2. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) takes second place because it has accomplished something that many pharmaceutical companies struggle to do: replace a declining blockbuster before its loss becomes financially devastating. Humira was once the world’s highest-selling medicine and generated an extraordinary portion of AbbVie’s revenue. When lower-cost biosimilars entered the U.S. market, investors expected a painful multiyear decline. Humira sales are indeed falling rapidly, but Skyrizi and Rinvoq have expanded fast enough to transform the company’s immunology portfolio rather than merely protect it.
First-quarter 2026 revenue increased 12.4% to $15 billion, or 10.3% on an operational basis. Immunology revenue reached $7.29 billion, rising 16.4%. Skyrizi sales jumped 30.9% to $4.48 billion, while Rinvoq revenue increased 23.3% to $2.12 billion. By comparison, Humira sales fell 38.6% to $688 million. This is one of the clearest examples of successful portfolio transition in modern pharmaceuticals. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) did not simply wait for Humira’s revenue to disappear. It invested in new medicines capable of treating multiple immune-related conditions and expanded those products across additional indications. Management raised its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to between $14.08 and $14.28 per share following the strong quarter.
The growth story also extends beyond immunology. Neuroscience revenue increased 26% to $2.88 billion. Vraylar sales rose 18.4% to $905 million, Botox Therapeutic increased 16.5% to slightly more than $1 billion, Ubrelvy grew 41.4% and Qulipta advanced 53.6%. The oncology portfolio was weaker, but Venclexta and Elahere still offer expansion opportunities. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.73 per share in June 2026 and has increased its dividend by more than 330% since becoming an independent company in 2013. The combination of double-digit revenue growth, successful blockbuster replacement, expanding neuroscience assets and a substantial dividend makes AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) one of the best pharmaceutical stocks for both income and growth. Only one company currently possesses a stronger overall growth engine.
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