Abbott Reports Third-Quarter 2026 Results and Reaffirms Full-Year EPS Guidance

• Third-quarter reported sales growth of 14.5 percent; comparable sales growth of 7.0 percent
• Third-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.53; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.42
• Expands portfolio with key new product approvals

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026.

• Third-quarter sales increased 14.5 percent on a reported basis and 7.0 percent on a comparable basis.
• Third-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.42, which excludes specified items.
• Abbott projects full-year 2026 comparable sales growth to be approximately 6.0 percent¹.
• Abbott reaffirms the midpoint of previously provided full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance range and tightens the range to $5.50 to $5.55.
• In August, Abbott announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Libre® Duo, the world's first dual glucose-ketone biowearable sensor. By providing real-time visibility into glucose and ketone levels, this new technology helps optimize the management of diabetes by detecting rising ketone levels, which can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious health condition for people with diabetes.
• In August, Abbott announced that the company received CE Mark for its Amulet 360™ Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder, a next-generation device designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
• In August, Abbott announced the launch of Similac® 360 Total Care® Made With Whole Milk —  the first and only commercially sterile, ready-to-feed liquid infant formula made with whole milk in the United States.
• In September, Abbott announced FDA approval for its TactiFlex™ Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled™, designed to deliver both pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency (RF) energy to treat patients battling atrial fibrillation.
• In September, Abbott launched SimpleScreen™ CRC, an FDA-approved, blood-based colorectal cancer screening test for adults age 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease.

"Abbott delivered strong third-quarter results, reflecting balanced growth across our portfolio," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "With strong performance across multiple businesses and a robust pipeline of innovation, we are well-positioned to deliver sustainable growth in the years ahead."

THIRD-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Comparable sales growth:
Management believes that measuring sales growth on a comparable basis is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business. Comparable sales growth includes the prior and current year sales of Exact Sciences, a cancer diagnostics company that Abbott acquired on March 23, 2026. Comparable sales growth excludes the impact of foreign exchange and revenue in both the prior and current year related to compensation payments that Abbott's Structural Heart business received as part of a multi-year agreement with a competitor. The final payment under this agreement was recognized in the first quarter of 2026.

Note: In order to compute results excluding the impact of exchange rates, current year U.S. dollar sales are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the current year average foreign exchange rates and then those amounts are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the prior year average foreign exchange rates.

Worldwide Nutrition sales increased 5.1 percent on a reported basis and 4.9 percent on a comparable basis in the third quarter.

Worldwide Nutrition results were driven by broad-based growth across the portfolio, including sales growth of nearly 9.0 percent in Worldwide Pediatric.

On a sequential basis, Worldwide Nutrition sales increased $118 million compared to the second quarter of 2026.

Worldwide Diagnostics sales increased 46.7 percent on a reported basis and 6.4 percent on a comparable basis in the third quarter.

Worldwide Core Laboratory Diagnostics results were driven by balanced growth across major geographic regions including the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Latin America.

Cancer Diagnostics results were driven by growth of Cologuard® and also reflect contributions to growth from the precision oncology and international businesses.

Established Pharmaceuticals sales increased 6.8 percent on a reported basis and 8.4 percent on a comparable basis in the third quarter.

Key Emerging Markets include several emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott's branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies increased 9.0 percent on a reported basis and 10.9 percent on a comparable basis, led by double-digit growth in India and several markets across the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.

Worldwide Medical Devices sales increased 6.9 percent on a reported basis and 7.8 percent on a comparable basis in the third quarter.

Sales growth in the quarter was led by double-digit growth in Electrophysiology and Rhythm Management.

In Diabetes Care, sales of continuous glucose monitors grew 7.3 percent on a reported basis and 7.7 percent on a comparable basis.

Abbott's Financial Guidance
Abbott projects full-year 2026 comparable sales growth to be approximately 6.0%¹.

Abbott projects full-year 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $5.50 to $5.55.

Abbott projects fourth-quarter 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.62 to $1.67.

Abbott has not provided the related GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis for these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures because the company is unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the timing and impact of certain items such as restructuring and cost reduction initiatives, charges for intangible asset impairments, acquisition-related expenses, and foreign exchange, which could significantly impact Abbott's results in accordance with GAAP.

Abbott Declares 411^th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend
On Sept. 17, 2026, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company's quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share. Abbott's cash dividend is payable Nov. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15, 2026.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 54 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.

About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Abbott will live-webcast its third-quarter earnings conference call through its Investor Relations website at www.abbottinvestor.com at 8 a.m. Central time today. An archived edition of the webcast will be available later in the day.

— Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 —
A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Abbott cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Abbott's operations are discussed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and are incorporated herein by reference. Abbott undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

1. In 2025, total worldwide sales were $44.328 billion, which included U.S. sales of $17.126 billion and international sales of $27.202 billion, and Abbott's Structural Heart business received $89 million of compensation payments as part of a multi-year agreement with a competitor. Also in 2025, total worldwide sales for Exact Sciences were $3.247 billion, which included U.S. sales of $3.145 billion and international sales of $102 million.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2026 and 2025

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 and 2025

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

excluding Specified Items, as described below

Plus Dilutive Common Stock Options

Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Financial Information

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2026 and 2025

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Specified items reflect intangible amortization expense of $841 million, legal settlements of approximately $670 million and other net expenses of $178 million associated with acquisitions, restructuring actions, and other net expenses. See table titled "Details of Specified Items" for additional details regarding specified items.

Specified items reflect intangible amortization expense of $420 million and other net expenses of $128 million associated with restructuring actions, costs associated with acquisitions, and other net expenses. See table titled "Details of Specified Items" for additional details regarding specified items.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Financial Information

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 and 2025

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Reported
(GAAP)

Adjusted

Specified items reflect intangible amortization expense of $1.921 billion, legal settlements of approximately $1.070 billion and other net expenses of $811 million associated with acquisitions, restructuring actions, and other net expenses. See table titled "Details of Specified Items" for additional details regarding specified items.

Reported
(GAAP)

Adjusted

Specified items reflect intangible amortization expense of $1.260 billion and other net expenses of $308 million associated with restructuring actions, acquisitions, investment impairment charges, and other net expenses. See table titled "Details of Specified Items" for additional details regarding specified items.

A reconciliation of the third-quarter tax rates for 2026 and 2025 is shown below: 

Income

Earnings

Rate

Income

Earnings

Rate

A reconciliation of the year-to-date tax rates for 2026 and 2025 is shown below: 

Income

Earnings

Rate

Income

Earnings

Rate

Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2026 and 2025

($ in millions)

(unaudited)

of multi-year
agreement (b)

Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 and 2025

($ in millions)

(unaudited)

of multi-year
agreement (b)

of multi-year
agreement (b)

Details of Specified Items

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2026

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Details of Specified Items

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2025

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Details of Specified Items

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Details of Specified Items

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

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SOURCE Abbott