Here's How to Play AbbVie Stock as it Enters the Obesity Space

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]