AbbVie Inc. $ABBV Stake Lessened by Sterling Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• Sterling Capital Management reduced its AbbVie stake by 5.2% in the third quarter, selling 9,293 shares and retaining 169,132 shares valued at approximately $44.2 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 70.23% of AbbVie.
• AbbVie exceeded quarterly expectations with EPS of $3.65 and revenue of $16.99 billion, up 10.2% year over year. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share, representing a 2.4% yield.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $279.86. However, investors face elevated expectations ahead of earnings as the stock trades near its 52-week high and at a premium valuation.

Sterling Capital Management LLC lowered its holdings in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV - Free Report) by 5.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 169,132 shares of the company's stock after selling 9,293 shares during the period. AbbVie accounts for 0.9% of Sterling Capital Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Sterling Capital Management LLC's holdings in AbbVie were worth $44,243,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ranch Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AbbVie by 37.0% during the 1st quarter. Ranch Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 14,888 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,238,000 after acquiring an additional 4,017 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK increased its holdings in AbbVie by 11.2% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 447,129 shares of the company's stock valued at $112,516,000 after purchasing an additional 45,132 shares in the last quarter. Danica Pension Livsforsikringsaktieselskab acquired a new stake in AbbVie in the 2nd quarter valued at $23,557,000. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC raised its position in AbbVie by 7.5% in the second quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 134,579 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,865,000 after purchasing an additional 9,380 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of AbbVie by 1.7% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 82,596,748 shares of the company's stock worth $20,784,646,000 after purchasing an additional 1,379,232 shares in the last quarter. 70.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other AbbVie news, EVP Nicholas Donoghoe sold 32,710 shares of AbbVie stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $8,177,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 74,430 shares in the company, valued at $18,607,500. The trade was a 30.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

AbbVie Price Performance

NYSE:ABBV opened at $285.66 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $266.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $241.77. The stock has a market cap of $504.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 80.69, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.24. AbbVie Inc. has a 1-year low of $190.75 and a 1-year high of $291.40.

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $3.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.61 by $0.04. AbbVie had a negative return on equity of 422.07% and a net margin of 9.80%. The business had revenue of $16.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.97 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. AbbVie has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.840-3.880 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that AbbVie Inc. will post 13.93 earnings per share for the current year.

AbbVie Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.73 per share. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 15th. AbbVie's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 195.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ABBV. Scotiabank increased their target price on AbbVie from $280.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Wolfe Research raised AbbVie from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $235.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Citigroup upped their price target on AbbVie from $230.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Leerink Partners increased their price objective on shares of AbbVie from $245.00 to $279.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of AbbVie from $244.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $279.86.

Key Stories Impacting AbbVie

Here are the key news stories impacting AbbVie this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The U.S. FDA approved a subcutaneous induction regimen for SKYRIZI in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease. The on-body injector provides a more convenient administration option throughout treatment, while Phase 3 data showed superior clinical remission and endoscopic response versus placebo with no new safety risks. The approval could strengthen SKYRIZI’s commercial position and support AbbVie’s post-Humira growth strategy. FDA approves subcutaneous SKYRIZI induction for Crohn’s disease
• Positive Sentiment: AbbVie’s dividend remains a key defensive attraction. Analysts and financial commentators point to the company’s ability to maintain shareholder payouts despite Humira’s patent loss, supported by growth from SKYRIZI, RINVOQ and other newer products. AbbVie’s dividend after Humira’s patent cliff
• Neutral Sentiment: AbbVie’s Phase 3 INTREPID trial for lutikizumab in hidradenitis suppurativa met its primary endpoint and eight ranked secondary endpoints, including reduced pain and fewer flares. However, reported efficacy was viewed by some analysts as underwhelming relative to competing treatments, leaving the drug’s eventual commercial opportunity uncertain. AbbVie reports Phase 3 INTREPID results for lutikizumab
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are approaching next week’s earnings report cautiously. Erste Group lowered its 2026 EPS estimate to $13.90 from $14.00, slightly below the roughly $13.94 consensus, while a Zacks preview said AbbVie lacks the usual indicators for a likely earnings beat. With the shares trading near their 52-week high and at a premium valuation, results and guidance may need to be strong to sustain momentum. AbbVie earnings preview

AbbVie Company Profile

AbbVie Inc NYSE: ABBV is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes medicines and other healthcare products. Its portfolio focuses on immunology, oncology, neuroscience, aesthetics and eye care, serving patients and healthcare providers in markets around the world.

The company's key products include immunology medicines such as Skyrizi and Rinvoq; neuroscience treatments including Vraylar, Ubrelvy and Qulipta; and oncology products such as Imbruvica and Venclexta.

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