Abbott Laboratories reported mixed first-quarter results, with reported sales growth driven by acquisitions and strong performance in Medical Devices and Established Pharmaceuticals, while Nutrition faced headwinds. The company completed the significant acquisition of Exact Sciences, positioning it as a leader in oncology diagnostics and impacting full-year guidance.
Total reported sales increased 7.8% to $11.164 billion.
positiveComparable sales growth of 3.7% reflects underlying business performance.
positiveMedical Devices segment sales increased 13.2% on a reported basis and 8.5% on a comparable basis, led by double-digit growth in Electrophysiology, Heart Failure, and Rhythm Management.
positiveEstablished Pharmaceuticals sales increased 13.2% on a reported basis and 9.0% on a comparable basis, driven by Key Emerging Markets.
positiveAdjusted diluted EPS of $1.15 reflects growth of 6 percent.
positiveAbbott declared its 409th consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, highlighting a 54-year streak of dividend increases.
positiveNutrition sales decreased 6.0% on a reported basis and 7.7% on a comparable basis, reflecting lower sales volumes and strategic pricing actions.
negativeGAAP diluted EPS decreased 18.7% to $0.61 from $0.76 in the prior year, impacted by specified items.
negativeOperating earnings decreased 20.6% to $1,345 million from $1,693 million in the prior year.
negativeSpecified items resulted in a net after-tax charge of $945 million ($0.54 per share) in 1Q26, compared to a net after-tax benefit of $594 million ($0.33 per share) in 1Q25.
attentionFull-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $5.38 to $5.58 includes $0.20 of dilution related to the acquisition of Exact Sciences.
attentionRapid and Molecular Diagnostics results reflect lower demand for respiratory virus tests due to a weaker respiratory virus season compared to the prior year, with comparable sales growth of 1.8% overall, but a decline of 7.4% in Rapid/Molecular Diagnostics.
attentionMargin expansion indicates improving profitability and operational efficiency. Measured in basis points (bps): 100 bps = 1.0%.
| Segment | Current | Prior Yr | YoY | % Total | CC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nutrition | N/A | — | — | — | -7.7% |
Diagnostics | N/A | — | — | — | +2.5% |
Established Pharmaceuticals | N/A | — | — | — | +9.0% |
Medical Devices | N/A | — | — | — | +8.1% |
| Total Revenue | $0.00M | — | — | 100.0% | — |
Segment performance shows business unit health and growth drivers. Constant currency (CC) removes FX impact for like-for-like comparison.
Forward-looking guidance is subject to change and does not constitute a guarantee. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.
| Metric | Value | Period | Specificity | vs Prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sales | 6.5 to 7.5% | FY2026 | tight_range | New |
| adjusted_earnings_per_share | $5.48 | FY2026 | point | Lowered |
| adjusted_earnings_per_share | $1.25 to $1.31 | Q2 2026 | tight_range | New |
Special items are non-recurring events that may distort period-over-period comparisons. Analysts typically adjust for these when calculating normalized earnings.
Our first-quarter results were aligned with our expectations to start the year.
The acquisition of Exact Sciences adds another high-growth business to the Abbott portfolio, further strengthening our confidence in delivering accelerating growth as we move through the year.
Worldwide Nutrition sales decreased 6.0 percent on a reported basis and 7.7 percent on a comparable basis in the first quarter.
Commentary excerpts from earnings call transcripts provide management's perspective on performance, strategy, and outlook. Always review full transcripts for complete context.
Operational metrics provide insight into business drivers and customer engagement beyond traditional financial measures.