New York, Jan 26, 2026, 19:05 ET — After-hours
- ABT gained roughly 1.3%, closing near $108.77 late Monday.
- A recent SEC Form 4 revealed that CEO Robert B. Ford’s family trust purchased 18,800 shares, each costing roughly $107.
- Investors are closely monitoring if Abbott can regain footing following the selloff sparked by last week’s earnings report.
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) saw its shares climb roughly 1.3% on Monday, closing near $108.77 in after-hours trading. A recent filing revealed that Chairman and CEO Robert B. Ford acquired 18,800 shares at an average price of $107.1259.
Abbott is making this purchase amid efforts to steady the stock following a steep drop after earnings, with shares still trying to find support. While open-market buys by a CEO often signal confidence, they don’t always shift the short-term trading momentum.
Abbott missed quarterly revenue estimates last Thursday and projected first-quarter adjusted earnings between $1.12 and $1.18 per share, below the $1.20 consensus, Reuters reported. Nutrition sales dropped 8.9% to $1.94 billion, while diagnostics revenue fell 2.5% to $2.46 billion; adjusted figures exclude certain one-time items. “We’ll have a couple quarters here where growth in nutrition is going to be challenged,” said Ford. Bernstein analyst Christian Moore pointed to “a negative aura on formula usage” following contamination concerns at competitors. Reuters
The stock ended a six-day slide in regular trading, climbing 1.26% and beating Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Merck as the S&P 500 and Dow moved higher, MarketWatch data showed. Volume surged past 19 million shares—more than twice its 50-day average. Despite the bounce, the stock still sits roughly 23% below its 52-week high.
A Nasdaq insider-buying roundup noted this was Ford’s first open-market purchase filed in roughly a year. Abbott’s shares briefly crossed above $110 on Monday before pulling back.
Abbott’s upcoming entry into cancer screening is on investors’ radar. Back in November, the company struck a deal to acquire Exact Sciences for up to $23 billion in cash, including debt. The transaction is slated to wrap up by the second quarter of 2026, according to Reuters.
Abbott’s device segment faces a setback. This month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a correction notice for certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors after internal tests revealed a risk of inaccurate low glucose readings.
If nutrition prices and volumes remain weak through the first half, the stock may find it tough to extend Monday’s gains. One insider purchase won’t end the debate over how fast diagnostics can pick up as COVID-test demand continues to wane.
Traders are waiting on new data around demand trends and updates related to the Exact Sciences deal approvals. For the moment, the stock’s direction hinges on whether investors view last week’s guidance as cautious or as the fresh benchmark.
Abbott shares face their next test in Tuesday’s regular session, following a quiet stretch after hours.
