Jericho Financial LLP Purchases New Stake in Abbott Laboratories $ABT

Key Points

• Jericho Financial LLP acquired 46,582 Abbott Laboratories shares in the second quarter, worth approximately $4.23 million and representing 2.2% of its portfolio. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 75.18% of ABT.
• Abbott reported quarterly revenue of $12.59 billion and earnings of $1.31 per share, exceeding analyst estimates, while revenue rose 13% year over year. The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance and pays an annualized dividend of $2.52 per share, yielding about 2.3%.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $119.50, despite ABT shares opening at $108.86 after a 1.4% decline. Abbott’s new ready-to-feed whole-milk infant formula could support nutrition growth, though advertising scrutiny in the formula market remains a risk.

Jericho Financial LLP bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 46,582 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock, valued at approximately $4,227,000. Abbott Laboratories makes up about 2.2% of Jericho Financial LLP's holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding.

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

More Abbott Laboratories News

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

• Positive Sentiment: New infant formula expands Abbott’s nutrition portfolio. Abbott launched Similac 360 Total Care Made With Whole Milk, described as the first commercially sterile, ready-to-feed liquid whole-milk infant formula available in the U.S. The product targets growing parental interest in whole-milk formulas while offering convenience at a price similar to Similac’s powdered formula. Wider distribution and consumer adoption could provide incremental growth for Abbott’s Nutrition segment. Abbott launches whole-milk liquid infant formula
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain optimistic despite relative underperformance. Coverage notes that ABT has lagged the broader healthcare sector over the past year, but Wall Street analysts continue to express confidence in the company’s outlook. Recent earnings also showed revenue growth, an earnings-per-share beat and reaffirmed 2026 guidance, supporting the bullish view. Abbott stock and healthcare-sector performance
• Neutral Sentiment: Abbott is positioning the launch around changing consumer and policy preferences. The whole-milk formula introduction aligns with interest in “Make America Healthy Again” themes, but the financial impact will depend on demand, pricing and market share gains. Abbott and the Make America Healthy Again movement
• Negative Sentiment: Formula-related advertising scrutiny remains a risk. In a challenge brought by Abbott, the National Advertising Division supported certain Kendamil whole-milk claims but recommended that other nutritional, ingredient and heritage claims be modified or discontinued. The decision is not a direct finding against Abbott, but it highlights competitive scrutiny in the infant-formula market. NAD decision on Kendamil infant formula claims

Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 1.4%

Shares of ABT stock opened at $108.86 on Wednesday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $81.97 and a 12-month high of $137.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $103.43 and a 200-day moving average of $100.09. The company has a market capitalization of $188.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.59.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.03. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 11.65% and a return on equity of 17.69%. The firm had revenue of $12.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.52 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.26 EPS. 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 predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 15th were given a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was 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 81.55%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on ABT shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $121.00 to $113.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. BTIG Research boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $130.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. They set an "outperform" rating and a $121.00 price objective on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $119.50.

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.

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