Abbott Reports Second-Quarter 2020 Results, Exceeds Analysts’ Expectations

On July 16, 2020 Abbott reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 (Press release, Abbott, JUL 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234561947]).

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·Second-quarter worldwide sales of $7.3 billion decreased 8.2 percent on a reported basis and 5.4 percent on an organic basis, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange.
·Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations under GAAP was $0.30 and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, which excludes specified items, was $0.57 in the second quarter.
·Abbott projects full-year 2020 diluted EPS from continuing operations on a GAAP basis of at least $2.00 and full-year adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of at least $3.25.
·In April, Abbott announced CE Mark approval for its TriClip heart valve repair system, the world’s first minimally invasive, clip-based tricuspid heart valve repair device.
·In June, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of FreeStyle Libre 2 as an integrated continuous glucose monitoring (iCGM) system for adults and children ages 4 and older with diabetes, achieving the highest level of accuracy and performance standards.1
·Last week, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of its next-generation Gallant implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator devices to help manage heart rhythm disorders. These devices offer Bluetooth technology and a new patient smartphone app for improved remote monitoring and enhanced patient-physician engagement.

"Our diversified business model has proven to be a true strength during this time," said Robert B. Ford, president and chief executive officer, Abbott. "We’re a leader in the global COVID-19 testing efforts, we’ve continued to advance our pipeline and, importantly, we saw significant improvements in growth trends throughout the quarter in the business areas that were initially most impacted by the pandemic."

SECOND-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.

* Total Q2 2020 Abbott sales from continuing operations include Other Sales of approximately $15 million.

* Total 1H 2020 Abbott sales from continuing operations include Other Sales of approximately $30 million.

n/a = Not Applicable.

Note: 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.

Second-quarter 2020 worldwide sales of $7.3 billion decreased 8.2 percent on a reported basis. On an organic basis, worldwide sales decreased 5.4 percent. First-half 2020 worldwide sales of $15.1 billion decreased 3.0 percent on a reported basis and 0.7 percent on an organic basis.

Worldwide Nutrition sales increased 0.4 percent on a reported basis and 3.1 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter. Strong U.S. and international sales performance of Ensure, Abbott’s market-leading complete and balanced nutrition brand, led to global Adult Nutrition sales growth of 7.4 percent on an organic basis. In Pediatric Nutrition, sales were led by U.S. growth of Pedialyte, Abbott’s oral rehydration brand, as well as growth in Southeast Asia, which were offset by challenging conditions in Greater China.

For the first half of 2020, worldwide Nutrition sales increased 3.3 percent on a reported basis and 5.1 percent on an organic basis, including organic sales growth of 3.0 percent in Pediatric Nutrition and 7.9 percent in Adult Nutrition.

Molecular Diagnostics sales increased 233.6 percent on a reported basis and 241.4 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter. Strong growth was driven by demand for Abbott’s laboratory-based molecular tests for COVID-19 on its m2000 and Alinity m platforms. Molecular Diagnostics COVID-19 testing-related sales were $283 million in the quarter.

Rapid Diagnostics sales increased 9.6 percent on a reported basis and 11.0 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter. Lower base business sales were more than offset by strong demand for Abbott’s point-of-care COVID-19 molecular test on its ID NOW platform. Rapid Diagnostics COVID-19 testing-related sales were $180 million in the quarter.

Established Pharmaceuticals sales decreased 8.6 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter and decreased 0.7 percent on an organic basis. For the first half of 2020, Established Pharmaceuticals sales decreased 2.1 percent on a reported basis and increased 4.0 percent on an organic basis.

Key Emerging Markets include India, Brazil, Russia and China along with several additional emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott’s branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies decreased 10.3 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter and decreased 0.4 percent on an organic basis. Sales growth in certain countries, including double-digit growth in China, was more than offset by lower demand due to the increased spread of COVID-19 across several emerging market countries, including Russia, Brazil and Colombia.

a)Includes drug-eluting stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, vascular imaging/diagnostics products, vessel closure, carotid and other coronary and peripheral products.

Includes drug-eluting stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, vascular imaging/diagnostics products, vessel closure,carotid and other coronary and peripheral products.

Worldwide Medical Devices sales decreased 21.2 percent on a reported basis in the second quarter and decreased 19.9 percent on an organic basis. Sales growth was negatively impacted by reduced cardiovascular and neuromodulation procedure volumes due to COVID-19. Procedure volume trends improved significantly over the course of the second quarter as both demand for procedures and availability of healthcare resources began to return to more normalized levels.

In Diabetes Care, strong growth was led by FreeStyle Libre, which grew 36.8 percent on a reported basis and 39.9 percent on an organic basis versus the prior year. In June, Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of FreeStyle Libre 2 as an integrated continuous glucose monitoring (iCGM) system for adults and children ages 4 and older with diabetes, achieving the highest level of accuracy and performance standards.1 The FreeStyle Libre 2 system will be available in the coming weeks at participating pharmacies and durable medical equipment providers at the same price as the currently available FreeStyle Libre 14 day system.

ABBOTT’S GUIDANCE FOR 2020

Abbott projects full-year 2020 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under GAAP of at least $2.00. Abbott forecasts specified items for the full-year 2020 of $1.25 primarily related to intangible amortization, acquisition-related expenses, restructuring and cost reduction initiatives and other expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be at least $3.25 for full-year 2020.

ABBOTT DECLARES 386TH CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

On June 12, 2020, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company’s quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share. Abbott’s cash dividend is payable August 17, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 15, 2020.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 48 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.