Allergan (AGN, Financial) is a global specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of brand name, biosimilar and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. Allergan shares finished 2016 on a higher note, following an otherwise challenging year. While revenues and earnings were shy of expectations and drug price regulation dominated headlines throughout much of the past year, the health of Allergan’s core underlying growth drivers gave us confidence to continue buying shares at increasingly attractive discounts during the fourth calendar quarter. Encouragingly, recent operating results have come in ahead of internal forecasts, and the company’s initial outlook for 2017 exceeded our expectations. Growth across Allergan’s therapeutic segment looks healthy, with the global aesthetics franchise demonstrating notable strength. Headwinds from legislative and regulatory developments continue to bear monitoring,
From Weitz Value Fund first quarter 2017 commentary.
