Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Likely to Benefit From Nutrition Segment Recovery

Core Viewpoint - Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is recognized as one of the top healthcare equipment stocks to buy according to hedge funds, despite recent price target reductions by analysts [1]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Barclays analyst Matt Miksic reduced the price target for Abbott Laboratories from $169 to $142, maintaining an Overweight rating, which suggests an upside potential of nearly 27% [1]. - Bernstein's Lee Hambright reaffirmed an Outperform rating, lowering the price target from $154 to $125, indicating a low double-digit upside of approximately 12% [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Abbott's fourth quarter revenue reached $11.46 billion, reflecting a 3% organic growth, although it fell short of consensus forecasts by 3% [3]. - The Nutrition segment experienced a 9% decline, generating $1.94 billion, which was 12% below estimates and accounted for 75% of the total sales miss for the quarter [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Abbott Laboratories is a prominent player in the healthcare sector, engaged in the discovery, development, and marketing of healthcare products globally, divided into four segments: Diagnostic Products, Established Pharmaceutical Products, Medical Devices, and Nutritional Products [4].