AbbVie raises 2026 earnings outlook to $13.95–$13.99 per share after revenue grows 10.3%

Key Facts

AbbVie reported results on October 30 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, and raised its full-year adjusted diluted earnings-per-share forecast to $13.95–$13.99 from $13.76–$13.96. The guidance update followed global revenue of $17.404 billion, up 10.3% on a reported basis and 10.5% operationally. Chief Executive Robert Michael said the results reflected "strong execution across our diversified portfolio." The new guidance includes a cumulative unfavorable impact of $0.69 per share from acquired in-process research and development expenses and milestones through the end of the third quarter. AbbVie had lowered its forecast range in an October 5 disclosure to $13.76–$13.96, before the actual third-quarter results were released.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $3.82 in the third quarter, compared with $2.37 under GAAP. Both figures included an unfavorable impact of $0.11 per share related to acquired in-process research and development expenses and milestones, which the company had flagged in its earlier estimates for the quarter. The quarter's actual impact puts the deduction of these items from earnings in context, while the updated annual guidance includes their cumulative impact since the start of the year. The company said its 2026 range excludes any impact from new acquired in-process research and development expenses or milestones that may be recorded after the third quarter. It said these expenses cannot be reliably predicted.

The immunology portfolio was the largest reported growth driver, with third-quarter revenue up 16.3% to $9.165 billion. Skyrizi generated revenue of $5.776 billion, while Rinvoq revenue was about $2.706 billion. By contrast, global Humira revenue fell 31.2% on a reported basis to $683 million. These figures show continued growth in Skyrizi and Rinvoq alongside a contraction in Humira sales within the same portfolio. Portfolio revenue was $9.165 billion, putting it ahead of the company's other segments cited in the quarterly results.

Revenue from the neuroscience portfolio rose 19.4% to $3.389 billion, the fastest growth among the other portfolios reported in the results. Oncology revenue was $1.696 billion, up 0.8%, while revenue from the aesthetics portfolio fell 1.4% to $1.176 billion. The results show divergence across segments: double-digit growth in neuroscience, a modest increase in oncology and a decline in aesthetics. At the company level, these trends came amid global revenue growth of 10.3% on a reported basis and 10.5% operationally. Michael described execution across the company's diversified portfolio as strong.

On its drug development pipeline, AbbVie announced it had completed its acquisition of Apogee Therapeutics, adding zumilokibart to its portfolio. The late-stage monoclonal antibody targets IL-13 to treat atopic dermatitis. The company had included the acquisition's impact in its previous forecasts, estimating that it would reduce adjusted earnings per share by $0.14 in 2026, a partial-year impact, and about $0.46 in 2027. AbbVie expects the acquisition to begin adding to earnings in 2032. Michael said the company had strengthened its long-term growth prospects through regulatory approvals, clinical data and the Apogee acquisition. Acquired expenses and milestones after the third quarter remain outside the new annual guidance, the company said.

The company also raised its quarterly cash dividend from $1.73 per share to $1.82, an increase of about 5.2%. The new dividend begins with the payment due on February 16, 2027, adding a specific date to the decisions announced with the quarterly results. Before the results were announced, AbbVie shares closed at $290.97 on October 29, compared with $285.99 in the previous session, according to EL7 data. Reuters reported that the shares closed at a record $290.79 that day and had risen about 27% year to date through October 29. These prices put the stock's movement in the context of trading before the results announcement and do not include post-announcement trading.