VELA Investment Management LLC Boosts Holdings in Abbott Laboratories $ABT

Key Points

• VELA Investment Management increased its Abbott Laboratories stake by 164.1% in the second quarter, bringing its holdings to 54,892 shares worth approximately $4.98 million. Institutional investors collectively own 75.18% of Abbott’s stock.
• Abbott reported quarterly revenue of $12.59 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share, exceeding analyst expectations, while revenue rose 13% year over year. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $118.67.
• Abbott agreed to pay approximately $670 million to settle part of the litigation involving specialty formulas for premature infants. The settlement reduces some legal uncertainty but does not resolve all potential claims and could weigh on cash flow and profitability.

VELA Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Free Report) by 164.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 54,892 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock after buying an additional 34,106 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories makes up about 1.1% of VELA Investment Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. VELA Investment Management LLC's holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $4,981,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. Nia Impact Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Nia Impact Advisors LLC now owns 3,706 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $504,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the period. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 1,031 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock worth $140,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Eley Financial Management Inc raised its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Eley Financial Management Inc now owns 10,817 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock worth $1,355,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the period. Copley Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Copley Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,435 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $556,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors grew its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 2.9% during the third quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors now owns 3,301 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $442,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Abbott Laboratories News

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 Price Performance

NYSE:ABT opened at $116.62 on Friday. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $100.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $100.05. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $81.97 and a 52 week high of $137.49. The stock has a market cap of $201.80 billion, a PE ratio of 37.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 17.69% and a net margin of 11.65%.The firm had revenue of $12.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.52 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.26 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue 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, analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on ABT. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $121.00 to $113.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $109.00 to $112.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. 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 target price for the company. Piper Sandler restated an "overweight" rating and set a $118.00 target price (up from $115.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $118.67.

Abbott Laboratories 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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