Argus Research Rates Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Hold
Key Points
- Abbott Laboratories trades at about $103.27, slightly above its closing price of $103.16 on October 27, 2026.
- The stock is currently below its 50-day moving average of $105.04 but above its 200-day average of $102.11.
- Abbott has a mean price target of $118.52 from analysts, indicating it is underperforming relative to Wall Street's expectations.
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On October 27, 2026, Argus Research lowered its rating on Abbott Laboratories (ABT) to Hold. This change comes as the stock recently traded at $103.27, which is about equal to its closing price of $103.16 on the same day.
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Abbott Laboratories
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Argus Research's Call on Abbott Laboratories
Argus Research's downgrade to a Hold rating means they see the stock as neither a strong buy nor a sell at this time. The firm did not set a new price target with this rating change. This follows a series of other analysts maintaining their ratings, with Wells Fargo reaffirming its Overweight rating and raising its price target to $120 just days earlier.
Other Institutional Activity in Abbott Laboratories
Several other funds have recently adjusted their positions in Abbott Laboratories. Sepio Capital grew its stake by 587,854 shares, bringing its total to 786,102 shares worth about $77.7 million. In contrast, Capital International Investors reduced its holdings by 2,842,222 shares, ending with 34,654,113 shares valued at approximately $3.57 billion.
Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 0.4%
Currently, Abbott Laboratories trades at $103.27, which is below its 50-day moving average of $105.04 and above its 200-day average of $102.11. The stock is also about 21.8% below its 52-week high of $132.03 but 26.0% above its 52-week low of $81.97. This positioning suggests the stock is in a mixed trend lately.
Recent Earnings
Abbott Laboratories reported trailing twelve-month revenue of approximately $48.2 billion, with a net margin of 9.7%. The company has shown a year-over-year revenue growth of 14.5%. Its next earnings report is scheduled for January 28, 2027.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
8 target cuts vs 0 raises.
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EPS & revenue
EPS met estimates. Revenue beat estimates by 0.5%.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 43 percent. Operating income missed by 19 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Bar was high, analysts already very bullish.
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Analyst signal
8 target cuts.
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Earnings quality
Gross margin up 3.7 points. Positive free cash flow.
Earnings Call Summary
Abbott completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences on March 23 and is integrating the cancer diagnostics business into its portfolio. First quarter results came in slightly ahead, with sales of $11.2 billion, up 3.7 percent on a comparable basis, though the respiratory season was weaker than expected. The company is seeing early signs of volume recovery in Nutrition after price increases, expects Core Lab Diagnostics to accelerate, and is launching new cardiac devices like the Volt pulsed field ablation catheter and TactiFlex Duo. Management remains confident in second half acceleration but is being cautious on near term market conditions.
Guidance Abbott cut full year earnings guidance from $5.68 to $5.48 per share, reflecting $0.20 of dilution from the Exact Sciences acquisition. The company guided full year revenue growth of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent on a comparable basis including Exact Sciences. For the second quarter, Abbott expects earnings of $1.25 to $1.31 per share. Management said they are being conservative on respiratory season assumptions and expect acceleration in the second half driven by Nutrition recovery, Core Lab Diagnostics growth, and Exact Sciences integration.
Severe negative reset. The report materially damaged the forward outlook and likely forces major downward revisions.
Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories
On May 7, 2026, Director John G. Stratton bought 2,000 shares at an average price of $86.82, totaling about $173,640. Other insiders, including CEO Robert B. Ford, sold shares earlier in the year, with Ford selling 398,832 shares on August 25, 2026.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Analysts have mixed views on Abbott Laboratories. On October 22, 2026, Citigroup maintained a Buy rating with a price target of $122, while RBC Capital also kept its Outperform rating but lowered its target to $125. Wells Fargo maintained its Overweight rating with targets of $119 and $120 on consecutive days.
About Abbott Laboratories
Abbott Laboratories, based in Abbott Park, Illinois, develops and sells healthcare products globally. The company operates across various segments, including medical devices, nutritional products, and diagnostics. The recent downgrade by Argus Research reflects a cautious outlook amidst mixed analyst ratings.
Bottom Line
Investors should watch for Abbott's upcoming earnings report on January 28, 2027, and keep an eye on further analyst ratings. The current Hold rating from Argus Research sets a cautious tone as the stock trades near its recent averages.
Related Filing Alerts
Source: Argus Research's rating change on $ABT (Oct 27, 2026). Written by software, not financial advice. How we make alerts