Analyst Price Target News: Abbott, CSX – April 17th, 2025

This week in analyst price targets: Abbott reported Q1 results and reaffirmed its 2025 outlook amid tariff concerns, drawing analyst price target increases. CSX missed Q1 expectations as coal revenue weakened despite intermodal growth.

By: Matthew Otto

FDA Reviews Regeneron’s EYLEA HD for Flexible Dosing in Retinal Vein Occlusion Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted Regeneron’s application to expand the use of EYLEA HD® (aflibercept) Injection 8 mg to treat macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO), a serious eye condition that can lead to vision loss.

Regeneron is also asking the FDA to approve more flexible monthly dosing across all approved uses of EYLEA HD. If approved, this would make EYLEA HD the first and only RVO treatment that could be given as few as once every 8 weeks after an initial round of monthly injections—cutting injection frequency in half compared to current treatments. The FDA is expected to make a decision by August 19, 2025.

Retinal vein occlusion affects over 28 million people worldwide and is the second most common cause of vision loss from blood vessel problems in the retina. In the Phase 3 QUASAR trial, nearly 900 patients with RVO participated. Among them, 591 received EYLEA HD and 301 received the standard EYLEA dose.

The results showed that EYLEA HD given every 8 weeks helped patients see just as well as the standard monthly dose. Importantly, the safety was similar too—only 5% of EYLEA HD patients had increased eye pressure, compared to 1.7% in the standard group.

Analyst Caution Follows FDA Review News for EYLEA HD

Canaccord Genuity analyst John Newman maintained a Hold rating but reduced the price target from $170 to $150.
BofA Securities analyst Tim Anderson kept an Underperform rating yet lowered the price target from $575 to $547.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on REGN?

Analyst Brian Skorney (BAIRD) currently has the highest performing score on REGN with 21/23 (91.3%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $42.28 (5.90%) potential upside. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals stock price reaches these price targets on average within 97 days.

Abbott Reports Q1 Results and Reaffirms 2025 Outlook Amid Tariff Concerns

Abbott Laboratories reported first-quarter 2025 financial results, with sales growing 4.0% year over year. Organic sales—excluding the impact of foreign exchange and discontinued product lines—increased by 6.9%. When excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, organic growth reached 8.3%.

Abbott posted GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.76 and adjusted EPS of $1.09, reflecting double-digit growth over the prior year and exceeding analyst expectations by $0.02. Reported gross margin came in at 52.8% of sales, with adjusted gross margin improving 140 basis points to 57.1%. Reported operating margin was 16.3%, while adjusted operating margin rose 130 basis points to 21.0%. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year 2025 EPS guidance of $5.05 to $5.25.

Despite expected earnings headwinds from U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports—estimated to cost Abbott around $300 million this year—maintaining its annual profit forecast. CEO Robert Ford noted the impact will begin in the third quarter, but emphasized Abbott’s diversified manufacturing base, which includes 35 of its 89 global facilities located in the U.S.

Analysts Raise Price Targets Following Q1 and Confident Outlook

Stifel analyst Rick Wise maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $135 to $145.
Jefferies analyst Matthew Taylor kept a Hold rating but nudged the price target from $135 to $137.
Raymond James analyst Jayson Bedford lifted his price target from $132 to $142.
Oppenheimer analyst Suraj Kalia boosted the price target from $134 to $140.
BTIG analyst Marie Thibault raised the price target from $140 to $145.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on ABT?

Analyst Anthony Petrone (MIZUHO) currently has the highest performing score on ABT with 5/5 (100%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $12.73 (10.86%) potential upside. Abbott Laboratories stock price reaches these price targets on average within 122 days.

CSX Misses Q1 Expectations as Coal Revenue Weakens Despite Intermodal Growth

CSX reported first-quarter results that fell short of Wall Street expectations, impacted by a continued decline in coal revenue and lower fuel surcharge collections.

The railroad operator posted revenue of $3.42 billion for the quarter ended March 31, missing analysts’ forecast of $3.47 billion. Net earnings were reported at $785 million, or 34 cents per share, compared to the expected 37 cents. CSX’s operating margin dropped to 30.4% from 36.3% in the same quarter last year.

Intermodal volume grew by 2.1% during the quarter, indicating steady demand for multi-modal freight services. However, coal volume declined by 8.5%, as customers increasingly turned to cheaper natural gas alternatives.

Analysts Lower Price Targets Following Q1 Performance and Coal Headwinds

Stifel analyst Benjamin Nolan maintained a Buy rating but trimmed the price target from $34 to $33.
BofA Securities analyst Ken Hoexter kept a Neutral stance while reducing the price target from $33 to $30.
Wells Fargo analyst Christian Wetherbee cut the price target to $28.
TD Cowen analyst Jason Seidl lowered the price target to $31.
Raymond James analyst Patrick Tyler Brown lowered the target from $34 to $33.

Which Analyst has the best track record to show on CSX?

Analyst Ravi Shanker (MORGAN STANLEY) currently has the highest performing score on CSX with 7/23 (30.43%) price target fulfillment ratio. His price targets carry an average of $-3 (-9.38%) potential downside. CSX stock price reaches these price targets on average within 230 days.