AbbVie Inc. $ABBV Shares Sold by Vestor Capital LLC

Key Points

• Vestor Capital cut its AbbVie stake by 83.8% in the first quarter, selling 369,951 shares and retaining 71,770 shares worth approximately $15.6 million.
• Other institutional investors increased their holdings, and hedge funds collectively own 70.23% of AbbVie.
• Analysts maintain a favorable outlook, with AbbVie carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $269.29; however, shares near their 52-week high and concerns surrounding the proposed Apogee acquisition add risks.

Vestor Capital LLC cut its stake in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV - Free Report) by 83.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 71,770 shares of the company's stock after selling 369,951 shares during the quarter. AbbVie makes up approximately 1.1% of Vestor Capital LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Vestor Capital LLC's holdings in AbbVie were worth $15,609,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in AbbVie by 17.4% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 22,912 shares of the company's stock worth $4,072,000 after buying an additional 3,401 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of AbbVie by 72.7% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 7,279 shares of the company's stock worth $1,294,000 after acquiring an additional 3,064 shares in the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its position in shares of AbbVie by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 16,466 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,056,000 after acquiring an additional 789 shares during the period. Ieq Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of AbbVie by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 120,035 shares of the company's stock valued at $22,281,000 after purchasing an additional 5,274 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of AbbVie by 117.3% in the 2nd quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 1,135,034 shares of the company's stock valued at $210,685,000 after purchasing an additional 612,702 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.23% of the company's stock.

AbbVie News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting AbbVie this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The European Commission approved RINVOQ® for severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents aged 12 and older. The Phase 3 program demonstrated statistically significant scalp, eyebrow, and eyelash hair regrowth, including complete scalp regrowth for some patients. The approval expands RINVOQ’s commercial opportunity in Europe. RINVOQ alopecia areata approval
• Positive Sentiment: RINVOQ also received EU approval for non-segmental vitiligo, making it the first and only systemic treatment approved for that condition in the region. The decision was supported by positive Phase 3 repigmentation data and could further diversify RINVOQ growth. RINVOQ vitiligo approval
• Positive Sentiment: AbbVie began a first-in-human Phase 1 trial of ABBV-859, providing an early-stage pipeline catalyst. The program is not expected to affect near-term earnings, but investors may view it as evidence of continued investment in long-term growth. ABBV-859 Phase 1 trial
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually heavy call-option buying and a modest increase in an analyst’s 2027 earnings forecast indicate that some traders and analysts remain bullish on AbbVie’s longer-term earnings outlook.
• Neutral Sentiment: Allergan Aesthetics will hold its annual JUVÉDERM® Day on August 19, supporting consumer engagement and the aesthetics franchise, although the promotional event is unlikely to materially change near-term financial results. JUVÉDERM Day announcement
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also focused on AbbVie’s second-quarter earnings report due July 31. A slight reduction in one 2026 earnings estimate was offset by a higher 2027 forecast, leaving expectations mixed ahead of the report.
• Negative Sentiment: AbbVie’s proposed acquisition of Apogee Therapeutics faces an investigation into the deal’s price and transaction process. While the review does not establish wrongdoing, it introduces regulatory and execution uncertainty around the transaction. Apogee transaction investigation
• Negative Sentiment: After a strong multi-year rally, valuation concerns and potential profit-taking may be pressuring ABBV, particularly with the shares trading near their 52-week high and at a rich earnings multiple.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ABBV has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Guggenheim raised their price objective on AbbVie from $249.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price target on shares of AbbVie from $240.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of AbbVie from $260.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 10th. DZ Bank upgraded shares of AbbVie from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of AbbVie in a research note on Tuesday, June 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, AbbVie currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $269.29.

AbbVie Price Performance

ABBV stock opened at $257.57 on Friday. AbbVie Inc. has a 1 year low of $187.62 and a 1 year high of $267.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $455.07 billion, a PE ratio of 126.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.30. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $238.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $223.86.

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The company reported $2.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.59 by $0.06. AbbVie had a negative return on equity of 576.45% and a net margin of 5.79%.The business had revenue of $15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.72 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.46 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that AbbVie Inc. will post 14.14 EPS for the current year.

AbbVie Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 15th will be paid a $1.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 15th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. AbbVie's dividend payout ratio is 340.89%.

AbbVie Profile

AbbVie is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company that was created as a spin-off from Abbott Laboratories in 2013 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. The company focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies for complex and often chronic medical conditions. Its operations span research and development, manufacturing, regulatory affairs and commercialization, with an emphasis on bringing specialty medicines to market across multiple therapeutic areas.

AbbVie's product portfolio and pipeline cover several major therapeutic categories, including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, virology and women's health.

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