Stock Markets February 4, 2026

AbbVie Lifts 2026 Profit Outlook as Newer Immunology Drugs Offset Humira Decline

Skyrizi and Rinvoq drive fourth-quarter beats while Humira’s fall is smaller-than-expected; company plans sizable capital and acquisition outlays

By Leila Farooq ABBV
AbbVie Lifts 2026 Profit Outlook as Newer Immunology Drugs Offset Humira Decline
ABBV

AbbVie raised its adjusted 2026 earnings-per-share guidance above analyst estimates after a fourth-quarter performance that surpassed expectations. Strong sales of Skyrizi and Rinvoq, a less-than-anticipated drop in Humira revenue and a rebound in cosmetic Botox sales supported the results. The company continues to invest heavily through acquisitions and planned manufacturing expansion.

Key Points

  • AbbVie raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $14.37 - $14.57, above the LSEG analyst average estimate of $14.24.
  • Sales of Skyrizi and Rinvoq were major contributors to the fourth-quarter beat, with Skyrizi exceeding expectations and Rinvoq posting strong growth despite narrowly missing estimates.
  • The decline in Humira revenue was smaller than expected, and cosmetic Botox sales returned to growth in the quarter; the company is continuing substantial acquisition and capital spending plans, including four planned U.S. manufacturing plants.

AbbVie reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded market expectations and issued a 2026 adjusted profit-per-share forecast that tops consensus. The drugmaker credited robust demand for its newer immunology medicines Skyrizi and Rinvoq, and noted that the decline in revenue from its older blockbuster Humira was not as severe as many analysts had anticipated.

Humira, which at its peak generated more than $21 billion in global sales in 2022, has been challenged by lower-cost biosimilars since it lost patent exclusivity in the U.S. The company has leaned on Skyrizi and Rinvoq to help fill the revenue gap created by Humira’s erosion.

For 2026 AbbVie now expects adjusted annual earnings per share in a range of $14.37 to $14.57. That guidance is above the average analyst estimate of $14.24 compiled by LSEG.

Skyrizi delivered fourth-quarter sales of $5.01 billion, a 32.5% increase that topped Wall Street’s estimate of $4.82 billion. Rinvoq sales grew 29.5% to $2.37 billion, a strong rate of growth though slightly below the $2.41 billion analysts had anticipated.

Global sales of Humira declined 25.9% in the quarter to $1.25 billion, but that figure nevertheless surpassed the $983.8 million that had been expected. Cosmetic Botox sales rose to $717 million, ahead of the $696.2 million estimate and marking the first quarter of growth for the product since the third quarter of 2024.

The company recorded adjusted quarterly earnings of $2.71 per share, beating the consensus forecast of $2.65 per share. Management pointed to product mix and steady demand for its leading immunology offerings as key drivers of the outperformance.

AbbVie has invested heavily in reshaping its portfolio, spending more than $20 billion on acquisitions to date. It also announced plans to allocate an additional $10 billion over the next decade, including construction of four new manufacturing plants in the United States.

Investor tools referenced around the quarter include a monthly AI-driven stock evaluation product that examines ABBV alongside thousands of other companies using more than 100 financial metrics. That AI service seeks to identify stocks offering favorable risk-reward profiles and cites past notable winners it highlights, including Super Micro Computer and AppLovin, which it lists with respective performance figures.

AbbVie’s latest results reflect a transitionary phase: newer immunology treatments are gaining traction and cushioning revenue pressures from Humira, while the company continues to commit substantial capital to acquisitions and U.S. manufacturing capacity.


Financial detail highlights

  • Skyrizi sales: $5.01 billion, up 32.5% (beat $4.82B estimate)
  • Rinvoq sales: $2.37 billion, up 29.5% (missed $2.41B estimate)
  • Humira global sales: $1.25 billion, down 25.9% (beat $983.8M estimate)
  • Botox cosmetic sales: $717 million (beat $696.2M estimate)
  • Adjusted Q4 EPS: $2.71 (beat $2.65 estimate)
  • 2026 adjusted EPS guidance: $14.37 to $14.57 (vs. LSEG analyst average $14.24)

Risks

  • Ongoing competition from lower-cost biosimilars for Humira could continue to pressure legacy product revenue, affecting the pharmaceutical sector and AbbVie's revenue mix.
  • Cosmetic Botox demand has been sensitive to consumer economic concerns and faces competitive pressure from newer products by other companies, posing a risk to aesthetic product sales in the consumer healthcare segment.
  • Large planned capital and acquisition expenditures - including $10 billion in planned spending and four new U.S. plants - introduce execution and capital-allocation uncertainty for AbbVie's balance sheet and operations.

More from Stock Markets

Truist Urges Investors to 'Buy the Weakness' in Major Chip Stock After Mixed Q4 Feb 4, 2026 BIST 100 Inches Higher to Record Close as Holdings and Tech Names Outperform Feb 4, 2026 Jefferies Starts Levi Strauss at Buy, Cites Market-Share Opportunity and Margin Upside Feb 4, 2026 Amazon's MGM Studio Tests AI Tools to Accelerate Film and TV Production Feb 4, 2026 Bank of America Sees Upside in Omnicell on New Cabinet Cycle; Upgrades to Buy Feb 4, 2026