-month: