Exact Sciences' Sale to Abbott Clears HSR Waiting Period
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 06 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EXAS?
Source: seekingalpha
- Transaction Progress: Exact Sciences (EXAS) shares rose 0.5% as reports confirmed that the HSR waiting period for its $21 billion all-cash acquisition by Abbott Laboratories (ABT) expired on Thursday, indicating the deal has cleared antitrust scrutiny and boosting market confidence in its success.
- Market Reaction: Following the news, Abbott (ABT) shares also increased by 0.5%, reflecting investor optimism regarding the acquisition, which is expected to enhance Abbott's market share and growth in the cancer screening sector.
- Deal Background: Abbott announced the acquisition of Exact Sciences last November, valuing the deal at $105 per share, aimed at strengthening its competitive position in the cancer screening market, aligning with its long-term growth strategy.
- Investor Interest: Although Exact Sciences and Abbott did not immediately respond to media inquiries, the positive sentiment surrounding the deal may attract more investor attention, particularly regarding technological innovations and market potential in the cancer screening field.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy EXAS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on EXAS
Wall Street analysts forecast EXAS stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
19 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 104.910
Low
78.00
Averages
100.20
High
105.00
Current: 104.910
Low
78.00
Averages
100.20
High
105.00
About EXAS
Exact Sciences Corporation is a provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests. The Company provides a portfolio of products for earlier cancer detection and treatment guidance. Its products and services focus on screening and precision oncology tests. It is focusing its research and development efforts on three main areas: Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Development, MCED Test Development and MRD Test Development. Its products and services include Cologuard test, Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test, Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score Test, Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score Test, OncoExTra Test, and Riskguard Test. Its flagship screening product, the Cologuard test, is a non-invasive, stool-based deoxyribonucleic acid (sDNA) screening test that utilizes a multi-target approach to detect DNA and hemoglobin biomarkers associated with colorectal cancer and pre-cancer. The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test examines the activity of 21 genes in a patient’s breast tumor tissue.
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.
ABBOTT FINALIZES PURCHASE OF EXACT SCIENCES
- Acquisition Announcement: A company has completed the acquisition of Exact Sciences, enhancing its capabilities in the healthcare sector.
- Strategic Goals: The acquisition aims to leverage Exact Sciences' expertise to improve diagnostic solutions and expand market reach.
- Market Impact: This move is expected to strengthen the company's position in the competitive landscape of medical diagnostics.
- Future Plans: The company plans to integrate Exact Sciences' technologies and resources to drive innovation and growth in its product offerings.
See More
Abbott's Disappointing Quarter Yet Promising Long-Term Growth
- Weak Revenue Growth: Abbott's fourth-quarter revenue increased by only 4.4% year-over-year to $11.5 billion, primarily dragged down by poor performances in its diagnostic and nutrition segments, resulting in a 22% decline from its 52-week high, which negatively impacts investor confidence.
- Strong Medical Device Performance: Despite overall struggles, Abbott's medical device segment generated $5.7 billion in revenue in Q4, reflecting a 12.3% year-over-year growth, indicating sustained growth potential in this area that could lay the groundwork for future revenue recovery.
- Acquisition Boosts Growth: Abbott's announcement of acquiring Exact Sciences for approximately $21 billion will enhance its diagnostic business, particularly with the Cologuard product addressing over 55 million unscreened patients in the U.S., which is expected to drive revenue growth for the company.
- Dividend Appeal: Following the stock's decline, Abbott's dividend yield exceeds 2.3%, surpassing the S&P 500 average of 1.2%, and with 54 consecutive years of dividend increases, the company demonstrates financial stability and commitment to shareholders.
See More
Abbott Laboratories Reports Weak Earnings but Promising Growth Opportunities
- Earnings Performance: Abbott's fourth-quarter revenue increased by only 4.4% year-over-year to $11.5 billion, primarily dragged down by weak performances in its diagnostic and nutrition segments, indicating challenges in sales growth in these areas.
- Medical Device Growth: Despite the overall disappointing results, Abbott's medical device segment generated $5.7 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, reflecting a 12.3% year-over-year increase, suggesting that this division remains a core growth engine with potential to drive overall performance recovery.
- Acquisition Opportunity: Abbott announced its acquisition of cancer diagnostic company Exact Sciences for approximately $21 billion, which will bolster its diagnostic business, particularly with the Cologuard product that has significant potential in the U.S. market, where over 55 million eligible patients remain unscreened, presenting a vast market opportunity.
- Dividend Appeal: Abbott's forward yield exceeds 2.3%, surpassing the S&P 500's average of 1.2%, and with 54 consecutive years of dividend increases, it has earned the title of 'Dividend King', making its stock still attractive for income-seeking investors.
See More
Walgreens Launches Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative
- Screening Tool Launch: Walgreens collaborates with Exact Sciences to introduce the Cologuard® test, providing a streamlined pathway for eligible average-risk patients to access colorectal cancer screening, which is expected to significantly reduce mortality rates by supporting earlier detection.
- Awareness Enhancement: During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Walgreens aims to help over one-third of U.S. adults update their screenings by integrating non-invasive options, which is anticipated to improve patient health outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens.
- Convenient Screening Experience: The Cologuard test offers a non-invasive screening method for adults aged 45 and older, requiring no special diet or preparation, and is covered by most insurance, likely encouraging more patients to participate proactively in their health screenings.
- Community Health Connection: By partnering with Workflow Services, Walgreens is advancing a nationwide colorectal cancer screening initiative that enhances patient access to clinical services through pharmacies, further solidifying its role as a key community health service provider.
See More
EHR-Enabled Colorectal Cancer Screening Achieves Significant Impact
- Screening Rate Increase: The colorectal cancer screening program led by Privia Health achieved an 84% screening rate in 2024, surpassing national benchmarks and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable's 80% goal, demonstrating the effectiveness of data-driven patient engagement models.
- Patient Engagement Scale: The program successfully engaged over 42,000 patients through automated outreach, with plans to expand nationally to over 100,000 patients, significantly enhancing the reach and efficiency of screenings.
- Diagnostic Follow-Up Rate: Within a 48-hour window, approximately 23,000 screening orders were processed, yielding a 10% positivity rate that identified over 550 patients requiring further diagnostic follow-up, indicating the program's potential in early cancer detection.
- Support for Value-Based Care: The initiative not only improved screening outcomes but also strengthened patient identification and documentation quality, supporting electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) reporting and positioning health systems to meet future digital quality measurement requirements.
See More
Dividend Stocks Surge Amid Market Volatility, Outperforming S&P 500
- Dividend Stocks Performance: In 2026, dividend aristocrats are outperforming the broader market, with the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF up 10% year-to-date compared to less than 1% for the S&P 500, reflecting investors' preference for stable income amid market volatility.
- Coca-Cola Dividend Increase: Coca-Cola announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to 53 cents per share in February, marking its 64th consecutive year of dividend growth, and returned $8.8 billion to shareholders last year, demonstrating strong cash flow and market stability.
- NextEra Energy's Growth Plans: NextEra Energy raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to about 62 cents per share and plans for 10% annual dividend growth through 2026, with ambitions to add 30 gigawatts of new generation capacity by 2035, showcasing its commitment to renewable energy.
- Abbott Laboratories' Sustained Growth: Abbott announced a 6.8% dividend increase to 63 cents per share in December, achieving 54 consecutive years of growth, and despite missing fourth-quarter revenue expectations, its dividend growth of over 70% reflects strong profitability and market confidence.
See More
ABBOTT FINALIZES PURCHASE OF EXACT SCIENCES
- Acquisition Announcement: A company has completed the acquisition of Exact Sciences, enhancing its capabilities in the healthcare sector.
- Strategic Goals: The acquisition aims to leverage Exact Sciences' expertise to improve diagnostic solutions and expand market reach.
- Market Impact: This move is expected to strengthen the company's position in the competitive landscape of medical diagnostics.
- Future Plans: The company plans to integrate Exact Sciences' technologies and resources to drive innovation and growth in its product offerings.
See More
Abbott's Disappointing Quarter Yet Promising Long-Term Growth
- Weak Revenue Growth: Abbott's fourth-quarter revenue increased by only 4.4% year-over-year to $11.5 billion, primarily dragged down by poor performances in its diagnostic and nutrition segments, resulting in a 22% decline from its 52-week high, which negatively impacts investor confidence.
- Strong Medical Device Performance: Despite overall struggles, Abbott's medical device segment generated $5.7 billion in revenue in Q4, reflecting a 12.3% year-over-year growth, indicating sustained growth potential in this area that could lay the groundwork for future revenue recovery.
- Acquisition Boosts Growth: Abbott's announcement of acquiring Exact Sciences for approximately $21 billion will enhance its diagnostic business, particularly with the Cologuard product addressing over 55 million unscreened patients in the U.S., which is expected to drive revenue growth for the company.
- Dividend Appeal: Following the stock's decline, Abbott's dividend yield exceeds 2.3%, surpassing the S&P 500 average of 1.2%, and with 54 consecutive years of dividend increases, the company demonstrates financial stability and commitment to shareholders.
See More
Abbott Laboratories Reports Weak Earnings but Promising Growth Opportunities
- Earnings Performance: Abbott's fourth-quarter revenue increased by only 4.4% year-over-year to $11.5 billion, primarily dragged down by weak performances in its diagnostic and nutrition segments, indicating challenges in sales growth in these areas.
- Medical Device Growth: Despite the overall disappointing results, Abbott's medical device segment generated $5.7 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, reflecting a 12.3% year-over-year increase, suggesting that this division remains a core growth engine with potential to drive overall performance recovery.
- Acquisition Opportunity: Abbott announced its acquisition of cancer diagnostic company Exact Sciences for approximately $21 billion, which will bolster its diagnostic business, particularly with the Cologuard product that has significant potential in the U.S. market, where over 55 million eligible patients remain unscreened, presenting a vast market opportunity.
- Dividend Appeal: Abbott's forward yield exceeds 2.3%, surpassing the S&P 500's average of 1.2%, and with 54 consecutive years of dividend increases, it has earned the title of 'Dividend King', making its stock still attractive for income-seeking investors.
See More
Walgreens Launches Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative
- Screening Tool Launch: Walgreens collaborates with Exact Sciences to introduce the Cologuard® test, providing a streamlined pathway for eligible average-risk patients to access colorectal cancer screening, which is expected to significantly reduce mortality rates by supporting earlier detection.
- Awareness Enhancement: During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Walgreens aims to help over one-third of U.S. adults update their screenings by integrating non-invasive options, which is anticipated to improve patient health outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens.
- Convenient Screening Experience: The Cologuard test offers a non-invasive screening method for adults aged 45 and older, requiring no special diet or preparation, and is covered by most insurance, likely encouraging more patients to participate proactively in their health screenings.
- Community Health Connection: By partnering with Workflow Services, Walgreens is advancing a nationwide colorectal cancer screening initiative that enhances patient access to clinical services through pharmacies, further solidifying its role as a key community health service provider.
See More
EHR-Enabled Colorectal Cancer Screening Achieves Significant Impact
- Screening Rate Increase: The colorectal cancer screening program led by Privia Health achieved an 84% screening rate in 2024, surpassing national benchmarks and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable's 80% goal, demonstrating the effectiveness of data-driven patient engagement models.
- Patient Engagement Scale: The program successfully engaged over 42,000 patients through automated outreach, with plans to expand nationally to over 100,000 patients, significantly enhancing the reach and efficiency of screenings.
- Diagnostic Follow-Up Rate: Within a 48-hour window, approximately 23,000 screening orders were processed, yielding a 10% positivity rate that identified over 550 patients requiring further diagnostic follow-up, indicating the program's potential in early cancer detection.
- Support for Value-Based Care: The initiative not only improved screening outcomes but also strengthened patient identification and documentation quality, supporting electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) reporting and positioning health systems to meet future digital quality measurement requirements.
See More
Dividend Stocks Surge Amid Market Volatility, Outperforming S&P 500
- Dividend Stocks Performance: In 2026, dividend aristocrats are outperforming the broader market, with the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF up 10% year-to-date compared to less than 1% for the S&P 500, reflecting investors' preference for stable income amid market volatility.
- Coca-Cola Dividend Increase: Coca-Cola announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to 53 cents per share in February, marking its 64th consecutive year of dividend growth, and returned $8.8 billion to shareholders last year, demonstrating strong cash flow and market stability.
- NextEra Energy's Growth Plans: NextEra Energy raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to about 62 cents per share and plans for 10% annual dividend growth through 2026, with ambitions to add 30 gigawatts of new generation capacity by 2035, showcasing its commitment to renewable energy.
- Abbott Laboratories' Sustained Growth: Abbott announced a 6.8% dividend increase to 63 cents per share in December, achieving 54 consecutive years of growth, and despite missing fourth-quarter revenue expectations, its dividend growth of over 70% reflects strong profitability and market confidence.
See More
