Why Is Abbott Stock Trading Higher On Thursday?

Core Insights - Abbott Laboratories reported Q4 sales of $10.97 billion, a 7.2% year-over-year increase, but fell short of the consensus estimate of $11.01 billion [1] - Organic sales growth for the base business was 8.8%, while excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, organic growth was 10.1% [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The Q4 report indicates strong underlying performance, with expectations for continued growth into the new year [6] - Abbott anticipates achieving 150 basis points of operating margin improvement, supporting long-term double-digit EPS growth [4] Group 2: Market Segments and Growth Opportunities - Stifel analyst Rick Wise highlights strong momentum in the Diabetes Care and Structural Heart segments, predicting double-digit growth in the Medical Device division and high-single-digit growth for the entire company [2] - CEO Robert Ford identified key growth opportunities in the Diabetes Care division, including increased use of continuous glucose monitors among insulin-intensive patients and expanding market share with the Libre system's insulin pump connectivity [3] Group 3: Analyst Ratings and Price Forecasts - Stifel maintains a Buy rating with a price forecast increase from $130 to $135, citing unique product offerings and strong growth potential in the MedTech sector [5] - Piper Sandler reiterates an Overweight rating with a price forecast of $133, viewing Abbott stock as a strong GARP investment in large-cap MedTech [6]