Abbott's Q3 Results Meet Expectations, but Nutrition Spinoff and Guidance Weigh on Stock
Abbott Laboratories posted third-quarter 2026 revenue and adjusted earnings per share within 1% of consensus, with sales up 14.5% from a year earlier. The company reiterated its full-year profit outlook and continued planning to separate its nutrition business, while shares fell about 4.3% before the open.
Abbott’s third-quarter 2026 revenue was $13.013 billion, slightly under the $13.128 billion consensus, while adjusted EPS of $1.42 compared with $1.4297 expected. Both gaps were under 1%, and sales rose 14.5% year over year.
The company kept its full-year profit forecast unchanged; the excerpt lacked a numeric range. It also plans to separate its global nutrition unit into a standalone public company. Before the open, shares were down 4.34%, after gaining 4.37% over the prior two weeks.
The stock reaction may affect investors and retirement savers with exposure to Abbott, while the planned nutrition separation could alter how employees and customers experience that business. Patients who rely on nutrition products may see continuity or changes depending on how the spinoff is executed. Because the quarter was in line, broader societal effects may be limited in the near term, though execution risks could matter over time.