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◆ Inside the Latest Quarter (Q2 2026)

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) — the variant view

Abbott's Q2 2026 sales rose 13.0% reported and 4.8% comparable, GAAP EPS fell 48% on Exact costs, and adjusted EPS rose 4% with guidance raised.

📈 ABT valuation, revenue & earnings — P/E, P/S, revenue, EPS →

The second quarter of 2026, the three months to 30 June, was Exact Sciences' first full quarter inside Abbott, and every figure has to be read twice. Sales rose 13.0% to $12,593 million on a reported basis and 4.8% on a comparable basis, which counts Exact in both years1. US sales rose 22.0%2.

Abbott comparable sales growth by segment, Q2 2026 (%)8.7Established Pharma8.4Medical Devices2.9Diagnostics-3.6NutritionAbbott Q2 2026 earnings release
Three segments up, one down.

The segments moved apart. Medical Devices grew 8.4% comparable, led by electrophysiology at 13.4%, and Diabetes Care 9.0%3. Established Pharmaceuticals grew 8.7%4. Diagnostics grew 2.9% comparable, with Cancer Diagnostics up 13.3% and Rapid and Molecular down 8.0%5. Nutrition fell 3.6% comparable, though it rose $127 million from the first quarter6.

Profit went the other way from sales. Operating earnings fell 17.5% to $1,693 million, as amortization rose to $658 million from $420 million and SG&A rose 30.3%7. Net earnings fell 47.8% to $928 million and GAAP diluted EPS to $0.53 from $1.018, after a 39.1% tax rate and $1.362 billion of after-tax specified items including a $385 million legal reserve9. Adjusted EPS rose 4.0% to $1.3110.

Abbott raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45 to $5.60 and reaffirmed comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%11. It returned $2.1 billion to shareholders in the quarter12.

Exact's cost shows in the lines below sales. Research and development rose 22.9% to $892 million and amortization 56.8% to $658 million13, while net interest expense rose to $299 million from $50 million14. The tax rate of 39.1% included about $240 million of adjustments related to an earlier non-cash deferred tax benefit15, which flattered prior periods and now weighs on this one.

Abbott also kept buying shares. It repurchased 11,602,445 shares for $1,040 million in the quarter16, and declared its 410th consecutive quarterly dividend, $0.63 a share17.

The quarter's promise is the second half. Robert Ford said he expects "accelerating sales and earnings growth in the second half of the year"18. The third quarter, reported on 21 October, will test that: comparable growth under 6% puts the full-year guidance out of reach.

References
  1. ReportedSales rose 13.0% to $12,593 million on a reported basis and 4.8% on a comparable basis, which counts Exact in both years.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - Diagnostics sales by business, Cancer Diagnostics and Cologuard. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedUS sales rose 22.0%.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  3. ReportedMedical Devices grew 8.4% comparable, led by electrophysiology at 13.4%, and Diabetes Care 9.0%.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - Medical Devices sales by business, continuous glucose monitors, Amulet and TECTONIC. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  4. ReportedEstablished Pharmaceuticals grew 8.7%.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - Established Pharmaceuticals sales and Key Emerging Markets. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedDiagnostics grew 2.9% comparable, with Cancer Diagnostics up 13.3% and Rapid and Molecular down 8.0%.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - Diagnostics sales by business, Cancer Diagnostics and Cologuard. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedNutrition fell 3.6% comparable, though it rose $127 million from the first quarter.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - Nutrition sales and pricing actions. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedOperating earnings fell 17.5% to $1,693 million, as amortization rose to $658 million from $420 million and SG&A rose 30.3%.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedNet earnings fell 47.8% to $928 million and GAAP diluted EPS to $0.53 from $1.01, after a 39.1% tax rate and $1.362 billion of after-tax specified items including a $385 million legal reserve.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  9. ReportedNet earnings fell 47.8% to $928 million and GAAP diluted EPS to $0.53 from $1.01, after a 39.1% tax rate and $1.362 billion of after-tax specified items including a $385 million legal reserve.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedAdjusted EPS rose 4.0% to $1.31.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  11. ReportedAbbott raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45 to $5.60 and reaffirmed comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  12. ReportedIt returned $2.1 billion to shareholders in the quarter.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  13. ReportedResearch and development rose 22.9% to $892 million and amortization 56.8% to $658 million, while net interest expense rose to $299 million from $50 million.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  14. ReportedResearch and development rose 22.9% to $892 million and amortization 56.8% to $658 million, while net interest expense rose to $299 million from $50 million.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  15. ReportedThe tax rate of 39.1% included about $240 million of adjustments related to an earlier non-cash deferred tax benefit, which flattered prior periods and now weighs on this one.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  16. ReportedIt repurchased 11,602,445 shares for $1,040 million in the quarter, and declared its 410th consecutive quarterly dividend, $0.63 a share.
    Abbott Laboratories Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - segment sales and operating earnings, the Exact Sciences acquisition and purchase-price allocation, the $20.0 billion of notes, remaining performance obligations, goodwill by segment, expected amortization, legal reserves and the NEC litigation, and the balance sheet at 30 June 2026 - condensed financial statements and segment note: sales, operating earnings, balance sheet, cash flow and share repurchases. — Q2 2026 · publ. 28 July 2026 · source ↗
  17. ReportedIt repurchased 11,602,445 shares for $1,040 million in the quarter, and declared its 410th consecutive quarterly dividend, $0.63 a share.
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
  18. ReportedRobert Ford said he expects "accelerating sales and earnings growth in the second half of the year".
    Abbott Laboratories second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - sales by segment and business, comparable growth, income statement, specified items, guidance and the 410th consecutive quarterly dividend - total sales, income statement, specified items, tax rate, guidance and the dividend. — Q2 2026 · publ. 16 July 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated October 6, 2026