Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Boston Scientific (BSX), Edwards Lifesciences (EW), GE Healthcare (GEHC), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), and Haemonetics (HAE), while downgrading Tandem Diabetes (TNDM) to "Sell/High Risk" from "Neutral/High Risk" [1][5][20]. Core Insights - The MedTech sector has shown resilience against healthcare headwinds, with a focus on returning to fundamentals and several catalysts expected to drive momentum in the second half of 2025 [1][9]. - The S&P Equipment and Supplies Index has outperformed the broader market, with a year-to-date increase of 7.2%, while relative P/E multiples remain below historical averages [2][12]. - Key upcoming catalysts include product launches and data readouts from various companies, which are anticipated to influence stock performance positively [3][10][11]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - The MedTech industry has largely absorbed tariff impacts, with a weakening USD providing additional support [1][9]. - The S&P 500 is up 6.2% year-to-date, while the S&P Equipment and Supplies Index has increased by 7.2% [2][12]. Company-Specific Insights - Boston Scientific (BSX) is expected to benefit from Farapulse and new product launches, projecting a revenue increase of 80.1% year-over-year in 2Q25 [3][10]. - Edwards Lifesciences (EW) anticipates pivotal data releases and the reopening of TAVR NCD, which could enhance its market position [3][10]. - Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) plans a broad launch of its DV5 system, which is expected to drive stock performance [4][10]. - Haemonetics (HAE) has been upgraded to "Buy" due to improved guidance and revenue growth expectations [5][20]. - Tandem Diabetes (TNDM) faces competitive pressures, leading to its downgrade to "Sell/High Risk" [5][20]. Valuation and Target Prices - Target prices have been adjusted for several companies, with BSX at $125, EW at $95, GEHC at $86, and ISRG at $650 [20][21]. - The report highlights that the relative P/E multiple for the MedTech sector is currently at 1.14x, below historical averages, indicating potential undervaluation [2][12][14].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent developments in trade negotiations, the impact of tariffs on inflation, and the upcoming economic data releases that could influence monetary policy decisions in the US and Europe [1][3][6]. Trade Negotiations and Tariffs - President Trump announced a new round of reciprocal tariffs on several trade partners, leading to a decline in US stock markets, with the Dow Jones down 1.02% and the S&P 500 down 0.31% for the week [1]. - The deadline for the new tariffs to take effect is August 1, and investors are awaiting further news on trade negotiations [1][3]. - The EU is attempting to reach a trade agreement with the US, with concerns that US tariffs could disrupt transatlantic supply chains [6]. Economic Data and Monetary Policy - The upcoming US inflation data, particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June, is expected to influence the Federal Reserve's decision on potential interest rate cuts later this year [3]. - The Federal Reserve's June meeting minutes indicated concerns about inflation pressures from tariffs, but a belief that a rate cut may occur later in the year [3]. - In the UK, inflation has risen, with the CPI at 3.4% in May, and expectations for a potential rate cut by the Bank of England if economic data continues to underperform [7]. Commodity Markets - Oil prices have stabilized, with WTI crude oil rising 2.16% to $68.45 per barrel and Brent crude oil increasing 3.02% to $70.36 per barrel, amid concerns over summer supply and demand [4]. - Gold prices have also rebounded, with COMEX gold rising 0.73% to $3356 per ounce, as investors seek safe-haven assets amid trade uncertainties [5]. Upcoming Economic Indicators - Key economic indicators to watch include the US PPI, industrial production, and retail sales data, as well as consumer sentiment surveys [3][9]. - In Europe, the ZEW economic sentiment index for Germany will be released, reflecting the economic outlook amid trade tensions [6].

In the latest trading session, Abbott (ABT) closed at $132.02, marking a -1.18% move from the previous day. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.33%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.63%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 0.22%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the maker of infant formula, medical devices and drugs had lost 2.09% lagged the Medical sector's loss of 0.32% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.07%.The investment community will be paying close ...

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year increase in earnings for Abbott, driven by higher revenues, with a focus on how actual results will compare to estimates [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Abbott is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.25 per share, reflecting a +9.7% change year-over-year, with revenues projected at $11.07 billion, up 6.7% from the previous year [3]. - The earnings report is scheduled for July 17, and better-than-expected results could lead to a stock price increase, while a miss may result in a decline [2]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.44% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - A positive Earnings ESP of +0.96% suggests analysts have recently become more optimistic about Abbott's earnings prospects, combined with a Zacks Rank of 2 indicating a likely earnings beat [12]. Earnings Surprise History - Abbott has a history of beating consensus EPS estimates, having exceeded expectations in three out of the last four quarters [14]. - In the last reported quarter, Abbott's earnings of $1.09 per share surpassed the expected $1.07, resulting in a surprise of +1.87% [13]. Conclusion - Abbott is positioned as a strong candidate for an earnings beat, but investors should consider additional factors beyond earnings results when making investment decisions [15][17].

Company Overview - Abbott Laboratories has launched its FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor for diabetes management in Canada, featuring the world's smallest glucose sensor, which is expected to enhance the company's Diabetes Care business [1][8] - The FreeStyle Libre system has achieved global leadership in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes users, contributing positively to Abbott's market sentiment [3][8] Financial Performance - Abbott's market capitalization stands at $231.78 billion, with an earnings yield of 3.9%, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.6% [4] - Over the past year, Abbott's shares have increased by 29.3%, outperforming the industry growth of 11.6% [10] Product Significance - The FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus simplifies glucose monitoring, allowing users to track glucose levels in real-time via a smartphone app, which is crucial for effective diabetes management [5][6] - Approximately 12 million Canadians live with diabetes, with around 90% having Type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of glucose monitoring in this demographic [5] Industry Prospects - The global CGM devices market is projected to reach $7.51 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.19% from 2024 to 2030, driven by the rising prevalence of diabetes and increasing demand for treatment [7]

Core Viewpoint - Abbott Laboratories has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 index this year, with an 18% increase in stock price compared to the S&P 500's 6% rise, driven by solid quarterly results and positive future forecasts [2] Growth - Abbott Laboratories' revenues have shown slight growth over recent years, with a 4.6% increase from $40 billion to $42 billion in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 experienced a growth of 5.5% [6] - Quarterly revenues grew by 7.2% to $11 billion in the most recent quarter from $10 billion a year ago, compared to a 4.8% improvement for the S&P 500 [6] Profitability - Abbott Laboratories' operating income over the last four quarters reached $6.8 billion, reflecting a moderate operating margin of 16.3% [5] - The company's net income stood at $13 billion, indicating a high net income margin of 31.9%, compared to 11.6% for the S&P 500 [12] Financial Stability - Abbott Laboratories has a robust balance sheet, with total debt of $15 billion and a market capitalization of $233 billion, resulting in a low debt-to-equity ratio of 6.3% compared to 19.4% for the S&P 500 [12] - The company's operating cash flow was $8.6 billion, yielding a cash flow margin of 20.4%, higher than the S&P 500's 14.9% [12] Downturn Resilience - Abbott Laboratories has demonstrated more resilience than the S&P 500 during recent downturns, with a peak-to-trough decline of 36.2% from a peak of $141.46 on December 27, 2021, compared to a 25.4% decline for the S&P 500 [13] - The stock has shown strong recovery patterns in past crises, fully recovering to pre-crisis peaks in several instances [13] Valuation - Abbott Laboratories' price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 5.6, compared to 3.1 for the S&P 500, and its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 17.7 against the benchmark's 26.9 [6] - The current valuation appears slightly high compared to the broader market but aligns with the stock's historical average [3][9]

AbbVie - AbbVie is a pharmaceutical leader with a strong portfolio, particularly in immunology with products Skyrizi and Rinvoq, achieving a revenue increase of 8.4% year-over-year to $13.3 billion in Q1, with adjusted earnings per share at $2.46, a 6.5% increase [3][4] - Skyrizi generated $3.4 billion in sales, a 70.5% year-over-year increase, while Rinvoq's revenue was $1.7 billion, up 57.2% year-over-year; management forecasts combined annual sales exceeding $31 billion by 2027, significantly higher than the previous year's $17.7 billion [4][5] - AbbVie has a deep pipeline with approximately 90 products in development, allowing it to navigate patent cliffs and maintain long-term success [5][7] - AbbVie has increased its dividends by 310% since 2013 and has a track record of 53 consecutive years of payout increases, indicating strong potential for sustained passive income [8] Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Laboratories is a leader in the medical device space, with a diversified operation across diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and nutrition, which helps mitigate challenges in specific segments [9][10] - The diabetes care segment, particularly the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system, has been a significant growth driver, becoming the most successful medical device in history in terms of dollar sales [11][12] - Abbott has increased its dividends by almost 146% over the past decade, reinforcing its reputation as a Dividend King and indicating a strong foundation for long-term dividend growth [13]

Core Viewpoint - Abbott (ABT) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors often rely on earnings estimates to determine a company's fair value, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4]. Abbott's Earnings Outlook - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Abbott is expected to earn $5.16 per share, with a 0.2% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Abbott's underlying business, which is likely to drive the stock price higher as investor sentiment improves [5][10]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with only the top 20% receiving a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions [9][10]. - Stocks rated Zacks Rank 1 have historically generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988, showcasing the effectiveness of the system [7].

Core Insights - Abbott's diversified business portfolio is well-positioned for continued momentum into 2025, currently holding a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [1] Factors Driving ABT Shares - Abbott's Established Pharmaceuticals Division (EPD) is leveraging its strong presence in emerging markets, achieving an 8% organic sales growth in Q1 2025. The company is focusing on biosimilars, securing rights to 15 products across key therapeutic areas, and has recently agreed to commercialize four additional biosimilars in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa [2] - The Diagnostics business, accounting for 20% of total revenues in Q1 2025, is experiencing increased global demand for routine diagnostics, with Core Laboratory Diagnostics (excluding China) growing 6.5% [3] - The Diabetes Care segment is benefiting from the success of the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system, which has achieved global leadership in its category. In Q1 2025, CGM sales exceeded $1.7 billion, reflecting a 21.6% year-over-year growth [4][5] Recent Performance - Year-to-date, Abbott's shares have increased by 21.7%, outperforming the industry average of 8.2%. The company's expansion in high-growth areas and new product launches are expected to sustain this upward trend [6] Concerns for Abbott - Foreign exchange fluctuations pose a significant challenge, with a 2.8% unfavorable impact on sales in Q1 2025 due to a strong euro and other developed market currencies [7] - The ongoing complex geopolitical situation is leading to higher-than-anticipated expenses for raw materials and freight, which may affect Abbott's business in the coming months. The deteriorating global economic environment is also reducing demand for several MedTech products, impacting sales and increasing costs [8] Other Key Picks - Other top-ranked stocks in the medical space include Phibro Animal Health (PAHC), Hims & Hers Health (HIMS), and Cencora (COR), with varying degrees of performance and earnings estimates [11][12][13][14]

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT ) is an interesting hybrid - a large and well-established pharmaceutical company that's also proactive. The leadership is confident but realistic, anticipating challenges such as tariff imposition while mitigating potential damage via flexibility and adjustment ofI am a writer with diverse interests from creative writing to physics to tennis and music. Another interest is markets/investing. I live on the Israeli Golan Heights.I believe in research as a critical component of an ...