ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) Stock Analysis

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) Stock Analysis

Analysis from 10-Q filed 2025-10-29. Data as of Q4 2025.

Overall Grade: F (Concerning)

ABBOTT LABORATORIES faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.

Metric Value Context
ROIC 9.8% Near cost of capital
FCF Margin 16.7% Strong cash generation
Debt/Equity 0.2x Conservative leverage

Investment Thesis: Healthy free cash flow margin of 16.7% provides financial flexibility for growth and shareholder returns.

Explore ABBOTT LABORATORIES: Earnings History | Filing Intelligence | ROIC Analysis


Profitability: ABBOTT LABORATORIES earns 9.8% ROIC, Top 50% in Healthcare

ABBOTT LABORATORIES's trailing-twelve-month ROIC of 9.8% ranks Top 50% in Healthcare companies (sector median: -3.9%), driven by NOPAT margin of 14.0% combined with asset turnover of 0.5x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-29. Gross margin of 56.4% with operating margin at 18.2% reflects strong pricing power.

Metric ABT Rating Context
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 9.8% Adequate Above sector median of -3.9%
Return on Equity (ROE) 13.0% Adequate Moderate equity returns
Gross Margin 56.4% Excellent Strong pricing power
Operating Margin 18.2% Good Efficient operations

Cash Flow: ABBOTT LABORATORIES generates $7.4B FCF at 16.7% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters

ABBOTT LABORATORIES generated $7.4B in free cash flow (TTM), a 16.7% FCF margin, a margin that ranks Top 5% in Healthcare. Operating cash flow exceeds net income by 1.5x, indicating high earnings quality. FCF was positive in N/A of the last 8 quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-29.

Metric ABT Rating Context
Free Cash Flow Margin 16.7% Good Excellent cash conversion
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $7.4B Good Positive cash generation
OCF/Net Income 1.5x Excellent High earnings quality
FCF Consistency (8Q) N/A Warning Variable cash flow

Balance Sheet: ABBOTT LABORATORIES at 0.2x leverage

ABBOTT LABORATORIES's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2x reflects conservative leverage. Total debt of $12.9B offset by $8.9B in cash. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-29.

Metric ABT Rating Context
Debt to Equity 0.2x Excellent Conservative capital structure
Net Cash Position $-4.0B Warning Net debt position

Valuation: ABBOTT LABORATORIES trades at 33.6x earnings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES trades at a P/E of 33.6x. Free cash flow yield of 3.4% reflects market expectations for growth.

Metric ABT Rating Context
P/E Ratio 33.6x Adequate Premium valuation
EV/Sales 5.0x Adequate Growth premium priced in
FCF Yield 3.4% Adequate Lower cash yield
Dividend Yield 1.9% Adequate Growth focus over income

Capital Allocation: ABBOTT LABORATORIES returns 2.3% shareholder yield

ABBOTT LABORATORIES's total shareholder yield is 2.3% (dividends 1.9% + buybacks 0.4%). Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-29.

Metric ABT Rating Context
Total Shareholder Yield 2.3% Adequate Dividend + buyback yield combined
Buyback Yield 0.4% Adequate Minimal buyback activity
Total Capital Returned (TTM) $5.0B Good Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders

Sector Rankings

Metric Value Percentile vs Median
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 9.8% Top 50% -
Free Cash Flow Margin 16.7% Top 5% -
Gross Margin 56.4% Bottom 50% 0.9x below
Operating Margin 18.2% Top 25% 9.5x above
Return on Equity (ROE) 13.0% Top 25% -
P/E Ratio 33.6x N/A -

Financial Scorecard

Metric ABT Rating Sector Context
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) 9.8% Adequate Top 50% of sector (median: -3.9%)
Free Cash Flow Margin 16.7% Good Top 5% of sector (median: 0.0%)
Gross Margin 56.4% Excellent Bottom 50% of sector (median: 64.0%)
Debt to Equity Ratio 24.8% Excellent Conservative capital structure
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) 33.6x Adequate Growth premium
Free Cash Flow Yield 3.4% Adequate Moderate yield

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is ABBOTT LABORATORIES's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 9.8%. This compares above the sector median of -3.9%. An ROIC near 8-12% is approximately the cost of capital for most companies.

Q: What is ABBOTT LABORATORIES's Free Cash Flow Margin?

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) has a free cash flow margin of 16.7%, generating $7.4 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. A FCF margin between 10-20% represents healthy cash generation for most industries.

Q: Is ABBOTT LABORATORIES stock overvalued or undervalued?

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) trades at a P/E ratio of 33.6x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 5.0x. Free cash flow yield is 3.4%, which is in line with market averages.

Q: Does ABBOTT LABORATORIES pay a dividend?

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) currently pays a dividend yield of 1.9%. Including share buybacks, the total shareholder yield is 2.3%. The relatively low yield suggests the company prioritizes growth reinvestment over income distribution.

Q: What is ABBOTT LABORATORIES's revenue and earnings growth?

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) grew revenue by 5.7% year-over-year. Earnings per share decreased by 51.2% compared to the prior year. Modest growth indicates a mature business with stable demand.

Q: Is ABBOTT LABORATORIES buying back stock?

ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) repurchased $893.0 million of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 0.4%.

Q: How does ABBOTT LABORATORIES compare to competitors in Healthcare?

Compared to other companies in Healthcare, ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) shows: ROIC of 9.8% is above the sector median of -3.9% (Top 26%). FCF margin of 16.7% exceeds the sector median of 0.0% (Top 0% of sector). Gross margin at 56.4% is 7.5 percentage points lower than sector peers. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Healthcare companies with available SEC filings.

Q: What warning signs should I watch for with ABBOTT LABORATORIES?

Investors in ABBOTT LABORATORIES (ABT) should monitor these potential warning signs: 1) ROIC has been declining, potentially signaling deteriorating competitive position. Regular monitoring of SEC filings and quarterly trends is recommended.


Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-10-29. TTM metrics as of Q4 2025.

Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.

Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.