James Investment Research Inc. Lowers Stake in Abbott Laboratories $ABT

Key Points

• James Investment Research cut its Abbott Laboratories stake by 46% in the second quarter, selling 24,334 shares and retaining 28,527 shares valued at approximately $2.59 million. Institutional investors collectively own 75.18% of the company.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with Abbott carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $118.67. The company recently exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, reporting $1.31 in EPS and $12.59 billion in revenue.
• Abbott pays a quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, equivalent to a 2.2% yield, while investors weigh growth opportunities in diabetes technology against a roughly $670 million settlement involving specialty infant formulas and potentially unresolved litigation.

James Investment Research Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Free Report) by 46.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,527 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock after selling 24,334 shares during the period. James Investment Research Inc.'s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $2,589,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. MidAtlantic Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Purpose Unlimited Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Portfolio Resources Advisor Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $121.00 price target for the company. BTIG Research increased their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Friday, June 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $109.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, TD Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $115.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $118.67.

Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 2.2%

Shares of ABT stock opened at $116.62 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $81.97 and a fifty-two week high of $137.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.38. The stock's fifty day moving average is $100.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $100.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $201.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.74, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.59.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $12.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.52 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 11.65% and a return on equity of 17.69%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm 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. Research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 15th were paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratories's dividend payout ratio is currently 81.55%.

Key Headlines Impacting Abbott Laboratories

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

• Positive Sentiment: Abbott’s Instinct continuous glucose sensor is now commercially shipping in the U.S. integrated with MiniMed’s Flex automated insulin-delivery system. The partnership expands Abbott’s presence in diabetes technology and could support sensor adoption and recurring revenue. MiniMed Ships MiniMed Flex With Abbott's Smallest Instinct Sensor
• Positive Sentiment: Abbott also entered a multiyear agreement with HealthTab to distribute its Afinion 2 point-of-care analyzers through NHS-linked pharmacies in the United Kingdom. The deal may broaden access to Abbott’s HbA1c and lipid-testing products, although financial details were not disclosed. HealthTab Enters Multi-Year Collaboration Agreement with Abbott
• Neutral Sentiment: Abbott agreed to pay approximately $670 million to resolve the Gill case and claims from roughly 2,000 individuals involving specialty formulas for premature infants. The settlement resolves a portion of the litigation, including the appeal of a prior $495 million verdict, reducing uncertainty and potentially avoiding additional legal costs. Abbott denied that its products cause necrotizing enterocolitis and said regulators and medical professionals consider the formulas safe and necessary. Abbott agrees to $670 million settlement of infant formula cases
• Negative Sentiment: The settlement represents a significant cash and earnings cost and does not resolve all potential litigation related to the infant formulas. Investors may continue to assess the scope of remaining claims and the effect on Abbott’s legal reserves and profitability. Abbott reaches agreements to resolve a portion of litigation involving its specialty formulas

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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