Abbott Labs (ABT)

Fine managers and company. They hold the record in raising dividends by 48 straight years. Super stable. They do diagnostics, nutrition, though spun off a business to Abbvie about 8 years ago. They trade in mid-20sx in PE, and grow by a decent 10%. Problem is this high valuation, so he'd look elsewhere in this space, Abbvie, which he owns.

ABT vs. MRK Both are great companies. ABT is the leading supplier of products to the medical industry. Merck has incredible products as a global pharmaceutical company. You could hold either.

ABT vs. JNJ Healthcare is in a more defensive space, moving up during the pandemic. Likes both. JNJ has a fairly nice dividend at 2.5%. 18x forward earnings for 8% growth. Performing decently, but underperforming the S&P. ABT is more in medical devices. Marginally underperforming since last March. 22x earnings with a higher growth rate of 14%. Bit more torque with ABT, and they're also in the Covid detection space. If he had to choose, it would be ABT.

Liked BSX better in the past than today. If there were a recession, they'd need more capital. Remains a very fine company as to products. Volumes in medical devices are not recovering as he expected. He owns ABT instead, a diversified player with a very strong balance sheet.