On April 16, 2026 Abbott today (NYSE: ABT) reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
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First-quarter sales increased 7.8 percent on a reported basis and 3.7 percent on a comparable basis.
First-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.61 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.15, which excludes specified items and reflects growth of 6 percent.
On March 23, 2026, Abbott completed its acquisition of Exact Sciences, establishing the company as a leader in the oncology diagnostics market and adding a new high-growth vertical to Abbott’s portfolio.
Abbott projects full-year 2026 comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%1.
Abbott projects full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $5.38 to $5.58, which includes $0.20 of dilution related to the acquisition of Exact Sciences.
In January, Abbott announced a collaboration with AtaCor Medical to develop a next-generation extravascular implantable cardioverter (EV-ICD) system designed to deliver defibrillation therapy to people living with life-threatening heart rhythms.
In February, Abbott announced positive early results from the VERITAS study that show clinically meaningful closure rates of the investigational Amulet 360 Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder, a next-generation device designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
In March, Abbott announced results from the FreeDM2 randomized controlled trial, demonstrating that people with Type 2 diabetes on basal insulin who used FreeStyle Libre achieved a 0.6% reduction in HbA1c and spent 2.5 more hours per day in the healthy glucose range compared to fingerstick monitoring.
"Our first-quarter results were aligned with our expectations to start the year," said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "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."
FIRST-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Comparable sales growth:
Management believes that measuring sales growth on a comparable basis is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business. Comparable sales growth includes the prior and current year sales of Exact Sciences, a cancer diagnostics company that Abbott acquired on March 23, 2026. Comparable sales growth excludes the impact of foreign exchange and revenue in both the prior and current year related to compensation payments that Abbott’s Structural Heart business received as part of a multi-year agreement with a competitor. The final payment under this agreement was recognized in the first quarter of 2026.
Note: In order to compute results excluding the impact of exchange rates, current year U.S. dollar sales are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the current year average foreign exchange rates and then those amounts are multiplied or divided, as appropriate, by the prior year average foreign exchange rates.
First Quarter 2026 Results (1Q26)
Sales 1Q26 ($ in millions)
Total Company
Nutrition
Diagnostics
Established
Pharmaceuticals
Medical Devices
U.S.
4,274
844
905
—
2,523
International
6,890
1,173
1,275
1,426
3,016
Total reported
11,164
2,017
2,180
1,426
5,539
% Change vs. 1Q25
U.S.
2.5
(11.6)
3.8
n/a
7.9
International
11.3
(1.5)
7.8
13.2
18.0
Total reported
7.8
(6.0)
6.1
13.2
13.2
Total reported excl. foreign exchange impact
3.8
(7.7)
2.5
9.0
8.1
Comparable sales growth
3.7
(7.7)
1.8
9.0
8.5
U.S.
2.5
(11.6)
2.0
n/a
8.7
International
4.6
(4.7)
1.6
9.0
8.3
Refer to table titled "Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation" for a reconciliation of comparable sales growth.
Nutrition
First Quarter 2026 Results (1Q26)
Sales 1Q26 ($ in millions)
Total
Pediatric
Adult
U.S.
844
511
333
International
1,173
442
731
Total reported
2,017
953
1,064
% Change vs. 1Q25
U.S.
(11.6)
(13.0)
(9.2)
International
(1.5)
(2.6)
(0.9)
Total reported
(6.0)
(8.5)
(3.6)
Total reported excl. foreign exchange impact
(7.7)
(9.7)
(5.9)
Comparable sales growth
(7.7)
(9.7)
(5.9)
U.S.
(11.6)
(13.0)
(9.2)
International
(4.7)
(5.3)
(4.3)
Worldwide Nutrition sales decreased 6.0 percent on a reported basis and 7.7 percent on a comparable basis in the first quarter.
Results in the quarter reflect the impact of lower sales volumes compared to the prior year and the effect of strategic pricing actions implemented in the fourth quarter of 2025. These pricing actions, together with the launch of several new products, are expected to contribute to improved volume growth over the course of the year.
Diagnostics*
First Quarter 2026 Results (1Q26)
Sales 1Q26 ($ in millions)
Total
Core Laboratory
Cancer Diagnostics
Rapid/Molecular
Diagnostics
U.S.
905
347
93
465
International
1,275
925
3
347
Total reported
2,180
1,272
96
812
% Change vs. 1Q25
U.S.
3.8
4.5
n/a
(13.8)
International
7.8
9.5
n/a
2.8
Total reported
6.1
8.1
n/a
(7.4)
Total reported excl. foreign exchange impact
2.5
3.3
n/a
(9.6)
Comparable sales growth
1.8
3.3
13.4
(9.6)
U.S.
2.0
4.5
13.2
(13.8)
International
1.6
2.8
19.2
(2.7)
*Beginning in 2026, Abbott aggregated its previously reported Rapid Diagnostics, Molecular Diagnostics, and Point of Care businesses into the Rapid and Molecular Diagnostics business. On March 23, 2026, Abbott completed the acquisition of Exact Sciences. Following the acquisition, the sales of Exact Sciences are presented as Abbott’s Cancer Diagnostics business.
Refer to table titled "Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation" for a reconciliation of comparable sales growth.
Worldwide Diagnostics sales increased 6.1 percent on a reported basis and increased 1.8 percent on a comparable basis.
Worldwide Core Laboratory Diagnostics results were driven by growth in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Sales of Core Laboratory diagnostic tests increased on both a year-over-year and sequential basis.
Rapid and Molecular Diagnostics results reflect lower demand for respiratory virus tests due to a weaker respiratory virus season compared to the prior year.
Results in Cancer Diagnostics reflect Abbott’s acquisition of Exact Sciences, which closed on March 23, 2026. Growth in Cancer Diagnostics was driven by double-digit growth of Cologuard and sales of Cancerguard, a multi-cancer screening test that launched last year.
Established Pharmaceuticals
First Quarter 2026 Results (1Q26)
Sales 1Q26 ($ in millions)
Total
Key Emerging
Markets
Other
U.S.
—
—
—
International
1,426
1,089
337
Total reported
1,426
1,089
337
% Change vs. 1Q25
U.S.
n/a
n/a
n/a
International
13.2
12.9
14.1
Total reported
13.2
12.9
14.1
Total reported excl. foreign exchange impact
9.0
9.4
7.9
Comparable sales growth
9.0
9.4
7.9
U.S.
n/a
n/a
n/a
International
9.0
9.4
7.9
Established Pharmaceuticals sales increased 13.2 percent on a reported basis and 9.0 percent on a comparable basis in the first quarter.
Key Emerging Markets include several emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott’s branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies increased 12.9 percent on a reported basis and 9.4 percent on a comparable basis, led by double-digit growth in several countries across the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.
Medical Devices
First Quarter 2026 Results (1Q26)
Sales 1Q26 ($ in millions)
Total
Rhythm
Management
Electro-
physiology*
Heart
Failure
Vascular
Structural
Heart*
Neuro-
modulation
Diabetes
Care
U.S.
2,523
339
378
292
291
224
177
822
International
3,016
345
410
97
486
354
66
1,258
Total reported
5,539
684
788
389
777
578
243
2,080
% Change vs. 1Q25
U.S.
7.9
11.5
13.7
11.4
8.6
(9.5)
0.7
9.8
International
18.0
22.9
19.6
25.2
10.0
25.2
27.2
16.6
Total reported
13.2
17.0
16.7
14.6
9.5
9.0
6.8
13.8
Total reported excl. foreign exchange impact
8.1
12.5
12.5
12.2
4.9
3.6
4.1
7.4
Comparable sales growth
8.5
12.5
12.5
12.2
4.9
6.8
4.1
7.4
U.S.
8.7
11.5
13.7
11.4
8.6
(3.6)
0.7
9.8
International
8.3
13.5
11.2
14.9
2.7
15.0
15.5
5.7
*Abbott’s Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder device and related accessories were transferred from Structural Heart to Electrophysiology on Jan. 1, 2026. As a result, $46 million of sales in the first quarter of 2025 were moved from Structural Heart to Electrophysiology.
Refer to table titled "Non-GAAP Revenue Reconciliation" for a reconciliation of comparable sales growth.
Worldwide Medical Devices sales increased 13.2 percent on a reported basis and 8.5 percent on a comparable basis in the first quarter.
Sales growth in the quarter was led by double-digit growth in Electrophysiology, Heart Failure and Rhythm Management.
In Diabetes Care, sales of continuous glucose monitors grew 14.2 percent on a reported basis and 7.6 percent on a comparable basis.
Abbott’s Financial Guidance
Abbott projects full-year 2026 comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%.
Abbott projects full-year 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $5.38 to $5.58, which includes $0.20 of dilution related to the acquisition of Exact Sciences.
Abbott projects second-quarter 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.25 to $1.31.
Abbott has not provided the related GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis for these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures because the company is unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort the timing and impact of certain items such as restructuring and cost reduction initiatives, charges for intangible asset impairments, acquisition-related expenses, and foreign exchange, which could significantly impact Abbott’s results in accordance with GAAP.
Abbott Declares 409th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend
On Feb. 20, 2026, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company’s quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share. Abbott’s cash dividend is payable May 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 15, 2026.
Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 54 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.
(Press release, Abbott, APR 16, 2026, View Source [SID1234664428])