Abbott Labs Increases Dividends for 54 Years, Acquires Exact Sciences
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 25 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ABT?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Dividend Growth Record: Abbott Labs has raised its dividends for 54 consecutive years, with a 6.8% increase in 2023, reflecting its strong cash flow and profitability, which boosts investor confidence and solidifies its status as a 'Dividend King'.
- Acquisition-Driven Growth: Abbott is finalizing a $23 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences, which saw an 18% revenue increase to $3.2 billion in 2025, expected to enhance Abbott's diagnostics segment and strengthen its foothold in the rapidly growing cancer testing market.
- Core Business Recovery: While Abbott's total revenue rose 5.7% to $44.3 billion in 2025 and adjusted EPS increased 10% to $5.15, challenges from lawsuits and recalls related to FreeStyle Libre 3 have impacted some segments, affecting overall market performance.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Abbott's Volt Pulsed Field Ablation system has received FDA approval, potentially treating 12 million U.S. patients over 65 with atrial fibrillation, with expectations for this number to double in the next two decades, indicating significant growth potential in cardiac care.
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Analyst Views on ABT
Wall Street analysts forecast ABT stock price to rise
19 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 102.380
Low
136.00
Averages
148.11
High
169.00
Current: 102.380
Low
136.00
Averages
148.11
High
169.00
About ABT
Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company. The Company’s principal business is the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of healthcare products. Its segments include Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. Established Pharmaceutical Products segment is engaged in the international sales of a broad line of branded generic pharmaceutical products. Diagnostic Products segment is involved in the worldwide sales of diagnostic systems and tests for blood banks, hospitals, commercial laboratories and alternate-care testing sites. Nutritional Products segment is engaged in the worldwide sales of a broad line of adult and pediatric nutritional products. Medical Devices segment is involved in the worldwide sales of rhythm management, electrophysiology, heart failure, vascular, structural heart, neuromodulation and diabetes care products. It serves people in more than 160 countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Investment Opportunities in Healthcare Sector Analysis
- Industry Pullback: The healthcare sector has experienced a 2.2% decline over the past six months post-COVID-19, mirroring the drop in the S&P 500, indicating a waning market confidence in the sector.
- QuidelOrtho Underperformance: QuidelOrtho, with a market cap of $1.17 billion, has shown disappointing revenue performance over the past two years, leading to a 21.9 percentage point drop in free cash flow margin over five years, suggesting increased capital consumption to maintain competitiveness.
- Artivion Investment Risks: Artivion, valued at $1.64 billion, has a weak free cash flow margin of -0.6% over the last five years, limiting its ability to invest or reward shareholders, while a 2.6% return on capital indicates management's struggles in finding profitable growth opportunities.
- Abbott Laboratories' Strengths: Abbott Laboratories, with a market cap of $179.2 billion, boasts a revenue base of $44.33 billion and a free cash flow margin of 16.5%, demonstrating strong negotiating leverage and capital deployment options, alongside a 13.2% return on invested capital reflecting management's investment acumen.
See More
Analysis of High-Quality Healthcare Stocks
- HCA Healthcare's Market Advantage: HCA Healthcare operates a diversified network of healthcare facilities across the U.S., leveraging strong community ties and relationships with third-party payers to maintain its leading position in a competitive healthcare industry, with a market cap of $106 billion.
- Stable Financial Performance: Over the past year, HCA Healthcare's stock has surged due to excellent financial results, with consistent revenue and earnings providing a solid foundation for future market share growth, despite facing legal and regulatory risks.
- Abbott's Innovation Capability: Abbott Laboratories offers innovative medical devices across several therapeutic areas, with its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system showing strong growth prospects globally, boasting a market cap of $178 billion and a gross margin of 52.72%.
- Ongoing Product Development: Abbott is expected to continue developing new products, and with its patent protections and strong reputation in the healthcare industry, it is poised for long-term financial growth, while its status as a Dividend King attracts long-term investors.
See More
Healthcare Stocks with Long-Term Return Potential
- HCA's Network Advantage: HCA Healthcare operates a diversified network of facilities across the U.S., leveraging strong relationships with government and third-party payers to maintain a competitive edge, which is expected to benefit from the aging population and drive long-term revenue growth.
- Stable Financial Performance: Over the past year, HCA's stock surged due to excellent financial results, and its ongoing market share growth strategy, along with investments in cutting-edge technology, will further solidify its market position despite facing legal and regulatory risks.
- Abbott's Innovative Product Line: Abbott Laboratories offers leading medical devices across several therapeutic areas, particularly its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system, which is poised for growth due to low global penetration, enhancing the company's financial performance.
- Dividend King Status: Abbott is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased dividends for 50 consecutive years, showcasing its strong profitability and stable cash flow, making it an ideal choice for long-term investors.
See More
Whoop Secures $575 Million in Series G Funding
- Significant Funding Round: Whoop raised $575 million in its latest Series G funding, achieving a valuation of $10.1 billion, which underscores its strong appeal in the wearable device market and investor confidence.
- Strong Investor Lineup: The funding round was led by Collaborative Fund and included participation from prominent institutions like Qatar Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment Company, along with sports stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James, enhancing brand visibility.
- Rapid Business Growth: Whoop currently boasts 2.5 million members, with bookings growing 103% year-over-year, and exited 2025 with a bookings run rate of $1.1 billion, indicating the success of its business model and robust market demand.
- Leading Technological Innovations: The newly launched Whoop MG model received FDA clearance for medical-grade ECG and blood pressure monitoring, marking a significant shift towards clinical health integration, while continuing to leverage AI for personalized training recommendations, enhancing user experience.
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Abbott Integrates Precision Oncology Solutions with Flatiron Health
- Precision Oncology Integration: Abbott and Flatiron Health announced the integration of Abbott's Precision Oncology portfolio into the OncoEMR platform, enabling oncology providers to digitally order Abbott tests within their existing clinical workflows, enhancing treatment decision efficiency.
- Increased Test Accessibility: This integration allows access to Abbott's Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score, OncoExTra, Oncodetect, and Riskguard tests across Flatiron's network of over 1,600 community cancer care centers, covering 4,700 providers and significantly improving patient access to testing.
- Administrative Burden Reduction: The integration enables clinicians to receive status updates and results directly within OncoEMR, thereby reducing administrative burdens and allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare services.
- Accelerated Treatment Decisions: The collaboration between Abbott and Flatiron aims to remove key barriers in community oncology practices, accelerating treatment decision-making processes and facilitating personalized patient care, aligning with the modern healthcare demand for data-driven solutions.
See More
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF Reconstitution Boosts Healthcare Allocation
- Annual Reconstitution Update: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has optimized its portfolio through the deletion of 22 stocks and the addition of 25 new stocks in its latest annual reconstitution, ensuring it holds the top 100 high-yield dividend stocks and enhancing overall portfolio quality.
- Increased Healthcare Allocation: Following the reconstitution, the allocation to the healthcare sector has risen from 15.4% to 18.9%, with UnitedHealth and Abbott Laboratories joining the top ten holdings at 4% and 3.95% respectively, thereby strengthening the fund's investment in the healthcare sector.
- Dividend Growth Potential: While the overall dividend yield of the ETF remains at 3.4% post-reconstitution, the new holdings boast a higher average five-year dividend growth rate of 9.4%, which is expected to generate greater long-term income for investors, enhancing the fund's appeal.
- Strong Dividend Track Record: Both UnitedHealth and Abbott Laboratories have impressive dividend growth records, with the former increasing dividends by 52% over the past five years and the latter by 40%, providing investors with a stable income source and further solidifying the ETF's investment value.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Healthcare Sector Analysis
- Industry Pullback: The healthcare sector has experienced a 2.2% decline over the past six months post-COVID-19, mirroring the drop in the S&P 500, indicating a waning market confidence in the sector.
- QuidelOrtho Underperformance: QuidelOrtho, with a market cap of $1.17 billion, has shown disappointing revenue performance over the past two years, leading to a 21.9 percentage point drop in free cash flow margin over five years, suggesting increased capital consumption to maintain competitiveness.
- Artivion Investment Risks: Artivion, valued at $1.64 billion, has a weak free cash flow margin of -0.6% over the last five years, limiting its ability to invest or reward shareholders, while a 2.6% return on capital indicates management's struggles in finding profitable growth opportunities.
- Abbott Laboratories' Strengths: Abbott Laboratories, with a market cap of $179.2 billion, boasts a revenue base of $44.33 billion and a free cash flow margin of 16.5%, demonstrating strong negotiating leverage and capital deployment options, alongside a 13.2% return on invested capital reflecting management's investment acumen.
See More
Analysis of High-Quality Healthcare Stocks
- HCA Healthcare's Market Advantage: HCA Healthcare operates a diversified network of healthcare facilities across the U.S., leveraging strong community ties and relationships with third-party payers to maintain its leading position in a competitive healthcare industry, with a market cap of $106 billion.
- Stable Financial Performance: Over the past year, HCA Healthcare's stock has surged due to excellent financial results, with consistent revenue and earnings providing a solid foundation for future market share growth, despite facing legal and regulatory risks.
- Abbott's Innovation Capability: Abbott Laboratories offers innovative medical devices across several therapeutic areas, with its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system showing strong growth prospects globally, boasting a market cap of $178 billion and a gross margin of 52.72%.
- Ongoing Product Development: Abbott is expected to continue developing new products, and with its patent protections and strong reputation in the healthcare industry, it is poised for long-term financial growth, while its status as a Dividend King attracts long-term investors.
See More
Healthcare Stocks with Long-Term Return Potential
- HCA's Network Advantage: HCA Healthcare operates a diversified network of facilities across the U.S., leveraging strong relationships with government and third-party payers to maintain a competitive edge, which is expected to benefit from the aging population and drive long-term revenue growth.
- Stable Financial Performance: Over the past year, HCA's stock surged due to excellent financial results, and its ongoing market share growth strategy, along with investments in cutting-edge technology, will further solidify its market position despite facing legal and regulatory risks.
- Abbott's Innovative Product Line: Abbott Laboratories offers leading medical devices across several therapeutic areas, particularly its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system, which is poised for growth due to low global penetration, enhancing the company's financial performance.
- Dividend King Status: Abbott is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased dividends for 50 consecutive years, showcasing its strong profitability and stable cash flow, making it an ideal choice for long-term investors.
See More
Whoop Secures $575 Million in Series G Funding
- Significant Funding Round: Whoop raised $575 million in its latest Series G funding, achieving a valuation of $10.1 billion, which underscores its strong appeal in the wearable device market and investor confidence.
- Strong Investor Lineup: The funding round was led by Collaborative Fund and included participation from prominent institutions like Qatar Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment Company, along with sports stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James, enhancing brand visibility.
- Rapid Business Growth: Whoop currently boasts 2.5 million members, with bookings growing 103% year-over-year, and exited 2025 with a bookings run rate of $1.1 billion, indicating the success of its business model and robust market demand.
- Leading Technological Innovations: The newly launched Whoop MG model received FDA clearance for medical-grade ECG and blood pressure monitoring, marking a significant shift towards clinical health integration, while continuing to leverage AI for personalized training recommendations, enhancing user experience.
See More
Abbott Integrates Precision Oncology Solutions with Flatiron Health
- Precision Oncology Integration: Abbott and Flatiron Health announced the integration of Abbott's Precision Oncology portfolio into the OncoEMR platform, enabling oncology providers to digitally order Abbott tests within their existing clinical workflows, enhancing treatment decision efficiency.
- Increased Test Accessibility: This integration allows access to Abbott's Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score, OncoExTra, Oncodetect, and Riskguard tests across Flatiron's network of over 1,600 community cancer care centers, covering 4,700 providers and significantly improving patient access to testing.
- Administrative Burden Reduction: The integration enables clinicians to receive status updates and results directly within OncoEMR, thereby reducing administrative burdens and allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare services.
- Accelerated Treatment Decisions: The collaboration between Abbott and Flatiron aims to remove key barriers in community oncology practices, accelerating treatment decision-making processes and facilitating personalized patient care, aligning with the modern healthcare demand for data-driven solutions.
See More
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF Reconstitution Boosts Healthcare Allocation
- Annual Reconstitution Update: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has optimized its portfolio through the deletion of 22 stocks and the addition of 25 new stocks in its latest annual reconstitution, ensuring it holds the top 100 high-yield dividend stocks and enhancing overall portfolio quality.
- Increased Healthcare Allocation: Following the reconstitution, the allocation to the healthcare sector has risen from 15.4% to 18.9%, with UnitedHealth and Abbott Laboratories joining the top ten holdings at 4% and 3.95% respectively, thereby strengthening the fund's investment in the healthcare sector.
- Dividend Growth Potential: While the overall dividend yield of the ETF remains at 3.4% post-reconstitution, the new holdings boast a higher average five-year dividend growth rate of 9.4%, which is expected to generate greater long-term income for investors, enhancing the fund's appeal.
- Strong Dividend Track Record: Both UnitedHealth and Abbott Laboratories have impressive dividend growth records, with the former increasing dividends by 52% over the past five years and the latter by 40%, providing investors with a stable income source and further solidifying the ETF's investment value.
See More
