I often say that investing rarely has a dull moment, which is why I find it so fascinating. The beginning of 2025 certainly has been no different.The new administration wasted no time implementing many policies, including sweeping layoffs of federal employees and tariffs and tariff threats. But as investors, it is crucial to put personal political beliefs aside.One thing is clear: The market does not like uncertainty, and there is much of it now. As of Monday's close, the S&P 500 was down 8.6% from its rece ...

It's not too often that pharmaceutical drugs become household names, but that's happening with medicines in the weight loss market. Brands such as Wegovy and Zepbound -- the leading anti-obesity therapies -- are now well known and are generating billions of dollars in annual sales. That's why other drugmakers want to dip their toes in this lucrative and high-growth market.AbbVie (ABBV 1.68%) is one of them. The company, best known for its work in immunology, recently made a move to enter the weight loss spa ...

Core Insights - The average tax refund in 2024 is $3,138, similar to the previous year's average of $3,167, providing potential extra cash for investments [1] Group 1: AbbVie - AbbVie is a leading healthcare company with a market capitalization of approximately $370 billion and offers a dividend yield of 3.1%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.3% [3][6] - Concerns about AbbVie losing patent protection for its top-selling drug Humira are mitigated by the success of its newer immunology drugs, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which generated $17.7 billion in revenue last year, while Humira's sales fell by 38% to just under $9 billion [4] - AbbVie's diverse business includes treatments in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and aesthetics, with potential growth in the aesthetics sector driven by rising popularity of GLP-1 weight loss treatments and Botox [5] Group 2: Alibaba Group - Alibaba has gained traction among growth investors, with its stock rising over 60% in the past six months, bolstered by the launch of its AI chatbot Qwen 2.5-Max, which reportedly outperforms ChatGPT-4o [7][8] - Despite a modest sales growth of 8% in the last quarter of 2024, reaching $38.4 billion, the partnership with Apple for AI features signals promising future growth [8][9] - The stock is trading at 13 times expected future profits, presenting a potentially attractive investment opportunity, alongside a dividend yield of 1.5% [9] Group 3: FedEx - FedEx, a key player in shipping and logistics, offers a dividend yield of 2.1% and is well-positioned to benefit from the growing e-commerce market, projected to expand at an annual rate of around 19% through the end of the decade [10] - Recent challenges include a 1% decline in sales over the past two quarters and a 23% drop in operating income, but the company is focusing on efficiency improvements and AI investments to enhance profitability [11][12] - With a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 12, FedEx is considered a potentially undervalued investment for long-term holders [12]

Core Viewpoint - AbbVie is expanding its presence in the obesity treatment market by in-licensing GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog, from Gubra, with a total potential deal value of $2.225 billion [1][2][3] Industry Overview - The obesity market is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030, with current dominance by GLP-1 drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [3] - Major pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Pfizer, Amgen, and AstraZeneca, are actively pursuing opportunities in the obesity space through in-house development or licensing deals [3] AbbVie's Product Performance - AbbVie has successfully launched Skyrizi and Rinvoq, generating combined sales of $17.7 billion in 2024, particularly excelling in the inflammatory bowel disease market [5][6] - The company anticipates combined sales of Skyrizi and Rinvoq to exceed $31 billion by 2027, driven by market growth and new indications [7] Pipeline and Acquisitions - AbbVie has a robust pipeline with several early/mid-stage candidates and expects multiple regulatory submissions and approvals in the next 12 months [8][9] - The company has been active in acquisitions, signing over 20 early-stage deals in 2024 to enhance its pipeline in immunology, oncology, and neuroscience [11][12] Sales Trends and Challenges - AbbVie is experiencing declining sales from Humira due to biosimilar competition, with a sharper decline expected in 2025 [13] - The aesthetics portfolio, including Juvederm fillers, has also seen a decline, with a 14.6% drop in sales in 2024 [14][15] Stock Performance and Valuation - AbbVie stock has outperformed the industry with a 14.8% increase over the past year [16][18] - The stock trades at a price/earnings ratio of 16.52, slightly below the industry average of 17.80, but higher than many large drugmakers [19][20] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AbbVie's 2025 earnings has increased from $12.24 to $12.29 per share, indicating positive sentiment [22]

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.The booming weight loss drug market has gained a new potential competitor. AbbVie said on Monday that it will pay up to $2.2 billion to develop Danish drugmaker Gubra's experimental obesity drug, marking its late foray into the segment. Under the terms of the deal, the pharmaceutical giant will pay Gubra $350 million upfront ...

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) will participate at the Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Management will participate in a fireside chat at 7:40 a.m. Central time.A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible through AbbVie's Investor Relations website at investors.abbvie.com. An archived edition of the session will be available later that day.About AbbVieAbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medici ...

On Monday, AbbVie Inc ABBV and Gubra A/S announced a license agreement to develop GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog for obesity. GUB014295 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial.“Our partnership with Gubra marks our entry into the obesity field, offering a compelling opportunity based on the potential to address patient needs while also fostering long-term growth for our company,” said Robert Michael, CEO of AbbVie.Also Read: Is Big Pharma About To Win? Goldman Sachs Weighs In On 340B And Medicaid Sh ...

Core Insights - AbbVie and Gubra A/S have entered into a license agreement to develop GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog aimed at treating obesity, marking AbbVie's entry into the obesity treatment market [1][2][3] - GUB014295 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials and is designed to activate amylin and calcitonin receptors, which may help suppress appetite and reduce food intake [2][3] - The agreement includes an upfront payment of $350 million to Gubra, with potential milestone payments totaling up to $1.875 billion, along with tiered royalties on global net sales [3] Company Overview - AbbVie is focused on innovative medicines addressing significant health issues, with a mission to transform patient care in areas of unmet need [2][8] - Gubra specializes in preclinical contract research services and peptide-based drug discovery, particularly in metabolic and fibrotic diseases, and reported revenue of DKK 266 million in 2024 [9] Clinical Development - The Phase 1 clinical trial of GUB014295 consists of two parts: Part 1 has been completed, while Part 2 is ongoing, involving a randomized, placebo-controlled design [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - The upcoming January reading of the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index is expected to indicate persistent inflation, prompting investors to consider sectors that can benefit from inflation rather than fleeing the stock market entirely [1][2]. Inflation Overview - The PCE index is anticipated to confirm previous inflation readings from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI), suggesting inflation rates are likely to rise rather than approach the Federal Reserve's target [2]. - U.S. consumers now expect inflation to increase to 6% over the next 12 months, up from 5.2% [3]. Interest Rates Impact - Rising interest rates, implemented to combat inflation, have led to stock market volatility, particularly affecting technology stocks due to concerns over higher borrowing costs [3][4]. - There are indications that the Federal Reserve may need to raise rates again, delaying potential rate cuts [3]. Defensive Sectors to Watch - Defensive sectors are highlighted as potential investment opportunities, characterized by companies that provide essential products and services regardless of economic conditions [5][6]. - These sectors typically feature strong balance sheets and pricing power, allowing for solid earnings growth and dividends [5][6]. Biopharmaceuticals - The biopharmaceutical sector is divided into small-cap companies with high-risk profiles and blue-chip stocks like AbbVie and Merck, which offer value and growth potential due to their established drug portfolios and strong pipelines [7][9]. Consumer Staples - Consumer staples are expected to perform well in inflationary environments, with companies like PepsiCo and Mondelez showing pricing power and reliable dividends [11][12]. - Other notable companies in this sector include Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, which also exhibit similar attributes [13]. Utilities - Utility stocks are considered reliable investments due to their consistent demand, with NextEra Energy being a notable example [14][15]. Metals and Mining - Metals and mining stocks, particularly those related to gold and copper, are viewed as inflation hedges, with companies like Newmont and Freeport-McMoRan recommended for exposure to precious metals [16][17].

Core Viewpoint - AbbVie announced a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommending the approval of upadacitinib (RINVOQ®) for treating adult patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), with a final decision expected in the first half of 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Product Information - Upadacitinib (RINVOQ) is a selective and reversible JAK inhibitor being studied for various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including GCA [7]. - If approved, upadacitinib would be the first and only oral advanced therapy for adults with GCA [1]. - RINVOQ is already approved in the EU for several conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis [2][8][12]. Group 2: Clinical Trial Data - The positive opinion is based on the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT-GCA clinical trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in adults aged 50 and older with GCA [2][5]. - The trial involved 428 patients and demonstrated that the primary endpoint of sustained remission and key secondary endpoints were met [5][6]. - The safety profile of upadacitinib during the trial was consistent with that observed in other approved indications [2][5]. Group 3: Disease Background - GCA is an inflammatory disease that can lead to severe outcomes such as blindness and stroke if untreated [2][4]. - It is the most common vasculitis affecting adults in Western countries, with the highest risk among white women over 50 years old [4].