AbbVie lifts outlook and dividend as Skyrizi and Rinvoq grow

What happened: a better outlook and a bigger dividend

AbbVie released third-quarter results on October 30, combining double-digit revenue growth with a higher full-year earnings outlook and a dividend increase. Sales reached US$17.404 billion for the quarter ended September 30, versus US$15.776 billion a year earlier. The investment question is whether newer medicines can keep carrying growth as older products shrink. [1]

In the saved Cboe snapshot, ABBV traded at US$295.95, up US$5.16, or a calculated 1.77%, from the October 29 close of US$290.79. The snapshot was retrieved around 14:18 ET and was approximately 15 minutes delayed, placing the observation around 14:03 ET. These are timestamped figures, not live offers; check live prices before trading. [2]

Volume at that cut was 2,897,185 shares, compared with an average 5,227,580 shares across the previous 20 completed sessions. That is 55.42% of a full-session average, not a time-of-day-adjusted relative-volume signal. The chart excludes today’s unfinished session so readers can separate completed closes from an intraday reaction. [2][3]

Why the results matter: the product handover is working

Skyrizi revenue rose 22.7% to US$5.776 billion and Rinvoq rose 23.9% to US$2.706 billion. Together, those medicines generated a calculated US$8.482 billion, or 48.74% of group sales. Humira revenue fell 31.2% to US$683 million, but the whole immunology portfolio still grew 16.3% to US$9.165 billion. That is the clearest operating driver in the release. [1]

The earnings jump needs care. Acquired in-process research and development and milestone expense was US$216 million before tax, versus about US$2.7 billion a year earlier. Both GAAP and adjusted earnings include those expenses. The much smaller charge helps the year-over-year comparison; it would be misleading to describe the entire EPS increase as recurring product growth. Adjusted figures also exclude other specified items and do not replace GAAP results. [1]

Management raised and narrowed 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance from US$13.76–13.96 to US$13.95–13.99. The calculated midpoint increases by US$0.11, from US$13.86 to US$13.97. Importantly, the range includes acquired research and milestone costs incurred through September, but excludes any such costs after the third quarter because they cannot be reliably forecast. This is management’s outlook, not a guaranteed result. [1]

• The new quarterly dividend of US$1.82 compares with US$1.73, a calculated 5.20% increase. It is payable February 16, 2027, to holders of record January 15, 2027. A record date is not being presented here as a separately verified ex-dividend date. [1]
• Healthcare peers were also higher: later Yahoo observations around 14:17 ET showed Johnson & Johnson up 0.29% and Lilly up 3.81% versus October 29 closes. These are not synchronized with Cboe’s delayed ABBV snapshot. [4][5]
• The Fed held its policy range at 3.75%–4.00% on October 28. That financing and valuation backdrop is relevant, but neither the rate decision nor sector gains establish the cause of ABBV’s entire move. [6]

What it means for option sellers

Cboe’s saved 30-day implied volatility reading was 27.011%, rounded here to 27.01%. IV rank was not independently available, so this article does not label premiums historically rich or cheap. With the earnings release now public, a seller cannot assume the premium available before the announcement remains available afterward. Fresh bid/ask quotes and the exact contract calendar still matter. [2][7][8]

Likewise, a hypothetical US$310 covered-call strike accepts a possible sale of the covered shares at US$310 even if the market later rises further. Whether that produces an overall gain depends on share cost, premium and fees. It illustrates the obligation rather than a suggested strike, and no personal account or trade is involved. [8]

What to watch next

• Track whether Skyrizi and Rinvoq maintain growth without overlooking the weaker aesthetics portfolio. [1]
• Check the issuer calendar for the next earnings date before selecting an expiry; this article does not establish that date.
• For covered calls, independently confirm the ex-dividend date and review early-assignment exposure, not just the payment date. [8]

The useful takeaway is narrower than “higher dividend, safer stock.” AbbVie’s growth engines strengthened and the earnings midpoint moved up, but the cost exclusions and product concentration deserve equal attention. This is educational market information, not personal financial advice; option losses can substantially exceed the premium collected.

Archival illustrative hero: laboratory pipettes photographed in 2015, not identified as an AbbVie facility or product. Photo by J.N. Eskra / Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized. The adapted photograph is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. [11][12]