Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) finished Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, modestly lower, even as fresh headlines reinforced the company’s medical-device momentum heading into a holiday-shortened U.S. trading session on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
ABT shares closed at $124.54 (-0.53%) and in after-hours trading were last indicated around $124.20 (-0.27%) as of the evening session. [1]
With markets set for an early close on Dec. 24, and macro data arriving before the opening bell, the setup for Wednesday is less about “big volume conviction” and more about headline sensitivity, thinner liquidity, and risk management—especially for large-cap, widely held healthcare names like Abbott. [2]
ABT after the bell: where Abbott stock stands heading into Wednesday
Here’s the snapshot investors are digesting after Tuesday’s close:
- Close (Dec. 23): $124.54, down 0.53% [3]
- After-hours (evening check): about $124.20 [4]
- Day’s range: roughly $123.85 to $125.18 [5]
- Volume context: trading volume was muted relative to many non-holiday sessions, a common feature of late-December markets. [6]
The key takeaway: after-hours action looks restrained, suggesting that investors largely priced in the day’s most important Abbott headline earlier—or chose to wait for more clarity on commercialization timelines and competitive dynamics.
The headline driving Abbott coverage: FDA approval for Volt PFA in atrial fibrillation
The most consequential Abbott-specific development in current coverage is the company’s newly secured U.S. FDA approval for its Volt™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib). [7]
Why this matters for Abbott’s growth narrative
PFA is one of the most closely watched fronts in cardiac rhythm management because it aims to ablate heart tissue using electrical pulses (rather than heat or extreme cold), a technique widely discussed as potentially more targeted and gentler on surrounding tissue. [8]
From a business perspective, the approval is important because it positions Abbott to compete more directly in a U.S. PFA arena that already includes major device rivals. Industry coverage highlights that Abbott can now go head-to-head with companies such as Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson in the U.S. pulsed-field ablation market. [9]
What the company says the FDA decision was based on
Abbott has pointed to results from its VOLT-AF IDE study, described as a clinical trial involving 392 patients across 40 centers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Australia. [10]
How near-term revenue impact should be framed
Some market commentary suggests the approval could be a positive catalyst for sentiment, but it’s not the kind of event that automatically translates into a next-day revenue surge. A realistic way to view it is:
- Strategic win now (portfolio breadth and competitive parity in PFA)
- Execution story next (training, rollout pace, adoption, reimbursement, outcomes)
- Financial impact over time (procedure growth and share capture, not overnight)
That’s why Wednesday’s trading may hinge less on “approval happened” (known) and more on follow-through signals: rollout pace, early physician adoption, and how the competitive landscape evolves into 2026. [11]
Why ABT didn’t rip higher Tuesday: the holiday tape and macro crosscurrents
Even strong company headlines can get muted when the broader market is focused elsewhere—especially in late December. On Dec. 23, investors were also weighing fresh U.S. macro signals, including a widely reported drop in consumer confidence. [12]
Healthcare stocks like Abbott are often treated as defensive in risk-off moments, but they’re not immune to broad de-risking, index flows, or “trim winners into year-end” positioning—particularly when liquidity is lower.
The other factor: holiday-week trading conditions can compress moves in some names and exaggerate them in others. With fewer institutional participants active, price action can reflect positioning and order flow more than deep fundamental re-ratings.
Forecasts and analyst outlook: what the Street is signaling into 2026
Analyst price targets and rating tone
Consensus snapshots from widely followed market-data compilers continue to show constructive Street positioning on ABT, with average targets generally well above current trading levels.
- MarketBeat’s compiled consensus indicates an average target around $147 (with a range roughly in the mid-$130s to low-$160s). [13]
- MarketWatch’s compiled analyst view shows an average target in the mid-$140s range, based on a larger set of ratings. [14]
As always, price targets are not guarantees. But they do matter for tomorrow’s setup because they shape how investors interpret dips: “fundamental deterioration” vs. “pullback within a longer-term thesis.”
Next major scheduled catalyst: earnings timing
Several market calendars currently point to late January for Abbott’s next report. For example:
- Nasdaq’s earnings page indicates ABT is estimated to report around Jan. 28, 2026. [15]
- Zacks’ earnings calendar similarly flags Jan. 28, 2026 as the expected next release window. [16]
That timing matters because the market will likely treat the Volt PFA approval as part of a broader question heading into earnings season: What’s the commercial runway for Abbott’s next wave of device growth—and what are the margin implications?
Dividend: a shareholder-friendly headline still in the background
Abbott also recently announced a dividend increase—another factor that can influence demand for large-cap healthcare during uncertain macro phases.
Abbott said its board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, a 6.8% increase, marking the company’s 54th consecutive year of dividend growth. The company also said the dividend is payable Feb. 13, 2026, to shareholders of record Jan. 15, 2026. [17]
For short-term traders, dividends rarely move the stock day-to-day. For longer-term allocators, the signal is different: confidence in cash generation and capital return discipline.
What to know before the market opens Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025
Wednesday isn’t a normal session—both because of the calendar and because key data hits before the bell.
1) Expect a shortened U.S. trading day
U.S. equity markets are scheduled to close early at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and remain closed on Dec. 25. [18]
Bond markets are expected to close early as well (commonly referenced as 2:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 24). [19]
Also notable: major exchanges have reiterated they will remain open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 despite the federal office closure directive—so traders should plan for regular holiday market structure, not a surprise shutdown. [20]
Why it matters for ABT: thin liquidity can make even mega-cap names gap more easily in premarket and drift more on lighter volume. Don’t overread a small move.
2) Macro data can still move futures before the bell
The economic calendar includes initial jobless claims on Wednesday morning. [21]
Even though Abbott isn’t an economically cyclical company in the way consumer discretionary might be, macro surprises can still shift:
- index futures,
- yields and dollar strength,
- and “defensive vs. growth” rotation—all of which can affect ABT’s tape.
3) For ABT specifically, watch for “Volt PFA follow-through” headlines
Because the FDA approval is fresh, the most relevant company-specific catalysts into Wednesday are secondary headlines rather than the original announcement:
- hospital/physician commentary,
- competitor responses,
- timeline details on commercial rollout,
- and any early adopter signals highlighted by industry outlets.
This is also the window when more analyst notes can hit the tape—especially in a high-visibility category like PFA. [22]
4) Levels traders will likely watch (without overcomplicating it)
Based on Tuesday’s action, near-term reference points include:
- $123.85 (Tuesday’s low) as a short-term support marker
- $125+ (Tuesday’s high zone) as a near-term resistance area [23]
In holiday sessions, these levels can matter more simply because fewer participants are around to “smooth” price discovery.
The bigger picture: Abbott’s 2026 questions are getting sharper
Tuesday’s post-close takeaway isn’t that Abbott had a bad day—ABT barely moved. It’s that Abbott’s 2026 storyline is becoming more defined:
- Medical devices remain the center of gravity, and Volt PFA adds another meaningful product pillar. [24]
- Competition is intense, especially in high-growth categories like PFA. [25]
- The next “real” market checkpoint is earnings, where guidance and commercial traction will matter far more than the existence of the approval itself. [26]
- Income investors have a new dividend rate to factor in, which can support the stock during choppy tapes. [27]
Bottom line for Wednesday’s open
Heading into the Dec. 24 open, Abbott stock is set up as a classic holiday-week name: fundamentally newsy, but trading in an environment where liquidity, macro prints, and headline flow can outweigh deep valuation debates.
If you’re watching ABT tomorrow, focus on:
- whether premarket trading reacts to new Volt/PFA follow-ups,
- how the market digests jobless claims and the broader risk tone,
- and remember that the session ends early—so moves can be compressed or drifty rather than decisive. [28]
This article is for informational purposes and is not financial advice.
References
1. finance.yahoo.com, 2. www.nyse.com, 3. finance.yahoo.com, 4. finance.yahoo.com, 5. stockanalysis.com, 6. stockanalysis.com, 7. abbott.mediaroom.com, 8. finance.yahoo.com, 9. www.medtechdive.com, 10. abbott.mediaroom.com, 11. www.mddionline.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.marketbeat.com, 14. www.marketwatch.com, 15. www.nasdaq.com, 16. www.zacks.com, 17. abbott.mediaroom.com, 18. www.nyse.com, 19. www.marketwatch.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. www.marketwatch.com, 22. www.medtechdive.com, 23. stockanalysis.com, 24. abbott.mediaroom.com, 25. www.medtechdive.com, 26. www.nasdaq.com, 27. abbott.mediaroom.com, 28. www.investopedia.com
