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Here's Why You Should Invest in AmerisourceBergen (ABC) Stock

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AmerisourceBergen Corporation is well-poised for growth on the back of its robust U.S. Healthcare Solutions business and product launches.

Shares of the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have gained 38.8% compared with the industry’s growth of 13.3% in a year’s time. The S&P 500 Index has rallied 14.4% in the same time frame.

AmerisourceBergen — with a market capitalization of $29.91 billion — is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical services companies, which is focused on providing drug distribution and related services to reduce health care costs and improve patient outcomes. It anticipates earnings to improve 8.2% over the next five years. The company beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 2.3%.

What’s Driving Growth?

It is worth mentioning that AmerisourceBergen made a strategic evaluation of its reporting structure to represent its expanded international presence because of the June 2021 buyout of Alliance Healthcare. Consequently, starting from the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the company has realigned its reporting structure under two reportable segments — U.S. Healthcare Solutions and International Healthcare Solutions.

Per the segment realignment, U.S. Healthcare Solutions consists of the legacy Pharmaceutical Distribution Services reportable segment (excluding Profarma), MWI Animal Health, Xcenda, Lash Group and ICS 3PL. The segment benefits from increasing volume and an expanding customer base. Strong organic growth rates in the U.S. pharmaceutical market, improving patient access to medical care, enhanced economic conditions and population demographics are likely to favor the segment in the quarters to come.

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In first-quarter fiscal 2022, revenues at this segment totaled $52.98 billion, reflecting a rise of 2.7% on a year-over-year basis on the back of an increase in specialty product sales coupled with overall market growth and strength in MWI Animal Health business. Lower revenues from COVID-19 therapies partially offset the upside. Segmental operating income was $569.1 million, up 0.6% year over year. Higher gross profit contributed to the rise.

In January 2022, the company collaborated with TrakCel – the leading innovator of cellular orchestration solutions — to launch an integrated technology platform developed to speed up patient access to prescribed cell and gene therapies and provide complete visibility throughout the treatment journey.

In November 2021, the company announced that it will be offering Prime Therapeutics’ IntegratedRx - Oncology program to eligible hospitals, health systems and independent oncology practice customers. On the back of medically-integrated networks of independent oncology practices or hospitals and health systems, IntegratedRx - Oncology drives lower costs, quicker time-to-medication, better adherence and an enhanced patient and provider experience for Blue Plans and their members.

In October, the company introduced universal radio-frequency identification — tagging and mobile application for its acute care medication tray solution to accelerate inventory management technologies for acute care settings throughout the United States.

Estimate Trend

AmerisourceBergen has been witnessing an upward estimate revision trend for fiscal 2022. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its earnings has moved north by 1.1% to $10.79.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter fiscal 2022 revenues is pegged at $57.31 billion, suggesting growth of 16.6% from the year-ago reported number.

Other Stocks to Consider

Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN - Free Report) , Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC - Free Report) and McKesson Corporation (MCK - Free Report) .

AMN Healthcare surpassed earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 20%. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

AMN Healthcare’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 16.2%. The company’s earnings yield of 8.8% compares favorably with the industry’s 0.3%.

Henry Schein beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 25.5%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Henry Schein’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 11.8%. The company’s earnings yield of 5.6% compares favorably with the industry’s 4.1%.

McKesson surpassed earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 20.6%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

McKesson’s long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 11.8%. The company’s earnings yield of 8.8% compares favorably with the industry’s 4.1%.


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