Abbott Laboratories $ABT Shares Sold by Salem Investment Counselors Inc.

Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lowered its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) by 12.8% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 61,261 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock after selling 8,985 shares during the period. Salem Investment Counselors Inc.’s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $5,559,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Portfolio Resources Advisor Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

ABT opened at $111.27 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $97.67 and a 200-day moving average of $99.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.38. Abbott Laboratories has a 52-week low of $81.97 and a 52-week high of $137.49. The company has a market cap of $192.53 billion, a PE ratio of 36.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.59.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.03. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.69% and a net margin of 11.65%.The company had revenue of $12.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.52 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.26 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. 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, equities research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 15th will be paid a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 15th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. Abbott Laboratories’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.55%.

Key Stories Impacting Abbott Laboratories

Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Alphabet AI partnership expands Abbott’s growth opportunity: Abbott and Alphabet announced a multiyear collaboration integrating data from Abbott’s over-the-counter Lingo continuous glucose monitor into the Google Health app. Google’s AI Health Coach is expected to use the data to provide personalized recommendations, potentially increasing Lingo adoption and strengthening Abbott’s position in consumer digital health. Can Abbott Laboratories’ Lingo Partnership With Alphabet Unlock a New Era of AI-Powered Health?
• Positive Sentiment: Wolfe Research upgraded ABT to Outperform: The firm raised its rating from “Peer Perform” and set a $130 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. The upgrade indicates improving analyst confidence in Abbott’s earnings durability and growth prospects.
• Positive Sentiment: Established Pharmaceuticals remains a growth driver: Abbott’s Established Pharmaceutical Products division is benefiting from emerging-market demand, a broad branded-generics portfolio and biosimilar opportunities. This provides diversification beyond the company’s medical-device businesses. What’s Backing Abbott’s Established Pharmaceuticals Division Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent trading strength reflects broad investor support: Abbott outperformed some medical-product peers during a recent strong market session, while bullish commentary has highlighted the company’s diversified portfolio and long-term growth potential. Abbott Laboratories Stock Outperforms Competitors on Strong Trading Day
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation remains a potential constraint: With a forward-looking earnings multiple above 36 and the stock already well above its recent moving averages, further gains may require continued earnings execution and evidence that newer initiatives such as Lingo can materially contribute to revenue.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $121.00 to $113.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Benchmark decreased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Daiwa Securities Group cut shares of Abbott Laboratories from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $92.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Finally, Evercore reduced their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $134.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $118.67.

About Abbott Laboratories

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.