UBS Reaffirms Buy Rating on Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Amid Exact Sciences Acquisition

Core Insights - Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is recognized as a top slow growth stock, with UBS maintaining a Buy rating and a price target of $158 following the company's acquisition of Exact Sciences [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Abbott Laboratories has agreed to acquire Exact Sciences for $105 per share, marking the largest acquisition in the medtech sector this year, with completion expected in Q2 2026 [2]. - The acquisition is projected to enhance Abbott's Diagnostics division by approximately 300 basis points [2]. Group 2: Business Expansion - With this acquisition, Abbott will expand its medical device business, which focuses on diabetes and cardiovascular disease, into the cancer care sector [3]. - Abbott will incorporate Exact Sciences' flagship product, Cologuard, which is a colorectal cancer screening test, into its portfolio [3]. Group 3: Future Outlook - UBS forecasts that Abbott Laboratories will outperform its competitors in sales and earnings per share starting in 2026, driven by its medical technology profile and sustained double-digit growth [4]. - Abbott is a leading global healthcare company involved in the production of branded generic medications, medical devices, diagnostics, and nutritional products [4].