Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG Decreases Position in Abbott Laboratories $ABT

Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG reduced its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) by 18.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,994 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock after selling 13,296 shares during the period. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG’s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $7,517,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Guerra Advisors Inc purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Bridge Generations Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Copia Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the third quarter worth $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Abbott Laboratories

Here are the key news stories impacting Abbott Laboratories this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Abbott joined a $575M funding round for wearable maker Whoop as a strategic investor, positioning ABT to participate in consumer health/wearables and personalized‑health data opportunities that could broaden diagnostics and subscription revenue pathways. Abbott joins $575M funding round for wearable maker Whoop
• Positive Sentiment: Abbott integrated its Precision Oncology testing portfolio into Flatiron’s OncoEMR, improving workflow for oncology providers and potentially raising test ordering and revenue capture in oncology diagnostics. Abbott integrates Precision Oncology portfolio into Flatiron’s OncoEMR
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism: Seeking Alpha noted a rating upgrade into Q1 earnings, suggesting some analysts see improving fundamentals and an attractive entry point after recent weakness. Upgrades can help limit downside and attract value buyers. Abbott: A Brighter Investment Case Heading Into Q1 Earnings (Rating Upgrade)
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentaries and comparisons (GEHC vs ABT and sector roundups) are driving attention but not a clear consensus; some authors highlight valuation appeal while noting macro and currency risks. GEHC or ABT: Which Is the Better Value Stock Right Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor guides and sector lists name Abbott among steady healthcare picks for long‑term growth (dividend history, nutrition and Libre growth cited), supporting longer‑term investor interest even if near‑term volatility persists. Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy Right Now for Long-Term Growth
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst actions and comments are mixed: BTIG cut its price target (though maintained a Buy), signaling revised near‑term expectations; downward PT moves can pressure the stock. BTIG lowers price target on Abbott
• Negative Sentiment: Market concern about a recent soft quarter and a revenue miss (and the stock’s slide from its 52‑week high) is keeping selling pressure; near‑term headwinds include currency and macro uncertainty. This Dividend King Is Down 26%. When Will It Bounce Back?
• Negative Sentiment: Short‑term price action: coverage noting recent daily dips and lower trading volume versus average suggests current momentum is weak despite the strategic positives. Abbott (ABT) Dips More Than Broader Market: What You Should Know

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

Shares of ABT stock opened at $102.41 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The company has a market capitalization of $178.36 billion, a PE ratio of 27.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.79. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $109.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $121.44. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $100.88 and a 12 month high of $139.06.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The healthcare product maker reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.50. The business had revenue of $11.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $11.80 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.72% and a return on equity of 17.73%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.34 EPS. Abbott Laboratories has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.120-1.180 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 5.550-5.800 EPS. Analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 15th. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Abbott Laboratories’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 67.74%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Mary K. Moreland sold 613 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.58, for a total value of $70,850.54. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 104,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,053,953.78. The trade was a 0.58% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP John A. Jr. Mccoy sold 585 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.58, for a total transaction of $67,614.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 24,628 shares in the company, valued at $2,846,504.24. The trade was a 2.32% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 3,055 shares of company stock valued at $353,097. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ABT has been the topic of several research reports. Daiwa Securities Group decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $113.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Raymond James Financial cut their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $146.00 to $130.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Citigroup lowered their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $152.00 to $140.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Freedom Capital raised Abbott Laboratories from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $135.68.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois, that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of medical products and services. Founded in 1888, Abbott operates through multiple business areas that focus on diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and established pharmaceuticals. The company supplies hospitals, clinics, laboratories, retailers and direct-to-consumer channels with products intended to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of health conditions.

In diagnostics, Abbott provides laboratory and point-of-care testing platforms and assays used to detect infectious diseases, chronic conditions and biomarkers; its Alinity family of instruments and rapid-test solutions are examples of this capability.