Abbott Laboratories

Abbott makes medical devices, diagnostic tests, branded generic medicines and nutrition products. Medical Devices include FreeStyle Libre glucose monitors, electrophysiology, heart rhythm and heart failure devices, and vascular and structural heart products. Diagnostics include lab, rapid and molecular tests and, since the purchase of Exact Sciences on March 23, 2026, cancer screening tests such as Cologuard. Established Pharmaceuticals sells branded generic medicines outside the United States.

Nutrition sells brands such as Similac, PediaSure, Ensure and Glucerna. Sales were $13.0 billion in Q3 2026 and $36.8 billion in the first nine months of 2026. On October 21, 2026, Abbott said that it plans to separate its Nutrition business, with about $8.5 billion of annual sales, into a new public company by the end of 2027.

Abbott trades at a premium because investors pay for steady growth across many health care markets and for its leading positions in glucose monitors, heart devices and diagnostics. In Q3 2026, Electrophysiology sales grew 15.5% and Rhythm Management sales grew 10.0% at constant currency, and Cologuard led comparable growth of 13.8% in Cancer Diagnostics. The price assumes that growth speeds up after the Exact Sciences purchase and the Nutrition separation. But growth slowed in 2026.

Abbott lowered its full-year comparable sales growth to about 6.0% from 6.5% to 7.5%, sales of glucose monitors grew only 7.7% in Q3 2026, and Nutrition sales fell in the first nine months. For the premium to be earned, three things must be true. Glucose monitor growth must speed up again, with new products such as Libre Duo. Exact Sciences must keep double-digit growth and add to EPS while debt of $31.2 billion falls.

The Nutrition separation must close by the end of 2027 and leave a faster-growing Abbott, and the NEC lawsuits must not bring large new costs. The Q4 2026 report, expected in late January 2027, gives the first test with the 2027 guidance. If comparable growth stays near 6% or less in 2027, the premium can shrink within one to two years.

1. Jan 21, 2027 · est.Pending

   Q4 2026 results and 2027 guidance2027 guidance for comparable sales growth near 7% or more and adjusted EPS growth near 10% passes; growth guidance near 6% or less fails.
2. 2027 · est.Pending

   Nutrition separationA Form 10 filing and a tax-free separation by the end of 2027 pass; a delay or a separation that raises costs for the remaining Abbott fails.

Every passed and failed checkpoint across all picks

• October 21, 2026Abbott reported Q3 2026 results. Sales grew 14.5% to $13.0 billion, or 7.0% on a comparable basis. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.42. Abbott now expects full-year comparable sales growth of about 6.0%, and it narrowed its adjusted EPS guidance to $5.50 to $5.55.
• October 21, 2026Abbott said that it plans to separate its Nutrition business into an independent public company through a tax-free distribution to shareholders. The new company will have about $8.5 billion of annual sales, and Abbott expects to complete the separation by the end of 2027.
• August 20, 2026Abbott agreed to pay about $670 million to resolve the Gill case and NEC claims for about 2,000 more infants. After these agreements, about 1,700 lawsuits for about 12,700 infants were still pending.

Last earnings

October 21, 2026 (8-K on sec.gov)

Next earnings

Expected about January 21, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.

• 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Sep 30, 2026Filed November 4, 2026 · abt-20260930
• 8-KOther company newsFiled October 21, 2026 · Read it on sec.gov
• 8-KEarnings releaseFiled October 21, 2026 · abt-20261021
• 8-KInvestor disclosure and Other company newsFiled August 20, 2026 · Read it on sec.gov
• 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Jun 30, 2026Filed July 28, 2026 · abt-20260630
• 8-KEarnings releaseFiled July 16, 2026 · abt-20260716
• 10-QQuarterly report for the period ended Mar 31, 2026Filed April 29, 2026 · abt-20260331
• 8-KChange of directors or officers and Change to shareholder rights or bylawsFiled April 27, 2026 · Read it on sec.gov
• 8-KOther company newsFiled April 17, 2026 · Read it on sec.gov
• 8-KEarnings releaseFiled April 16, 2026 · abt-20260416

Every filing on SEC EDGAR (CIK 1800)

• About 1,700 lawsuits claim that Abbott's formula for preterm infants caused necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In 2024, a jury awarded one plaintiff $495 million. Abbott recorded no additional reserve for the remaining cases because it cannot estimate the loss.
• Growth of glucose monitors slowed to 7.7% in Q3 2026. These sensors were $6.2 billion of sales in the first nine months of 2026, so slower growth or price pressure has a large effect.
• Debt rose to $31.2 billion after the Exact Sciences purchase. Exact Sciences must grow fast to give a good return on $20.6 billion.
• The Nutrition separation adds costs and work until the end of 2027. U.S. Nutrition sales fell 4.5% in the first nine months of 2026.
• About 58% of Q3 2026 sales were outside the United States, so a stronger dollar lowers reported sales.

Abbott took on much more debt to buy Exact Sciences. Total long-term debt was $31.16 billion at September 30, 2026, up from $12.93 billion at December 31, 2025, and $1.71 billion of it is due within one year. Read more

Dividend yield

2.3% (last 12 months, at today’s price of $110.51)

Paid per share

$2.52 in the last 12 months (4 payments)

Current annual rate

$2.52 ($0.63 × 4 a year)

Payout ratio

63% of the last fiscal year’s earnings (the year that ended December 31, 2025)

Latest ex-dividend date

October 15, 2026, $0.63 per share

Dividends per share by year

Over the last 5 years, the dividend grew by about 7.0% a year. Over the last 10 years, the dividend grew by about 9.3% a year.

Source: company filings and market data, read on November 9, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.