# Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

> Abbott makes and sells medicines, diagnostic tests, nutrition products, and medical devices.

- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange · Sector: Healthcare · Industry: Medical Devices
- Headquarters: Abbott Park, Illinois, United States
- Founded: 1888
- Employees: approximately 115,000 (December 31, 2025)
- SEC CIK: 0000001800 ([filings on EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000001800))
- Full page: https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/abt
- Data as of: price 2026-09-25; newest filing used 2026-04-29; latest fiscal period ended 2026-03-31

## Grade

**B+** on the growth-and-cash rubric, 4 of 5 checks passed.

| Check | Result | Now | Before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revenue growing overall | passed | $45.1B | $41.5B |
| Revenue growing recently | passed | $45.1B | $44.3B |
| Free cash flow positive | passed | $7.4B |  |
| Free cash flow growing overall | passed | $7.4B | $6.8B |
| Free cash flow growing recently | failed | $7.4B | $7.4B |

Business quality (the + / − mark): 5 of 6 checks passed.

| Check | Result | Now | Before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Profitable | passed | 13.9% |  |
| Healthy profit margin | passed | 13.9% |  |
| Strong operating margin | passed | 17.1% |  |
| Good return on equity | failed | 12.0% |  |
| Debt under control | passed | 0.27 |  |
| Turns sales into cash | passed | 16.3% |  |

How the grade works: the letter counts failed checks (none → A, one → B, two → C, three → D, four or more → F). It is built from SEC filings only — the share price never enters it — and describes the business, not whether the stock is worth buying.

## Key figures

In US dollars, as filed.

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Revenue, trailing twelve months | $45.1B |
| Net income, trailing twelve months | $6.3B |
| Free cash flow, trailing twelve months | $7.4B |
| Net margin | 13.9% |
| Operating margin | 17.1% |
| Return on equity | 12.0% |
| Debt to equity | 0.27 |
| Diluted EPS, trailing twelve months | $3.58 |
| Share price | $101.29 |
| Market value | $176.4B |
| Price / earnings | 28.3x |
| Price / sales | 3.9x |

## What the business does

Abbott develops, makes, and sells healthcare products around the world. Its businesses include branded generic medicines sold outside the United States, diagnostic tests and equipment, nutrition products, and devices for heart conditions, diabetes, and other needs. Its buyers include healthcare providers, distributors, retailers, government agencies, and consumers.

### How it makes money

- **Medical devices** (49.6% (quarter ended 2026-03-31)) — Sells devices such as heart rhythm equipment, heart valves, and glucose sensors to hospitals, clinicians, distributors, and other customers.
- **Diagnostic products** (19.5% (quarter ended 2026-03-31)) — Sells diagnostic instruments and the tests, cartridges, and related supplies used with them to hospitals, laboratories, clinics, and other testing sites.
- **Nutrition products** (18.1% (quarter ended 2026-03-31)) — Sells infant and adult nutrition products to consumers, retailers, healthcare institutions, wholesalers, and distributors.
- **Established pharmaceutical products** (12.8% (quarter ended 2026-03-31)) — Sells branded generic medicines mainly outside the United States through wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and retailers.

### Products

- **Established Pharmaceutical Products** — Branded generic medicines sold outside the United States, including treatments for digestive conditions, women's health, heart and metabolic conditions, pain, and respiratory infections.
- **Diagnostic systems and tests** — Laboratory instruments, test kits, and rapid tests used to help detect or monitor conditions such as infections, cancer, heart problems, and thyroid disorders.
- **Nutrition products** — Infant formula, adult nutrition drinks and powders, and products used for feeding patients in healthcare institutions, including Similac, Ensure, and PediaSure.
- **Heart and other medical devices** — Products include pacemakers, heart valves, devices used to treat narrowed blood vessels, and implanted devices for chronic pain or movement disorders.
- **FreeStyle Libre** — A continuous glucose monitoring system with a sensor worn on the body to measure glucose levels for people with diabetes.
- **Cologuard** — A stool-based test used to screen for colorectal cancer; Abbott discussed it on its earnings call as part of its cancer diagnostics business.

### Customers

- Hospitals, blood banks, and commercial laboratories buy diagnostic instruments, tests, and supplies directly or through distributors.
- Clinics, physicians' offices, and other care sites buy diagnostic tests and medical devices for use in patient care.
- Wholesalers, distributors, and pharmacies buy medicines for resale to healthcare providers and patients.
- Retailers and consumers buy infant formula and adult nutrition products, including brands such as Similac and Ensure.
- Government agencies buy or influence access to medicines, diagnostic products, nutrition products, and medical devices.
- Healthcare institutions buy nutrition products used to feed patients.

### Competitors

- Medtronic (MDT) — Heart rhythm, heart failure, and other medical devices.
- Boston Scientific (BSX) — Heart and vascular devices, including devices used in electrophysiology procedures.
- Dexcom (DXCM) — Continuous glucose monitoring sensors and related products.
- Danaher (DHR) — Diagnostic instruments and tests used by laboratories and healthcare providers.
- Nestlé (NSRGY) — Infant and adult nutrition products.

### What it depends on

- Making its products depends on a large network of suppliers around the world for raw materials and other supplies.
- Sales depend on government approvals and ongoing compliance rules for medicines, diagnostic tests, laboratories, nutrition products, and medical devices.
- Demand and prices can depend on government and insurer coverage, reimbursement rules, and cost-control programs, including competitive bidding for some infant formula contracts.

### What could go wrong

- Disruptions to Abbott's global supply chain or problems in its or its suppliers' complex manufacturing processes could interrupt product availability.
- Changes to healthcare regulation, reimbursement, or price controls could delay product sales, restrict access, or reduce the prices Abbott receives.
- New products from competitors can reduce demand for Abbott's products, and some diagnostic and medical devices can become outdated quickly as technology changes.

## More on this company

- [Overview](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/abt)
- [Financial statements](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/abt/financials)
- [Competitors](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/abt/peers)
- [Earnings](https://inspectstocks.com/stocks/abt/earnings)

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Source: InspectStocks, built from the company’s own SEC filings. This describes a business — it is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell anything.