QRG Capital Management Inc. Sells 83,416 Shares of Abbott Laboratories $ABT

Key Points

• QRG Capital Management cut its Abbott Laboratories stake by 28.7%, selling 83,416 shares and retaining 207,173 shares valued at approximately $18.8 million. Institutional investors still own 75.18% of Abbott’s outstanding stock.
• Abbott exceeded quarterly expectations with EPS of $1.31 versus $1.28 expected and revenue of $12.59 billion, up 13% year over year. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $119.50.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, equivalent to a 2.4% annual yield. Growth initiatives include partnerships around its Lingo glucose monitor and expanded use of its Volt cardiac ablation system, while a roughly $385 million infant-formula litigation settlement remains a near-term headwind.

QRG Capital Management Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Free Report) by 28.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 207,173 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock after selling 83,416 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $18,799,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. Aureus Asset Management LLC grew its position in Abbott Laboratories by 25.0% in the 1st quarter. Aureus Asset Management LLC now owns 331,920 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock worth $34,078,000 after purchasing an additional 66,422 shares during the last quarter. Thompson Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 786.0% in the second quarter. Thompson Investment Management Inc. now owns 14,061 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $1,276,000 after buying an additional 12,474 shares during the period. Parnassus Investments LLC increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 17.5% during the fourth quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC now owns 616,351 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $77,223,000 after acquiring an additional 91,897 shares during the period. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $4,889,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 38.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,895,185 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock worth $171,969,000 after acquiring an additional 522,279 shares during the period. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Abbott Laboratories

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

• Positive Sentiment: Abbott and Berry Street announced an exclusive partnership combining Abbott’s Lingo over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor with Berry Street’s insurance-covered registered-dietitian and nutrition-coaching platform. The initiative could improve Lingo adoption, expand Abbott’s consumer health ecosystem and strengthen its position in metabolic-health services. Abbott and Berry Street partnership article
• Positive Sentiment: Abbott’s Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System reportedly saw its first clinical use in Canada and at an Illinois heart center for treating atrial fibrillation. Additional real-world use could support the medical-device pipeline and future cardiovascular revenue growth. Abbott digital health and formula settlement article
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary continues to describe Abbott as a high-quality, diversified healthcare business with attractive long-term prospects. Its exposure to diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition and digital health provides multiple growth avenues, and the therapeutic drug-monitoring market is projected to expand substantially through 2032. What makes Abbott attractive article
• Neutral Sentiment: ABT is drawing increased attention from investors and analysts. Recent results exceeded consensus estimates, with revenue growth supported by the company’s diversified portfolio, but commentary generally characterizes the shares as a strong business available at a fair—not deeply discounted—price. Abbott trending stock article
• Negative Sentiment: Abbott agreed to pay approximately $385 million to settle infant-formula litigation. Although the settlement removes some legal uncertainty, the cash cost and reputational overhang are negative for near-term sentiment. Valuation comparisons with faster-growing healthcare companies, including Exact Sciences, may also reduce enthusiasm among growth-oriented investors. Abbott and Exact Sciences comparison article

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

ABT opened at $103.62 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $179.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.59. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $107.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $99.10. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $81.97 and a one year high of $136.83.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $12.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.52 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 17.69% and a net margin of 11.65%.The business'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 business earned $1.26 EPS. 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. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 16th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 15th will be given a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 15th. Abbott Laboratories's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.55%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABT has been the topic of a number of research reports. BTIG Research boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $130.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Friday, July 17th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Friday, June 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $119.50.

About Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories NYSE: ABT is a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures and sells medical products and technologies. Its operations span four principal areas: medical devices, diagnostics, established pharmaceutical products and nutrition. Abbott serves healthcare providers, institutions and consumers in markets around the world.

The company's medical device portfolio includes products for cardiovascular care, diabetes management and other specialties. Its diagnostics business provides laboratory systems, tests and point-of-care solutions, while its nutrition products include infant, child and adult nutritional offerings sold under brands such as Similac, Ensure and Pedialyte.

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