When it comes to dividend stocks, no other sector has been more reliable than the healthcare sector. No matter the economic scenario, there will always be demand for drugs treating life-threatening diseases. This keeps the sector defensive, allowing large pharmaceutical companies to generate steady cash flow and consistently reward shareholders.
Two pharmaceutical giants — AbbVie (ABBV) and Eli Lilly (LLY) — stand out for some of the fastest-growing drug portfolios in the industry. However, only one is the better choice for income-seeking investors. Let's take a closer look.
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AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines for immunology, cancer, neuroscience, and aesthetics, with blockbuster drugs including Skyrizi, Rinvoq, and Botox. AbbVie's forward dividend yield of 2.65% is higher than the market and the healthcare sector average. This higher income compounds meaningfully over a decade, especially for investors who reinvest their dividends.
When AbbVie's top-selling drug, Humira, began losing patent protection, investors questioned whether it would weaken earnings and pressure dividends. However, the company has spent the last few years successfully replacing it, as Skyrizi and Rinvoq have become AbbVie's new growth engines, generating $6.6 billion in combined revenue in the first quarter of 2026.
Two pharmaceutical giants — AbbVie (ABBV) and Eli Lilly (LLY) — stand out for some of the fastest-growing drug portfolios in the industry. However, only one is the better choice for income-seeking investors. Let's take a closer look.
Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, ******* ysis, and headlines.
AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines for immunology, cancer, neuroscience, and aesthetics, with blockbuster drugs including Skyrizi, Rinvoq, and Botox. AbbVie's forward dividend yield of 2.65% is higher than the market and the healthcare sector average. This higher income compounds meaningfully over a decade, especially for investors who reinvest their dividends.
When AbbVie's top-selling drug, Humira, began losing patent protection, investors questioned whether it would weaken earnings and pressure dividends. However, the company has spent the last few years successfully replacing it, as Skyrizi and Rinvoq have become AbbVie's new growth engines, generating $6.6 billion in combined revenue in the first quarter of 2026.
2 months ago
