AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) was up +3.36 percent to $106.95 as it met the quarterly revenue and income forecasts, and offered good guidance as well. The fourth-quarter net income posted by the biopharmaceutical company was $36 million, or 1 cent per share, compared to $2.8 billion and $1.88 per share a year ago.
Net earnings per share were $2.92, relative to the FactSet consensus of $2.85 and $2.21 a year ago. Compared to a forecast of $13.7 billion, sales rose 59 percent to $13.86 billion. Revenues from Humira rose 5 percent to $5.15 billion. For 2021, an adjusted EPS range from $ 12.32 to $ 12.52 is being considered by the company.
Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) rose by +2.21% to $37.45. Lower-than-expected earnings and revenues were announced by the US medical technology giant. The company posted net profits of $138 million, or 10 cents per share, for the fiscal fourth quarter, compared to $4 billion and $2.83 per share a year ago.
Adjusted earnings per share are 23 cents, compared with 46 cents a year ago and 31 cents consensus, except products. Compared with analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.8 billion, sales plummeted 7 percent to $2.71 billion. The company predicts adjusted earnings per share of 28 to 34 cents for its first quarter, compared to a consensus of 35 cents. Revenues, opposed to a 7.6 percent consensus, are forecast to rise by 0 to 6 percent.
Humana Inc. (HUM) rose to $379.93, up +0.78 percent. A fourth-quarter GAAP loss per share of $2.07 and $2.3 on an adjusted basis was announced by the U.S. health insurer. At $2.36, the adjusted loss was projected to be much higher. Revenue remained equivalent to $19 billion and was beyond the forecasts of the industry.
The company also offers estimates for 2021 on earnings per share on a GAAP basis ranging from $20.82 to $21.32, while annual adjusted EPS is projected to be between $21.25 and $21.75.
