Abbott Laboratories stock: Q3 sales rise 14.5%, EPS guidance tightened

Abbott Laboratories reported third-quarter results on October 21, 2026, showing stronger underlying growth across its healthcare portfolio. In its news release filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company reported third-quarter sales of 13.013 billion US dollars, up 14.5 percent on a reported basis and 7.0 percent on a comparable basis.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose to 1.42 US dollars from 1.30 US dollars a year earlier. GAAP diluted earnings per share came in at 0.53 US dollars, compared with 0.94 US dollars in the prior-year quarter. The difference reflected 0.89 US dollars per share of specified items, including intangible amortization, legal settlements, acquisition-related costs, restructuring actions and other expenses.

Diagnostics and devices lead growth

Diagnostics was the fastest-growing major segment on a reported basis, with sales up 46.7 percent to 3.305 billion US dollars. The increase included the contribution from Exact Sciences, acquired by Abbott in March. On a comparable basis, Diagnostics sales grew 6.4 percent, with cancer diagnostics benefiting from Cologuard and precision oncology activities.

Medical Devices sales rose 6.9 percent on a reported basis and 7.8 percent on a comparable basis to 5.826 billion US dollars. Electrophysiology and Rhythm Management led the segment, while continuous glucose monitoring sales increased 7.7 percent on a comparable basis. Nutrition sales grew 4.9 percent on a comparable basis, supported by pediatric products, and Established Pharmaceuticals advanced 8.4 percent on the same basis.

Management also highlighted recent product developments, including U.S. approval for the Libre Duo glucose-ketone sensor, the TactiFlex Duo ablation catheter and the SimpleScreen CRC blood-based colorectal cancer screening test. These launches add to the pipeline supporting Abbott's longer-term growth profile, although their financial contribution will depend on adoption and regulatory-market execution.

Guidance remains broadly intact

Abbott projects full-year 2026 comparable sales growth of approximately 6.0 percent. It narrowed its adjusted diluted earnings-per-share outlook to 5.50 to 5.55 US dollars while maintaining the midpoint of its previous range. Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted earnings per share are expected at 1.62 to 1.67 US dollars.

The outlook gives investors a clearer reference point after the quarter's mix of strong reported growth and significant specified items. Comparable figures are intended to remove foreign-exchange effects and selected acquisition and agreement-related impacts, making them more useful for assessing underlying operating momentum than the reported revenue increase alone.

Abbott Laboratories stock traded at 94.56 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 10:40 CET on Monday, November 2, 2026, 0.71 percent below the Xetra close of Friday, October 30.

For investors tracking the broader market, Abbott's setting remains linked to the S&P 500 backdrop.

Abbott declared its 411th consecutive quarterly dividend on September 17. The 0.63 US dollar per-share payment is scheduled for November 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of October 15. The next major investor focus will be execution against the full-year guidance, particularly in Diagnostics and Medical Devices, as Abbott continues to integrate Exact Sciences and expand its product portfolio.

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