On October 21, 2020 Abbott (NYSE: ABT) reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2020 (Press release, Abbott, OCT 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234568723]).

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Third-quarter worldwide sales of $8.9 billion increased 9.6 percent on a reported basis and 10.6 percent on an organic basis, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange.
Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations under GAAP was $0.69 and adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, which excludes specified items, was $0.98, reflecting 16.7 percent growth versus the prior year.1
Abbott projects full-year 2020 diluted EPS from continuing operations on a GAAP basis of at least $2.35 and full-year adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of at least $3.55.
In August, Abbott received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for its BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card rapid test for the detection of COVID-19 infection. The test delivers results in just 15 minutes with no instrumentation required. Abbott is selling the test for $5 and offers a complementary mobile phone app, called NAVICA, that allows people who test negative to display their result.
During the quarter, Abbott launched FreeStyle Libre 2 and obtained CE Mark for FreeStyle Libre 3, which automatically delivers up-to-the-minute glucose readings, unsurpassed 14-day accuracy2 and real-time glucose alarms in the world’s smallest and thinnest3 wearable sensor at the same affordable price4 as previous versions. Abbott also announced CE Mark for its Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, which helps athletes better understand the efficacy of their nutritional choices on training and athletic performance.
In September, Abbott obtained CE Mark for MitraClip G4, its next-generation MitraClip heart device, the leading minimally invasive mitral valve repair device in the world.
"Our strong results and increased guidance are a direct reflection of our ability to innovate and deliver despite challenging conditions," said Robert B. Ford, president and chief executive officer, Abbott. "Our new product pipeline continues to be highly productive, and we’re well-positioned to finish the year with a lot of momentum."

THIRD-QUARTER BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Note: Management believes that measuring sales growth rates on an organic basis is an appropriate way for investors to best understand the underlying performance of the business. Organic sales growth excludes the impact of foreign exchange.

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.

Third-quarter 2020 worldwide sales of $8.9 billion increased 9.6 percent on a reported basis and 10.6 percent on an organic basis.

Worldwide Nutrition sales increased 2.6 percent on a reported basis and 4.1 percent on an organic basis in the third quarter. Strong U.S. and international sales performance of Ensure, Abbott’s market-leading complete and balanced nutrition brand, led to global Adult Nutrition sales growth of 10.6 percent on a reported basis and 12.4 percent on an organic basis. In Pediatric Nutrition, U.S. sales were led by growth of Pedialyte, Abbott’s oral rehydration brand, and PediaSure. Internationally, Pediatric Nutrition growth in Southeast Asia was offset by challenging conditions in Greater China.

Worldwide Diagnostics sales increased 38.2 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter and increased 38.8 percent on an organic basis. Strong growth in the quarter was driven by demand for Abbott’s portfolio of COVID-19 diagnostics tests on its lab-based immunoassay and molecular diagnostics systems and point-of-care rapid testing platforms. Global COVID-19 testing-related sales were $881 million in the quarter.

Established Pharmaceuticals sales decreased 9.3 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter and decreased 3.3 percent on an organic basis.

Key Emerging Markets include India, Brazil, Russia and China along with several additional emerging countries that represent the most attractive long-term growth opportunities for Abbott’s branded generics product portfolio. Sales in these geographies decreased 10.3 percent on a reported basis in the quarter and decreased 1.8 percent on an organic basis primarily due to market softness across several countries as a result of the spread of COVID-19.

a) Includes drug-eluting stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, vascular imaging/diagnostics products, vessel closure, carotid and other coronary and peripheral products.

Worldwide Medical Devices sales increased 3.4 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter and increased 2.6 percent on an organic basis. Sales growth and procedure volume trends across Abbott’s cardiovascular and neuromodulation business areas improved significantly versus the prior quarter as demand continues to return to more normalized levels.

In Diabetes Care, strong growth was led by FreeStyle Libre, which grew 37.9 percent on a reported basis and 35.6 percent on an organic basis. In September, Abbott obtained CE Mark for its FreeStyle Libre 3 system, which automatically delivers real-time, up-to-the-minute glucose readings, unsurpassed 14-day accuracy2 and real-time glucose alarms in the world’s smallest and thinnest3 wearable sensor at the same affordable price4 as previous versions. Abbott also obtained CE Mark for its Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor in Europe. Libre Sense is a consumer over-the-counter product that provides continuous glucose monitoring for athletes to better understand the efficacy of their nutrition choices on training and athletic performance.

ABBOTT’S GUIDANCE FOR 2020
Abbott projects full-year 2020 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations under GAAP of at least $2.35. Abbott forecasts specified items for the full-year 2020 of $1.20 primarily related to intangible amortization, acquisition-related expenses, restructuring and cost reduction initiatives and other net expenses. Excluding specified items, projected adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be at least $3.55 for full-year 2020.

ABBOTT DECLARES 387TH CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
On Sept. 17, 2020, the board of directors of Abbott declared the company’s quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share. Abbott’s cash dividend is payable Nov. 16, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15, 2020.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 48 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.