Candriam S.C.A. Raises Stock Position in Abbott Laboratories $ABT

Key Points

• Candriam S.C.A. increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 7.6%, acquiring an additional 45,315 shares, bringing its total to 639,070 shares worth approximately $84.77 million.
• Abbott Laboratories' quarterly earnings met expectations at $1.26 EPS, with revenue rising 7.4% year-over-year to $11.14 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share, translating to an annualized dividend of $2.36 and a yield of 1.8%, with a dividend payout ratio of 29.57%.

Candriam S.C.A. raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Free Report) by 7.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 639,070 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock after purchasing an additional 45,315 shares during the quarter. Candriam S.C.A.'s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $84,773,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Hughes Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Abound Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Elequin Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the first quarter worth $30,000. Wormser Freres Gestion bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, JCIC Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the company's stock.

Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.3%

ABT stock traded up $0.4120 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $132.4120. 4,130,154 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,721,513. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $131.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $131.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $230.46 billion, a PE ratio of 16.59, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.82. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $110.86 and a one year high of $141.23.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.26. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 32.43% and a return on equity of 18.32%. The company had revenue of $11.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.01 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.14 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Abbott Laboratories has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.100-5.200 EPS. Q3 2025 guidance at 1.280-1.320 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 15th were given a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratories's dividend payout ratio is 29.57%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Philip P. Boudreau sold 5,550 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.55, for a total value of $746,752.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 51,003 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,862,453.65. This represents a 9.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Raymond James Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $142.00 to $141.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 18th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Abbott Laboratories from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $143.00 to $145.00 in a report on Friday, July 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $127.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $144.47.

Abbott Laboratories Profile

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Ménière's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.