Got $500? 2 Healthcare Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

Core Viewpoint - The healthcare sector is positioned as a strong long-term investment opportunity, with a focus on companies that have shown adaptability and are well-prepared for future challenges [2]. Group 1: Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Laboratories, founded in 1888, has a market capitalization of $240 billion and offers diverse healthcare products across multiple sectors [4]. - The company is a leader in medical devices, diagnostics, nutritional products, and established pharmaceuticals, with notable products like the MitraClip and FreeStyle Libre [5][6]. - Abbott anticipates an 8% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025 and continues to innovate, recently receiving the European CE Mark for the Volt PFA System [7][8]. - Abbott has a strong dividend history, having increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years [8]. Group 2: AbbVie - AbbVie, spun off from Abbott in 2013, has a market capitalization of approximately $328 billion and generated $56.3 billion in sales last year [9][10]. - The company has successfully navigated the loss of U.S. exclusivity for its top product, Humira, by investing in R&D and acquisitions, leading to a robust product pipeline [11]. - AbbVie’s successors to Humira, Rinvoq and Skyrizi, are projected to generate combined sales of $31 billion by 2027, surpassing Humira's peak sales [12]. - AbbVie has increased its dividend by a cumulative 310% since its spin-off, with a forward dividend yield of 3.51% [12]. - The stock is considered relatively inexpensive, trading at 15.2 times forward earnings, with growth potential from new products [13].