We recently published a list of 10 Best Healthcare Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) stands against the other best healthcare stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

Resilience and Growth in the U.S. Healthcare Sector

Investing in healthcare equities is typically seen as protective during difficult economic times. This is because, even in times of financial hardship, people usually do not reduce their usage of prescription drugs or other necessary healthcare services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that national healthcare expenditures would grow at an average rate of 5.6% between 2027 and 2032, with spending on healthcare expected to reach an estimated $4.8 trillion in 2023.

In America, the healthcare sector is booming. A new analysis showed that the Country’s healthcare spending rose by 7.5% in 2023, outpacing the nominal GDP growth rate of that year. A significant portion of the population, approximately 93.1% of Americans, had health insurance last year, which helped to drive up healthcare spending. The US government’s predicted 5.6% annual growth in healthcare spending between 2023 and 2032 is expected to surpass the 4.3% growth rate of the GDP.

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Healthcare Market

The global healthcare industry is expanding, with McKinsey predicting profits to grow from $583 billion in 2022 to over $800 billion by 2027, at a 7% CAGR. Despite challenges in 2023 from labor shortages and inflation, 2024 is expected to recover, creating an attractive investment opportunity. AI investments in healthcare have surged, with $2.8 billion already invested in 2024 and expectations of over $11 billion by year-end. Deloitte’s 2024 outlook highlights high investor confidence, with AI poised to save $360 billion in U.S. healthcare over the next five years through advancements in patient care, diagnosis, and administration.

In 2023, the healthcare sector faced challenges as investors adjusted for higher interest rates, causing it to lag behind other sectors. However, GLP-1 drugs for weight loss significantly boosted some health companies’ income statements. The sector saw mixed performance, with some companies struggling due to tough comparisons after the COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic revenues exceeded $100 billion in 2022. Rising interest rates also pressured biotechnology, and providers faced lingering COVID-19 impacts, although distributors improved with better fundamentals and opioid litigation resolutions. However, as fed’s easing of rate policy, with the last cut being that of 50 basis points, the healthcare market is expected to boost.

Our Methodology 

For our methodology, we have ranked the best healthcare stocks to buy according to hedge funds based on their total number of hedge fund holders as of Q2 2024.

“Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).”

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69 

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures, and sells a diverse range of medical devices, diagnostic equipment, nutritional products, and branded generic pharmaceuticals. In simple terms, Abbott creates products that help people manage their health at various stages of life.

A major catalyst for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is its innovative medical device portfolio, particularly in diabetes care and cardiovascular health. The company’s FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system has been a game-changer in diabetes management. This device allows patients to monitor their glucose levels without painful finger pricks, leading to better disease management and improved quality of life.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)’s Q2 2024 total sales reached $10.4 billion, a 4.0% increase from Q2 2023. Organic sales growth, excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, was 9.3%. Key drivers included strong performance in Medical Devices, with FreeStyle Libre global sales growing 23.3% to $1.5 billion, and double-digit growth in Established Pharmaceuticals (13.7%) and Nutrition (7.7%). In Q2 2024, Abbott made notable advancements in its product portfolio with several key approvals: the FDA approved the Esprit™ below-the-knee system for peripheral artery disease, and two new over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring systems, Lingo™ and Libre Rio™, were also cleared by the FDA. Additionally, the AVEIR® dual chamber leadless pacemaker system received CE Mark certification.

As of Q2 2024, around 69 hedge fund holders held stake in the stock with Fisher Asset Management being the largest stakeholder among the ones we tracked, holding 10,516,289 shares worth $1,092,747,717. The stock also holds a Strong Buy rating from 15 Wall Street analysts. Over the past three months, these analysts have set a 12-month price target for Abbott Laboratories with an average of $127.36, ranging from a low of $107.00 to a high of $143.00. This target suggests an 11.57% increase from the current price of $114.15.

Overall, ABT ranks 10th among the best healthcare stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of ABT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ABT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.