Credit: Shutterstock photoOn Oct 12, we issued an updated research report on AbbottABT - a global healthcare company dedicated toward improving life through the development of products and technologies. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Over the last three months, Abbott has been trading above the broader industry . The stock has gained 11.9% as against the industry's decline of 0.8%.
The market is upbeat about the several new initiatives adopted by Abbott. The latest buyout by the company is of Alere on Oct 3.
Apart from FDA approvals and buyouts, we are upbeat about Abbott's FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System prospects post the receipt of full or partial reimbursement by the French Health Ministry in May 2017. At this platform, the company announced Health Canada License for FreeStyle Libre in June 2017. Abbott also announced that the FreeStyle Libre system is now available for reimbursement in the U.K.
On the flip side, Abbott's sluggish pediatric business in China continues to mar growth. Management is concerned about the economic problems in Venezuela that are expected to remain unresolved for some time. Also, foreign exchange is a major headwind for Abbott as a considerable portion of its revenues comes from outside the United States.
Key Stocks
A few better-ranked stocks in the medical sector are QIAGEN QGEN , IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. IDXX and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. TMO . QIAGEN, IDEXX Laboratories and Thermo Fisher carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
QIAGEN has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 13.1%. The stock rallied roughly 26.8% last year.
IDEXX Laboratories has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 19.8%. The stock gained 45.6% last year.
Thermo Fisher has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 11.7%. The stock gained 27.5% last year.
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Abbott Laboratories (ABT): Free Stock Analysis Report
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (TMO): Free Stock Analysis Report
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX): Free Stock Analysis Report
Qiagen N.V. (QGEN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
