Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Q3 2026 Earnings Report
MX:ABT Q3 2026 EPS Results
- Actual EPS
- MXN 26.56
- Consensus EPS
- MXN 26.56
- Beat/Miss
- Met expectations
- One Year Ago EPS
- MXN 24.31
MX:ABT Q3 2026 Revenue Results
- Actual Revenue
- MXN 243.37B
- Expected Revenue
- MXN 242.93B
- Beat/Miss
- Beat by +MXN 443.30M
- YoY Revenue Growth
- +14.46%
Earnings Announcement Details
- Quarter
- Q3 2026
- Date
- 10/21/2026
- Time
- Before Open
- Conference Call
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Abbott Laboratories's next earnings date is estimated for January 27, 2027, based on past reporting schedules.
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Audio
Q3 2026 Earnings Slide Deck
No slide deck is available for this earnings event.
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Summary
The call was strongly constructive: Abbott delivered 7% sales growth, 9% EPS growth, margin expansion, broad segment growth, multiple product approvals and launches, and announced a strategic nutrition separation intended to improve the growth and margin profile of the remaining company. The main negatives were a reduced full-year revenue outlook, short-term electrophysiology and diabetes headwinds, cybersecurity-related disruption in cancer diagnostics, foreign-exchange pressure, and uncertainty around 2027 guidance and CMS reimbursement timing. Highlights significantly outweighed the lowlights.
Abbott anticipates completing the nutrition separation by the end of next year, subject to the required approvals; following separation, sales growth is expected to accelerate by 50 to 100 basis points, gross margin as a percent of sales to increase by more than 200 basis points, and operating margin as a percent of sales to increase by approximately 100 basis points. For the fourth quarter, exchange is expected to have a negative impact of approximately 1% on sales, and adjusted earnings per share is forecast at $1.62 to $1.67; full-year sales growth around 6% implies just north of 8% in the fourth quarter. EP growth is expected to be around 20% in Q4 versus around 25% previously, while diabetes growth is expected to be in the low to mid-single range for Q4 and probably for the next few quarters. For 2027, sales are expected to be, as Abbott comes out of the gate, pretty similar to this year, with EPS growth, gross margin expansion, and earnings growth expected, but specific guidance ranges will be provided in January.
- Third-Quarter Revenue and EPS Growth AcceleratedThird-quarter sales grew 7% and earnings per share grew 9%, representing an acceleration in both the top and bottom lines compared with the first half of the year. Adjusted EPS was $1.42, in line with guidance and the consensus estimate.
- Planned Nutrition Business SeparationAbbott announced its intention to separate its nutrition business into an independent, publicly traded company through a planned tax-free distribution to Abbott shareholders. The separation is anticipated to be completed by the end of next year, subject to required approvals.
- Nutrition Business Has Significant Scale and Market LeadershipThe new nutrition company is expected to have approximately $8.5 billion in annual sales, 16,000 employees, and 14 manufacturing sites. Its portfolio includes Similac, PediaSure, Ensure, Glucerna, and Pedialyte, with market-leading positions across pediatric and adult nutrition categories.
- Post-Separation Abbott Profile Expected to ImproveFollowing the separation, Abbott expects sales growth to accelerate by 50 to 100 basis points, gross margin as a percentage of sales to increase by more than 200 basis points, and operating margin as a percentage of sales to increase by approximately 100 basis points, excluding the current nutrition business profile.
- Diagnostics Growth Driven by Core Laboratory and Cancer DiagnosticsDiagnostics sales grew 6.5%, driven by core laboratory and cancer diagnostic businesses. Core lab sales grew 5.5%, supported by strong performance in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Latin America.
- Cancer Diagnostics Delivered Double-Digit GrowthCancer diagnostics sales grew 14%, driven by Cologuard and contributions from precision oncology and international businesses. Cologuard grew mid-teens, with growth in new users, rescreening, international markets, and care gap programs.
- Expanded Colorectal Cancer Screening PortfolioAbbott launched its first blood-based colorectal cancer screening test in September. Abbott now offers both stool-based and blood-based screening options, and management expects the blood-based test to contribute to growth.
- Nutrition Returned to Broad-Based GrowthNutrition sales grew 5%, with growth across U.S. pediatric, international pediatric, U.S. adult, and international adult categories. Worldwide nutrition sales increased by more than $100 million sequentially compared with the second quarter.
- Pediatric Nutrition Benefited from WIC Contract WinsPediatric nutrition sales grew 9%, led by 11% growth in the U.S. WIC contract wins secured earlier in the year helped Abbott regain market leadership in both the WIC and non-WIC segments.
- Adult Nutrition and Retail Consumption ImprovedAdult nutrition sales increased 2%, driven by 3.5% growth in the U.S. Management said retail consumption data continued to trend positively.
- New Similac Whole-Milk Formula LaunchedAbbott launched a new Similac infant formula made with whole milk. Management described it as the first and only commercially sterile, ready-to-feed liquid infant formula made with whole milk available in the United States.
- Established Pharmaceuticals Delivered Broad-Based GrowthEstablished Pharmaceuticals sales increased 8.5%, with broad-based growth across geographies and therapeutic areas. Several countries across Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East delivered double-digit growth.
- Medical Devices Growth Was Broad and BalancedMedical device sales grew 8%, led by double-digit growth in electrophysiology and rhythm management.
- Electrophysiology Momentum AcceleratedElectrophysiology growth was in the mid-teens or high teens excluding LAA, and U.S. growth was in the high teens and exceeded 20% excluding LAA. Growth was driven by increasing adoption of the Volt PFA catheter, with momentum accelerating after its full U.S. market release in mid-August. International growth also accelerated, including a 25% increase in Europe.
- New Electrophysiology Approvals and LaunchesAbbott received FDA approval earlier than expected for the TactiFlex Duo catheter and expects a broad U.S. launch starting in the fourth quarter. Abbott also received CE Mark for the Amulet 360 left atrial appendage device and plans to bring the technology to the U.S.
- Rhythm Management and AVEIR Adoption IncreasedRhythm management sales grew 10%, driven by increased adoption of AVEIR across both single- and dual-chamber pacemaker segments in the U.S. and international markets.
- Libre Duo Approved for Diabetes CareContinuous glucose monitoring sales grew 8%. Abbott received FDA approval for Libre Duo, described as the first dual glucose ketone biowearable sensor, and expects to launch it in the U.S. in December.
- Gross Margin and Operating Margin ExpandedAdjusted gross margin was 57.2% of sales, an increase of 140 basis points from the prior year. Operating margin was 23.4%, an expansion of 40 basis points. Management attributed the gross-margin improvement to favorable business mix, the addition of Exact Sciences, operational improvements, and disciplined execution of margin-expansion initiatives.
- Strong Innovation and R&D CommitmentAbbott said its R&D spending was crossing $3 billion in 2026, compared with approximately $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion before COVID, and that R&D investment would increase into next year. The pipeline includes AVEIR conduction-system pacing, the Cephea mitral replacement valve, balloon-expandable TAVR, IVL, neuromodulation, additional Libre analytes including a planned lactate sensor, biosimilars, and personalized cancer diagnostic tests.
- Exact Sciences Integration and Margin ProgressManagement said the Exact Sciences integration was progressing well after substantial work during the first six months. The business was exiting the third quarter with an operating margin profile in the high teens, compared with a slightly positive profile before acquisition.
- Financial Flexibility and Capital AllocationAbbott said its balance sheet was in very good shape, with net debt to EBITDA expected to be around 2 times. Management expects to grow the dividend next year, has an opportunity for share buybacks, and said the nutrition separation would not impair the ability to invest organically or pursue mergers and acquisitions. Future M&A is expected to focus more on tuck-in transactions.
- Fourth-Quarter EPS Guidance ProvidedAbbott forecast fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.62 to $1.67.
MX:ABT Earnings History
| Report Date | Fiscal Quarter | Forecast / EPS | Last Year's EPS | EPS YoY Change | Press Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2027 | 2026 (Q4) | 30.63- | 28.05 | ― | ― |
| Oct 21, 2026 | 2026 (Q3) | 26.5626.56 | 24.31 | 9.23% (+2.24) | |
| Jul 16, 2026 | 2026 (Q2) | 23.8824.50 | 23.56 | 3.97% (+0.94) | |
| Apr 16, 2026 | 2026 (Q1) | 21.4121.51 | 20.39 | 5.50% (+1.12) | |
| Jan 22, 2026 | 2025 (Q4) | 27.9828.05 | 25.06 | 11.94% (+2.99) | |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 2025 (Q3) | 24.3724.31 | 22.63 | 7.44% (+1.68) | |
| Jul 17, 2025 | 2025 (Q2) | 23.4923.56 | 21.32 | 10.53% (+2.24) | |
| Apr 16, 2025 | 2025 (Q1) | 20.0520.39 | 18.33 | 11.22% (+2.06) | |
| Jan 22, 2025 | 2024 (Q4) | 25.1225.06 | 22.26 | 12.61% (+2.81) | |
| Oct 16, 2024 | 2024 (Q3) | 22.4822.63 | 21.32 | 6.14% (+1.31) |
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.