Can Abbott Grow This Global Business?

It's not an easy time to be a health care investor.

Between the patent cliff, taxes, and Europe's meltdown, there's enough information and legislation swirling about to keep concerned shareholders up for days. Perhaps the biggest trend of a changing industry has come from spinoffs, however: Abbott Labs made waves in health care by offloading its pharmaceutical business, and other companies have joined in the spinoff game by dumping unwanted divisions.

With some of the biggest players in the industry shaking things up, investors are left wondering what to make of companies they've invested in -- and what to expect from the future. Let's take a look at Abbott Labs and its global business it needs to perform strongly in the future: established pharmaceuticals.

The power of emerging markets
With the loss of its branded pharmaceuticals, sales of established pharmaceuticals, or generic drugs, has become of major importance to Abbott. The division is the second-largest business unit by sales for the revamped company, posting revenue of $5.1 billion last year, second only to Abbott's nutritionals segment and making up around a quarter of total sales. Abbott produces a number of products in the segment, with hundreds of drugs in its portfolio. The division only saw year-over-year operational sales growth of 2% in 2012, however -- far below that of other divisions in the new Abbott, such as diagnostics.

Generic drugs may not offer the types of cutting-edge products of proprietary medicines, but they do give Abbott access to a growing segment for the future: emerging markets. The company's generics business only does business outside of the U.S. right now, and it's helped Abbott's drive to push into untapped and growing economies. Abbott's $3.7 billion purchase of India's Piramal Healthcare Limited's branded generic drug business in 2010 opened wide a market that's expected to double between 2010 and 2015, at the time making Abbott the largest drugmaker in India.

Generic drugs in India made up between 70% to 80% of the country's retail market in 2010, according to McKinsey & Company. Other emerging markets offer upside to Abbott: China has pushed to bring down health care costs by pushing generic drugs, earning the ire of big pharma but creating an opportunity for Abbott.

However, Abbott will face competition. Growing worldwide companies like Dr. Reddy's , which is headquartered in India, have also tapped emerging markets for growth and future sales, while even generic giants like Teva Pharmaceuticals have begun turning to developing economies. After Teva's U.S. sales of generics slumped in 2011, the company has found a groove in the growing economic power of emerging markets. Given the weak patent protection in many emerging markets, Abbott and its rivals will face more even competitive footing than big pharma and other proprietary drug makers lack against local competition.

Abbott will also need to worry about margins abroad, however. The generics business has never been known for the type of massive margins and sky-high profits of blockbuster drugs found in big pharma. Furthermore, a strong dollar could hurt the division's margins; in 2012, currency issues dropped operational sales growth of 2% to a reported sales decline of more than 4%. Abbott's strategy of operating locally in foreign countries should help keep costs down with cheaper labor and increased accessibility to each market. Still, the company will need to drive growth by continuing to expand geographically, as well as bringing new generics forward.

Steady as she goes
Abbott's generics business won't compete with the growth of its nutritionals segment nor offer the incredible revenue of proprietary pharmaceuticals, but it will provide a steady stream of sales going forward. By opening up emerging markets, Abbott's generics unit should help the company's other businesses spread globally -- boosting future growth across Abbott's portfolio. Sales of generics won't wow investors, but look for steady, stable margin growth and continued penetration of emerging markets with new generic offerings as keys to this division's success.

Abbott's generics business is just a part of the revamped company investors will have to wrap their heads around after the loss of Humira and other branded drugs in the AbbVie split. To help you better understand the situation, The Fool has created a brand new premium report on both stocks. Inside, we outline all of the must-know opportunities and risks facing both companies, so make sure to claim this report by clicking here now.

The article Can Abbott Grow This Global Business? originally appeared on Fool.com.

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