New York, Jan 30, 2026, 15:04 EST — Regular session.
Abbott Laboratories shares climbed roughly 2.6%, closing in on $108.89 Friday afternoon after earlier dipping to $105.72. The stock hit a peak of $109.34 during the session.
Investors are re-pricing Abbott following a tough response to its quarterly results and a cautious outlook for the first quarter. The company projected adjusted earnings per share — excluding certain items — between $1.12 and $1.18, falling short of the $1.20 average analyst estimate, after missing revenue targets. CEO Robert Ford acknowledged, “We’ll have a couple quarters where growth in nutrition is challenged, then in the second half we’ll return to positive growth,” as both nutrition and diagnostics segments lagged. 1
Freedom Capital Markets raised Abbott’s rating to “buy” from “hold” late Thursday but lowered its price target to $120 from $130. The firm said the recent dip presented a more attractive entry point ahead of Abbott’s planned integration with Exact Sciences. It highlighted Abbott’s 2026 organic growth guidance and noted that the timing of the integration, expected in the second quarter, was key to its outlook. 2
Abbott topped several major healthcare stocks on Friday. Johnson & Johnson saw little movement, Medtronic gained roughly 1.5%, and Dexcom slipped about 0.9%.
In November, Abbott struck a deal to acquire Exact Sciences for up to $23 billion, debt included, paying $105 per share in cash. The move aims to expand Abbott’s diagnostics portfolio. The company expects the deal to close by Q2 2026 and anticipates it will weigh on adjusted earnings through 2027. 3
The rebound could falter fast if nutrition volumes remain weak beyond management’s projections, or if pricing pressures make shoppers hesitant. A drag in diagnostics recovery or unexpected expenses from the Exact Sciences deal would likely keep analysts cautious on their estimates.
Investors are eyeing whether the selling pressure after the earnings report has run its course or if it’s merely taking a breather. Abbott’s upcoming news will hinge more on deal mechanics and analyst tweaks than on any standout product announcement.
Exact Sciences shareholders will vote on the proposed merger on Feb. 20, according to a memo from the Options Clearing Corporation. If the deal goes through, the options deliverable will convert to $105 per share in cash. Contract adjustments are expected before the end of Q2.
