FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system
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BSX vs. ABT: Which MedTech Stock is the Better Investment Now?
ZACKS· 2026-02-20 15:30
Core Insights - Boston Scientific (BSX) and Abbott (ABT) are prominent players in the U.S. MedTech sector, attracting significant investor interest due to their diversified business models and innovative product offerings [1][2] Boston Scientific Overview - Boston Scientific's operational sales grew by 14% year over year in Q4 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.6% [3] - The company anticipates a return to market growth in Urology in 2026, driven by new product launches and the sacral neuromodulation franchise [3] - The acquisition of Valencia is expected to enhance Boston Scientific's pelvic health portfolio [3] - Neuromodulation performance is bolstered by strong brain and pain franchises, with the Nalu acquisition expanding into peripheral nerve pain [4] - The Interventional Cardiology Therapies segment is benefiting from the AGENT Drug-Coated Balloon, with plans to expand indications for SEISMIQ IVL [5] - WATCHMAN sales increased by 29% year over year in Q4, supported by strong adoption rates [6] - Boston Scientific's adjusted gross and operating margins expanded by 30 and 100 basis points, respectively, despite challenges from product discontinuations [7] Abbott Overview - Abbott's Q4 2025 sales rose by 4.4% year over year but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.8% [8] - The company is transitioning to a volume-driven business model in Nutrition, with plans to introduce at least eight new products in the next 12 months [8] - Abbott's Established Pharmaceuticals business is benefiting from high-demand therapeutic areas and advancing its biosimilar strategy in emerging markets [9] - The FreeStyle Libre CGM system achieved over $7.5 billion in sales in 2025, marking three consecutive years of over $1 billion in annual revenues [10] - Abbott's Medical Devices segment achieved several milestones, including regulatory approvals and national coverage for key products [11] - The acquisition of Exact Sciences is a strategic move to expand into cancer diagnostics [12] Financial Estimates and Performance - The consensus estimate for Boston Scientific's 2025 EPS is $3.46, reflecting a 13.1% year-over-year increase [13] - Abbott's consensus estimate for 2026 EPS is $5.68, indicating a 10.3% improvement over 2025 [15] - Over the past six months, Boston Scientific shares have declined by 27.9%, while Abbott shares have decreased by 15% [16] - Boston Scientific is trading at a forward five-year Price/Sales (P/S) ratio of 4.96, while Abbott's is at 4.05 [16] Investment Considerations - Both companies are taking strategic actions to enhance long-term growth prospects, with Boston Scientific showing strong performance in key business units [18] - Abbott's recent performance reflects broad-based growth, particularly in Electrophysiology and CGM [20] - Analysts are optimistic about both companies, with rising earnings estimates, but Abbott appears more attractive in terms of valuation and recent performance [20]