Principal Financial Group Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report) by 5.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,305,429 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock after selling 194,074 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.19% of Abbott Laboratories worth $299,935,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Portfolio Resources Advisor Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Institutional investors own 75.18% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research analysts have weighed in on ABT shares. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $121.00 to $113.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $118.67.
Key Stories Impacting Abbott Laboratories
Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:
- Positive Sentiment: New diabetes-device opportunity: Medtronic has begun shipping its MiniMed Flex insulin pump, which uses an Abbott-made glucose sensor. The launch and accompanying marketing campaign could expand Abbott’s sensor presence in the growing diabetes-care market. MiniMed starts shipping new insulin pump with Abbott-made sensor
- Positive Sentiment: Underlying business remains diversified: Analyst commentary highlights Abbott’s established diagnostics, medical-device and nutrition franchises, along with long-term growth opportunities. Its latest reported quarter also exceeded consensus earnings and revenue estimates, with revenue up 13% year over year. Ken Griffin Just Loaded Up on AbbVie and Abbott
- Neutral Sentiment: Formula litigation clarity: Abbott agreed to pay approximately $670 million to resolve the Gill case and about 2,000 additional necrotizing-enterocolitis claims without admitting liability. The settlement is costly, but it removes uncertainty tied to a large jury award and provides greater visibility into remaining litigation exposure. How Investors Are Reacting To Abbott Laboratories US$670 Million NEC Settlement
- Neutral Sentiment: Investor comparisons are favorable but valuation-sensitive: Articles describe Abbott as a potential long-term healthcare and dividend investment, though comparisons with Envista, Intuitive Surgical, Thermo Fisher and Johnson & Johnson emphasize differing growth, recovery and valuation profiles. NVST or ABT: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
- Negative Sentiment: Diagnostics growth is uneven: Weaker respiratory-testing demand is offsetting healthy routine testing and approximately 13% growth in cancer diagnostics. This mix could moderate near-term Diagnostics momentum despite strength in higher-growth categories. Here’s What Is Shaping Abbott’s Diagnostics Growth
Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.1%
NYSE:ABT opened at $116.70 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $201.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.59. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $81.97 and a twelve month high of $137.49. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $100.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $100.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $12.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.52 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 11.65% and a return on equity of 17.69%. The firm’s revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.26 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.380-1.46 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.450-5.60 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 17th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 15th were paid a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratories’s payout ratio is presently 81.55%.
Abbott Laboratories Company Profile
Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.
In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.
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