New York, January 27, 2026, 20:14 EST — The market has closed.
- ABT slipped 0.5% to $108.27 from its previous close
- According to an SEC filing, CEO Robert B. Ford purchased roughly 18,800 shares at around $107 each
- Traders enter the next session watching closely for any signs of improvement in nutrition stocks following Abbott’s latest outlook
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) shares slipped 0.5% to $108.27 in late after-hours trading Tuesday, down from a close of $108.82. A recent SEC filing revealed that Chairman and CEO Robert B. Ford purchased 18,800 shares on Jan. 23, paying an average of about $107.13 per share via the Ford Family Trust. (SEC)
Abbott’s disclosure takes on added weight as the company works to rebuild investor trust following a tough quarterly report that again spotlighted its nutrition segment. With U.S. markets closed, attention turns to Wednesday’s trading session to see if the fallout spreads—particularly if additional insiders or major shareholders make moves.
On Jan. 22, Abbott projected profits for the current quarter below analysts’ expectations after missing quarterly revenue estimates, which sent its shares tumbling 7% that day. Ford pointed to rising manufacturing costs that forced price hikes and hit demand, noting that “growth in nutrition is going to be challenged.” Bernstein’s Christian Moore flagged a “negative aura on formula usage,” as infant-formula producers like Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis pulled product batches in some regions over contamination concerns. (Reuters)
Abbott forecasted adjusted diluted EPS between $5.55 and $5.80 for 2026, alongside organic sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%. It expects first-quarter adjusted EPS in the range of $1.12 to $1.18. The company reaffirmed its plan to complete the Exact Sciences acquisition in Q2 2026 and highlighted recent regulatory approvals in electrophysiology. The quarterly dividend remains steady at $0.63 per share, payable Feb. 13. “We’re well positioned for accelerating growth in 2026,” Ford said in the statement. (Abbott MediaRoom)
After-hours trading, the quieter session following the 4 p.m. ET close, often see prices jump around on news. A Form 4 is the SEC filing insiders submit to disclose their stock buys and sells. Large purchases usually stand out, especially when a stock’s recently taken a hit.
Still, that insider buy leaves unanswered the bigger issue: can Abbott revive its nutrition segment before price cuts and rivals further erode volume? If demand remains weak through the first half or diagnostics don’t bounce back as COVID-linked sales drop off, investors may take another hard look at the stock.
Looking toward the next session and the coming week, attention remains on follow-through — will buyers step in after the initial insider signal? Also under scrutiny is Wall Street’s stance on Abbott’s capacity to weather the nutrition downturn without cutting into growth in other areas.
Device investors are watching more than just earnings—they’re tracking the medical-conference calendar for product and clinical news. Abbott, for instance, backs the Society of Thoracic Surgeons meeting in New Orleans, scheduled from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. (Structuralheart)
