Core Insights - Abbott's new initiative, "Above the Bias," aims to reduce stigma associated with diabetes and improve the understanding of the condition among the public [6][7] Group 1: Survey Findings - 1 in 6 adults in America now live with diabetes, highlighting the prevalence of the condition [2] - 40% of individuals with diabetes have skipped or missed a doctor's appointment due to feelings of shame or stigma [3][11] - Nearly 70% of respondents believe that supportive comments from others can significantly enhance their motivation to manage their diabetes [3][5] Group 2: Stigma and Misconceptions - Approximately 70% of people living with diabetes perceive stigma associated with their condition [4] - 85% of individuals with diabetes have encountered inaccuracies about the condition in media, with 40% feeling that diabetes is often used as a punchline in jokes [4] - Nearly 25% of individuals have avoided sharing their diabetes diagnosis with family or friends due to embarrassment or concern [11] Group 3: Biometric Responses - Nearly 40% of individuals exhibited an elevated physiological response to stigmatizing statements, indicating the emotional toll of such comments [5] - The question "Should you really be eating that?" elicited the strongest biometric response, comparable to the stress experienced during a job interview [5] Group 4: Abbott's Commitment - Abbott has been a pioneer in diabetes care technology, notably with the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system, which is used by approximately 7 million people in over 60 countries [7][8] - The company emphasizes that technology alone cannot address all barriers faced by individuals with diabetes and calls for broader support from the community [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the reliability of Dividend Kings, specifically Coca-Cola and Abbott Laboratories, as strong investment options for income-seeking investors due to their long history of increasing dividend payouts. Group 1: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola has raised its dividends for 62 consecutive years, showcasing its commitment to returning value to shareholders [5] - The company benefits from a strong brand recognition and competitive advantage, which helps maintain consumer trust and loyalty [3] - Coca-Cola has diversified its product portfolio beyond soft drinks, adapting to market demands with offerings that include alcoholic beverages and health-conscious options [4] - Despite challenges during the pandemic, Coca-Cola demonstrated resilience and has rebounded, maintaining a forward yield of 3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.3% [5] Group 2: Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Laboratories has increased its dividends for 52 consecutive years, making it another reliable choice for income-seeking investors with a forward yield of 2% [10] - The company operates in multiple segments, including medical devices, nutrition, diagnostics, and established pharmaceuticals, providing a diversified revenue stream [6] - Abbott adapted to pandemic-related disruptions by pivoting to develop COVID-19 diagnostic products, which helped stabilize revenue during challenging times [7] - The diabetes care unit, particularly the FreeStyle Libre franchise, is a significant growth driver, with only 1% of adults with diabetes currently using continuous glucose monitoring technology [8] - Abbott's cardiovascular devices are expected to see increased demand as the global population ages, contributing to long-term growth [9]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) experienced a 7.69% loss in December 2024, marking it as the third worst month since its inception, which brought its total return for the year down to +6.72% [1]. Group 1: Performance Metrics - NOBL's December loss of 7.69% is significant, being the third worst monthly performance since the ETF's inception [1]. - The overall return for NOBL in 2024 is +6.72%, indicating a decline in performance towards the end of the year [1].

Core Viewpoint - Abbott Laboratories reported mixed Q4 results with revenues slightly below expectations but earnings meeting consensus estimates, indicating strong performance in the medical devices segment while diagnostics sales declined marginally [1][3][5]. Financial Performance - Q4 revenue was $10.97 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.2% [3]. - Earnings per share were $1.34, showing a 12.6% growth year-over-year [5]. - Medical devices segment sales increased by 13.7%, with diabetes sales specifically rising by 20.1% due to the popularity of FreeStyle Libre [3][4]. Segment Analysis - The nutrition segment saw a 4.5% increase in sales, while established pharmaceuticals grew by 3.8% [3]. - Diagnostics sales experienced a slight decline of 0.6% [3]. Future Outlook - For 2025, Abbott expects organic revenue growth between 7.5% and 8.5% and a 150 basis points improvement in operating margin [5]. - The earnings outlook for 2025 is projected between $5.05 and $5.25 per share, indicating potential double-digit growth at the midpoint [5]. Stock Performance - Despite a mixed Q4 and a Q1 outlook below expectations, Abbott's stock has risen over 10% in a week and 15% since the beginning of 2024 [2][6]. - The stock is currently trading at approximately $123, which is under 24 times the expected forward earnings of $5.15 per share, slightly below its average P/E ratio of 25 over the past three years [8].

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Core Insights - Abbott Laboratories reported Q4 sales of $10.97 billion, a 7.2% year-over-year increase, but fell short of the consensus estimate of $11.01 billion [1] - Organic sales growth for the base business was 8.8%, while excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, organic growth was 10.1% [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The Q4 report indicates strong underlying performance, with expectations for continued growth into the new year [6] - Abbott anticipates achieving 150 basis points of operating margin improvement, supporting long-term double-digit EPS growth [4] Group 2: Market Segments and Growth Opportunities - Stifel analyst Rick Wise highlights strong momentum in the Diabetes Care and Structural Heart segments, predicting double-digit growth in the Medical Device division and high-single-digit growth for the entire company [2] - CEO Robert Ford identified key growth opportunities in the Diabetes Care division, including increased use of continuous glucose monitors among insulin-intensive patients and expanding market share with the Libre system's insulin pump connectivity [3] Group 3: Analyst Ratings and Price Forecasts - Stifel maintains a Buy rating with a price forecast increase from $130 to $135, citing unique product offerings and strong growth potential in the MedTech sector [5] - Piper Sandler reiterates an Overweight rating with a price forecast of $133, viewing Abbott stock as a strong GARP investment in large-cap MedTech [6]

Group 1: Market Context - The focus on North American trade, particularly tariffs affecting Canada and Mexico, may benefit stocks with supply chains located elsewhere [1] - The potential for significant stock returns is highlighted, referencing past performance during Trump's first term [2] Group 2: Company Analysis - Analog Devices (ADI) - Analog Devices (ADI) has a strong U.S. manufacturing presence with four facilities, allowing flexibility in production amid trade concerns [3] - The company specializes in semiconductor chips used across various applications, including industrial, automotive, and consumer sectors [4] - ADI is involved in automotive automation, collaborating with Waymo on radar technology for self-driving cars, indicating a strong position in a growing market [5] - The health monitoring sector is another growth area for ADI, with products that integrate various health measurements [6] - ADI's diversified revenue stream ensures no single customer accounts for more than 10% of its revenues, contributing to steady dividend growth, which has increased by 149% over the past decade [7] - Despite a recent 15% pullback, ADI is positioned for potential triple-digit returns as it did during Trump's first term [8] Group 3: Company Analysis - Abbott Laboratories (ABT) - Abbott Laboratories (ABT) experienced a 199% return during Trump's first term, with current trading levels 8% below recent highs due to market fears related to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [9][10] - The company saw significant sales growth from $32 billion to $45.5 billion, driven by COVID-19 testing kits, although this growth has since subsided [11] - Abbott is focusing on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, which are gaining traction not only among diabetics but also among health-conscious consumers [12] - The trend towards preventative medicine is expected to grow, positioning Abbott favorably for future demand [14]

It's the start of a new year, and that makes now the perfect time to load up on stocks that could boost your portfolio in 2025 and over the long term. The healthcare space is a great place to look for these sorts of players because here you'll find all that you need to gain in both growth and security -- from young biotechs developing game-changing technologies to big pharma or medical device players selling blockbuster drugs and paying out dividends to investors.If you select quality companies and diversif ...

Company Performance - Abbott Laboratories reported fourth-quarter sales of $10.97 billion, which is a 7.2% increase year over year, but it missed the consensus estimate of $11.01 billion [2] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share for Abbott were $1.34, aligning with analyst estimates and management's guidance of $1.31-$1.37, up from $1.19 a year ago [2] - For full-year 2025, Abbott projects adjusted EPS of $5.05-$5.25, compared to a consensus of $5.16, with organic sales growth expected at 7.5%-8.5% and an adjusted operating margin of 23.5%-24.0% [3] Market Movements - Blackboxstocks Inc. shares surged 101% to $3.39 following a $250K securities purchase agreement and potential merger anticipation [9] - Absci Corporation's shares increased by 26% to $4.0450 after Needham initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $9 price target [9] - ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. shares rose 30% to $0.6396 after announcing the development of a new class of GLP-1 therapies [9] - Agilysys, Inc. shares fell 21% to $100.00 due to worse-than-expected third-quarter sales results and FY25 revenue guidance below estimates [9] - Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares plummeted 61% to $0.1265 after announcing a $9 million public offering [9] - Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. shares dropped 30% to $2.72 following preliminary cohort data from its Phase 2 Ascend trial [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics - No specific financial data or key metrics changes mentioned in the provided content [1][2][3][4][5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics - No specific business line data or key metrics changes mentioned in the provided content [1][2][3][4][5] Market Data and Key Metrics - No specific market data or key metrics changes mentioned in the provided content [1][2][3][4][5] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - No specific company strategy or industry competition details mentioned in the provided content [1][2][3][4][5] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The company cautions that forward-looking statements made during the call are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated Economic, competitive, governmental, technological, and other factors that may affect the company's operations are discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2023 [5] Other Important Information - The call is being recorded by the company and is material copyrighted by the company It cannot be recorded or rebroadcast without the company's express written permission [2] Q&A Session - No Q&A session details provided in the content [1][2][3][4][5]