ABBOTT REPORTS FOURTH-QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2022 RESULTS; ISSUES 2023 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

On January 25, 2023 Abbott (NYSE: ABT) reported financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2022 (Press release, Abbott, JAN 25, 2023, View Source [SID1234626529]).

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Fourth-quarter sales of $10.1 billion, which were negatively impacted by an expected year-over-year decline in COVID-19 testing-related sales, decreased 12.0 percent on a reported basis and 6.1 percent on an organic basis, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange.
Excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales1, fourth-quarter sales decreased 1.4 percent on a reported basis and increased 5.4 percent on an organic basis.
Excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales2 and U.S. infant formula sales that were impacted by manufacturing disruptions3, full-year 2022 sales increased 1.9 percent on a reported basis and 7.4 percent on an organic basis.
GAAP diluted EPS was $0.59 in the fourth quarter. Excluding specified items, adjusted diluted EPS was $1.03.
Abbott issues full-year 2023 guidance for diluted EPS from continuing operations on a GAAP basis of $3.05 to $3.25 and full-year adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $4.30 to $4.50.
Abbott projects full-year 2023 organic sales growth, excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, of high-single digits4 and COVID-19 testing-related sales of around $2.0 billion.
In October, Abbott’s market-leading FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system was named the "Best Medical Technology" of the last 50 years by the Galien Foundation.
In December, Abbott announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its Eterna spinal cord stimulation system — the smallest implantable, rechargeable system currently available for the treatment of chronic pain.5
In January, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of its minimally invasive Navitor transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system for people with severe aortic stenosis who are at high risk for surgery.
"We significantly exceeded the EPS guidance we provided at the beginning of last year despite challenging global business conditions," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "Our R&D pipeline continues to be highly productive with several recent and upcoming new product launches that position us well going forward."

FOURTH-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Note: Management believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business. Organic sales growth excludes the impact of foreign exchange. In order to compute results excluding the impact of exchange rates, current year U.S. dollar sales are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the current year average foreign exchange rates and then those amounts are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the prior year average foreign exchange rates. Management further believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis excluding COVID-19 tests is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2022 as well as in 2023 as the COVID-19 pandemic shifts to an endemic state, resulting in significantly lower expected demand for COVID-19 tests.

Total Company

($ in millions)

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales 4Q22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total 6

4,219

5,872

10,091

(13.1)

(11.2)

(12.0)

(13.1)

(0.9)

(6.1)

Nutrition

795

1,022

1,817

(14.4)

(8.3)

(11.1)

(14.4)

1.4

(5.7)

Diagnostics

1,695

1,610

3,305

(29.0)

(22.8)

(26.1)

(29.0)

(12.5)

(21.3)

Established Pharmaceuticals

1,216

1,216

n/a

1.0

1.0

n/a

7.9

7.9

Medical Devices

1,726

2,024

3,750

12.2

(8.4)

12.2

4.1

7.4

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales 12M22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total 6

18,142

25,511

43,653

9.0

(3.5)

1.3

9.0

4.7

6.4

Nutrition

2,919

4,540

7,459

(17.9)

(4.2)

(10.1)

(17.9)

2.5

(6.2)

Diagnostics

8,646

7,938

16,584

21.3

(6.8)

6.0

21.3

1.3

10.4

Established Pharmaceuticals

4,912

4,912

n/a

4.1

4.1

n/a

10.6

10.6

Medical Devices

6,566

8,121

14,687

10.9

(3.8)

2.2

10.9

6.2

8.1

n/a = Not Applicable.

Worldwide COVID-19 testing-related sales were $1.069 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $2.319 billion in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Worldwide COVID-19 testing-related sales were $8.368 billion in the full year of 2022 compared to $7.679 billion in the prior year.

The following tables summarize sales excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales and the change in reported and organic sales excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales in 2022 versus the prior year2:

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales excl. COVID tests 4Q22

Reported excl. COVID tests

Organic excl. COVID tests

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total 1

3,443

5,579

9,022

5.8

(5.4)

(1.4)

5.8

5.3

5.4

Diagnostics

919

1,317

2,236

16.8

(3.6)

3.8

16.8

8.0

11.2

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales excl. COVID tests 12M22

Reported excl. COVID tests

Organic excl. COVID tests

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

12,644

22,641

35,285

2.5

(1.8)

(0.3)

2.5

6.5

5.1

Diagnostics

3,148

5,068

8,216

11.4

(1.4)

3.1

11.4

7.1

8.6

Nutrition

($ in millions)

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales 4Q22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

795

1,022

1,817

(14.4)

(8.3)

(11.1)

(14.4)

1.4

(5.7)

Pediatric

454

428

882

(20.4)

(8.9)

(15.2)

(20.4)

(1.2)

(11.8)

Adult

341

594

935

(4.8)

(7.9)

(6.8)

(4.8)

3.4

0.5

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales 12M22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

2,919

4,540

7,459

(17.9)

(4.2)

(10.1)

(17.9)

2.5

(6.2)

Pediatric

1,562

1,919

3,481

(28.7)

(8.9)

(19.0)

(28.7)

(3.9)

(16.6)

Adult

1,357

2,621

3,978

(0.5)

(0.4)

(0.4)

(0.5)

7.6

4.8

Worldwide Nutrition sales decreased 11.1 percent on a reported basis and 5.7 percent on an organic basis in the fourth quarter. Total worldwide Nutrition and Pediatric Nutrition sales were negatively impacted as a result of manufacturing disruptions during 2022 of certain infant formula products3 at Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan, facility. The manufacturing facility has subsequently restarted production.

In Adult Nutrition, global sales decreased 6.8 percent on a reported basis and increased 0.5 percent on an organic basis in the fourth quarter, led by Ensure, Abbott’s market-leading complete and balanced nutrition brand.

Diagnostics

($ in millions)

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales 4Q22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

1,695

1,610

3,305

(29.0)

(22.8)

(26.1)

(29.0)

(12.5)

(21.3)

Core Laboratory

301

963

1,264

0.2

(8.1)

(6.3)

0.2

3.5

2.8

Molecular

62

118

180

(54.2)

(43.9)

(47.9)

(54.2)

(38.6)

(44.7)

Point of Care

88

43

131

(7.6)

7.0

(3.3)

(7.6)

14.4

(1.2)

Rapid Diagnostics

1,244

486

1,730

(33.0)

(38.2)

(34.5)

(33.0)

(28.3)

(31.6)

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales 12M22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

8,646

7,938

16,584

21.3

(6.8)

6.0

21.3

1.3

10.4

Core Laboratory

1,137

3,751

4,888

(0.7)

(5.8)

(4.7)

(0.7)

2.7

1.9

Molecular

370

625

995

(34.6)

(27.4)

(30.3)

(34.6)

(22.6)

(27.4)

Point of Care

372

153

525

(3.2)

0.8

(2.1)

(3.2)

6.0

(0.6)

Rapid Diagnostics

6,767

3,409

10,176

34.4

(3.1)

19.0

34.4

5.4

22.5

As expected, Diagnostics sales in the fourth quarter were negatively impacted by year-over-year declines in COVID-19 testing-related sales. Worldwide COVID-19 testing-related sales were $1.069 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to $2.319 billion in the fourth quarter of the prior year.

The following tables summarize sales excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales and the change in reported and organic sales excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales in 2022 versus the prior year2:

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales excl. COVID tests 4Q22

Reported excl. COVID tests

Organic excl. COVID tests

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

919

1,317

2,236

16.8

(3.6)

3.8

16.8

8.0

11.2

Core Laboratory

298

956

1,254

1.5

(5.3)

(3.8)

1.5

6.8

5.6

Molecular

45

98

143

(0.2)

(8.3)

(5.9)

(0.2)

(0.4)

(0.3)

Point of Care

88

43

131

(7.6)

7.0

(3.3)

(7.6)

14.4

(1.2)

Rapid Diagnostics

488

220

708

38.3

4.6

25.7

38.3

16.8

30.3

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales excl. COVID tests 12M22

Reported excl. COVID tests

Organic excl. COVID tests

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

3,148

5,068

8,216

11.4

(1.4)

3.1

11.4

7.1

8.6

Core Laboratory

1,121

3,705

4,826

1.3

(2.9)

(2.0)

1.3

5.8

4.8

Molecular

180

404

584

11.4

8.0

9.0

11.4

14.8

13.8

Point of Care

372

153

525

(3.2)

0.8

(2.1)

(3.2)

6.0

(0.6)

Rapid Diagnostics

1,475

806

2,281

25.6

1.3

15.8

25.6

9.4

19.1

Established Pharmaceuticals

($ in millions)

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales 4Q22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

1,216

1,216

n/a

1.0

1.0

n/a

7.9

7.9

Key Emerging Markets

902

902

n/a

3.9

3.9

n/a

10.3

10.3

Other

314

314

n/a

(6.5)

(6.5)

n/a

1.9

1.9

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales 12M22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

4,912

4,912

n/a

4.1

4.1

n/a

10.6

10.6

Key Emerging Markets

3,728

3,728

n/a

5.4

5.4

n/a

11.8

11.8

Other

1,184

1,184

n/a

0.4

0.4

n/a

7.3

7.3

Established Pharmaceuticals sales increased 1.0 percent on a reported basis and 7.9 percent on an organic basis in the fourth quarter.

Key Emerging Markets include several emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott’s branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies increased 3.9 percent on a reported basis and 10.3 percent on an organic basis, led by strong growth in several geographies including India, China, Brazil and Mexico, and across several therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic, women’s health and central nervous system/pain management.

Medical Devices

($ in millions)

% Change vs. 4Q21

Sales 4Q22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

1,726

2,024

3,750

12.2

(8.4)

12.2

4.1

7.4

Rhythm Management

254

260

514

5.2

(13.3)

(5.0)

5.2

(0.5)

2.1

Electrophysiology

242

245

487

22.7

(19.8)

(3.1)

22.7

(6.6)

4.9

Heart Failure

171

59

230

0.1

(13.9)

(3.9)

0.1

(4.5)

(1.2)

Vascular

214

391

605

(7.5)

(12.5)

(10.8)

(7.5)

(1.4)

(3.5)

Structural Heart

214

227

441

10.9

0.4

5.2

10.9

15.7

13.5

Neuromodulation

163

39

202

3.7

(3.1)

2.3

3.7

11.7

5.3

Diabetes Care

468

803

1,271

34.9

(2.5)

8.6

34.9

9.8

17.3

% Change vs. 12M21

Sales 12M22

Reported

Organic

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

U.S.

Int’l

Total

Total

6,566

8,121

14,687

10.9

(3.8)

2.2

10.9

6.2

8.1

Rhythm Management

1,029

1,090

2,119

1.1

(7.7)

(3.6)

1.1

1.9

1.5

Electrophysiology

909

1,018

1,927

17.0

(9.9)

1.1

17.0

0.7

7.3

Heart Failure

694

226

920

6.2

(4.0)

3.5

6.2

5.2

5.9

Vascular

864

1,619

2,483

(5.6)

(6.9)

(6.4)

(5.6)

1.5

(1.0)

Structural Heart

818

894

1,712

12.0

1.6

6.3

12.0

13.8

13.0

Neuromodulation

619

151

770

0.3

(8.1)

(1.4)

0.3

2.9

0.9

Diabetes Care

1,633

3,123

4,756

34.8

0.2

9.9

34.8

10.6

17.4

Worldwide Medical Devices sales were flat on a reported basis and increased 7.4 percent on an organic basis in the fourth quarter. Sales growth in the U.S. was led by strong double-digit growth in Electrophysiology, Structural Heart and Diabetes Care. Internationally, sales growth was negatively impacted by intermittent COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in China as well as supply constraints in certain areas, including Electrophysiology and Diabetes Care.

In Diabetes Care, FreeStyle Libre sales were approximately $1.1 billion in the quarter, including U.S. growth of more than 40 percent.

In 2022, Abbott continued to strengthen its Medical Devices portfolio with several recent pipeline advancements, including U.S. FDA approvals of:

Navitor, Abbott’s latest-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system, used for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis.
Eterna, Abbott’s rechargeable spinal cord stimulator used for treating chronic pain.
Aveir leadless pacemaker, used for treating patients with slow heart rhythms.
An expanded indication of use for CardioMEMS HF remote monitoring system, which detects early warning signs of worsening heart failure.
U.S. FDA clearance of the FreeStyle Libre 3 system, which provides continuous glucose readings and unsurpassed 14-day accuracy7 in the world’s smallest and thinnest7 wearable sensor.
ABBOTT’S EARNINGS-PER-SHARE GUIDANCE

Abbott projects full-year 2023 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under GAAP of $3.05 to $3.25. Abbott forecasts specified items for the full-year 2023 of $1.25 per share primarily related to intangible amortization, restructuring and cost reduction initiatives and other net expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be $4.30 to $4.50 for the full-year 2023.

ABBOTT DECLARES 396TH CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

On Dec. 9, 2022, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company’s quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share. Abbott’s cash dividend is payable Feb. 15, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 13, 2023.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 51 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.