Commerzbank Cuts AbbVie Stake by 30.5%, Sells 39,586 Shares
Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI reduced its AbbVie stake by 30.5% in the third quarter, selling 39,586 shares to end with 90,102 shares valued at $20.86 million. The sale was disclosed in its latest 13F filing with the SEC.
1. Major Institutional Investors Trim and Boost Holdings
During the third quarter, several prominent institutional investors adjusted their positions in AbbVie. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI reduced its stake by 30.5%, selling 39,586 shares and ending the period with 90,102 shares, valued at $20.86 million. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. cut its holdings by 6.5%, disposing of 2,433 shares to hold 34,834 shares worth $8.07 million. In contrast, Norges Bank initiated a new position of approximately $4.29 billion in market value, and Vanguard Group added 3.38 million shares, raising its stake to 177.3 million shares valued at $32.91 billion. Overall, institutional and hedge fund ownership of AbbVie stands at 70.23%.
2. Third-Quarter Earnings Surpass Analyst Estimates
AbbVie reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.86 per share, exceeding the consensus expectation of $1.77 by $0.09. Revenue for the quarter climbed 9.1% year-over-year to $15.78 billion, topping the $15.58 billion analysts had forecast. The company’s net margin held at 4.0%, while return on equity reached an exceptional 3,216.5%. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance, projecting 2025 adjusted EPS between $3.32 and $3.36, against a consensus estimate of $12.31 for calendar 2025.
3. Board Approves Quarterly Dividend Increase
AbbVice’s board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share, payable February 17th to shareholders of record January 16th. The new payout marks a 5.5% increase over the prior dividend of $1.64, translating to an annualized distribution of $6.92 per share and a yield of 3.2%. The dividend payout ratio now stands at 524.2%, reflecting the company’s commitment to returning capital despite significant investment in R&D and pipeline expansion.
4. Analyst Ratings Reflect Moderate Buy Consensus
Analyst coverage of AbbVie remains broadly positive. Among 23 firms, two issue Strong Buy ratings, thirteen assign Buy, and eight recommend Hold, resulting in a consensus Moderate Buy. Price targets range from $227 to $275, with an average of $248.11. Recent activity includes Morgan Stanley raising its target from $261 to $269 on an overweight call, and UBS reaffirming a neutral stance. BMO Capital Markets continues to rate the shares Outperform with a $258 target.