Do Wall Street Analysts Like Abbott Laboratories Stock?

Core Viewpoint - Abbott Laboratories has experienced significant stock underperformance compared to the broader market and key sector indices, raising concerns about its growth outlook and performance in critical segments [2][3][6]. Company Overview - Abbott Laboratories, with a market cap of $189.6 billion, operates globally in healthcare, focusing on pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, nutrition, and medical devices [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Abbott's stock has decreased by 15.1%, while the S&P 500 Index has gained 15.4% [2]. - Year-to-date, Abbott's stock has declined nearly 13%, contrasting with a 1.1% rise in the S&P 500 [2]. Segment Performance - In Q4 2025, Abbott reported revenue of $11.46 billion, missing Wall Street estimates, with adjusted EPS of $1.50 meeting expectations [6]. - Key segments showed weak performance: Nutrition sales fell by 8.9% reported (9.1% organic), and Diagnostics declined by 2.5% reported, attributed to lower volumes and reduced COVID-19 testing demand [6]. Growth Outlook - Abbott's organic sales growth outlook for 2026 is projected at 6.5% - 7.5%, which is below prior consensus expectations, contributing to investor concerns [6]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2026, analysts expect adjusted EPS to grow by 10.3% year-over-year to $5.68 [7]. Analyst Ratings - Among 28 analysts covering Abbott, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," with 20 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and six "Holds" [7]. - Wells Fargo analyst lowered Abbott's price target to $122 while maintaining an "Overweight" rating, with a mean price target of $134.38 indicating a 23.3% premium to the current price [8].