The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

ABT profile by @CGrantWSJ could have been titled, “Abbott is Sui Generis”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/abbott-labs-is-a-rare-growth-story-in-health-care-1534757401

The reason to buy shares…is fairly simple: The company is growing its top line faster than just about any health-care company of comparable size. And since it doesn’t sell pharmaceuticals in the U.S., Abbott is relatively well insulated from regulatory risk. [ABT’s pharma segment, representing ~15% of corporate sales, sells only branded generics in emerging markets.]

Abbott’s four main operating segments—nutrition, medical devices, prescription drugs in emerging markets and medical diagnostics—are all expanding at faster rates than the typical large-cap stock. On an adjusted basis, total sales grew by 8% in the second quarter from a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share grew by 17% over that same period. That is not bad for a company with a market value north of $100 billion.

… The shares aren’t a bargain by traditional metrics. Abbott fetches more than 20 times forward earnings, thanks in part to a 45% rally over the past two years. But that price tag will be worth paying if growth materializes as expected. To that end, Abbott hasn’t missed quarterly earnings estimates in more than a decade.

Moreover, ABT has increased it annual dividend for 46 consecutive years!