Abbott Laboratories (ABT) · Medical Devices
Abbott Laboratories Q2 2026 earnings: summary, key numbers & outlook
Results filed 16 Jul 2026 · Quarter ended 30 Jun 2026
Press release ↗Investor relations ↗
Summaries and transcripts are machine-generated and can contain errors.
In brief
Abbott reported second-quarter sales growth of 13.0 percent, comparable sales growth of 4.8 percent, GAAP diluted EPS of $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.31.
Abbott's second-quarter sales rose 13.0 percent to $12,593 million, helped by the March 23 acquisition of Exact Sciences. On a comparable basis, which includes Exact's sales in both years, growth was 4.8 percent. Medical Devices grew 8.4 percent comparable, led by Electrophysiology. Nutrition fell 3.6 percent. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.53, down from $1.01, on higher amortization, interest and tax charges and a $385 million legal reserve. Adjusted EPS was $1.31, up 4.0 percent.
Management reaffirmed full-year comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5% and raised adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45 to $5.60 from $5.38 to $5.58. Third-quarter adjusted EPS is guided to $1.38 to $1.46. The CEO expects accelerating sales and earnings growth in the second half. The main tension is that first-half comparable growth was 4.3 percent, so the second half must speed up, while Nutrition remains weak and acquisition costs weigh on GAAP results.
Key numbers
- Net sales · GAAP
- $12.6B
- Net earnings · GAAP
- $928.0M
- Diluted EPS · GAAP
- $0.53
- Adjusted diluted EPS · non-GAAP
- $1.31
- Operating earnings · GAAP
- $1.7B
up 13.0% reported from a year ago; up 4.8% comparable
down 47.8% from a year ago
vs. $1.01 a year ago
up 4.0% from a year ago
down 17.5% from a year ago
| Segment or metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition | $2.1B | down 3.1% reported; down 3.6% comparable |
| Diagnostics | $3.1B | up 42.3% reported; up 2.9% comparable |
| Established Pharmaceuticals | $1.5B | up 8.4% reported; up 8.7% comparable |
| Medical Devices | $5.9B | up 9.0% reported; up 8.4% comparable |
| Cancer Diagnostics | $919.0M | up 13.3% comparable |
| Electrophysiology | $861.0M | up 14.0% reported; up 13.4% comparable |
| Diabetes Care | $2.2B | up 10.5% reported; up 9.0% comparable |
Where each number comes from
- Net sales: “Net Sales | $12,593 | $11,142 | 13.0 Cost of products sold, excluding amortization expense | 5,325 | 4,854 | 9.7”
- Net earnings: “Net Earnings | $928 | $1,779 | (47.8) Net Earnings excluding Specified Items, as described below | $2,290 | $2,213 | 3.5”
- Diluted EPS: “Second-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.31, which excludes specified items.”
- Adjusted diluted EPS: “Second-quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.31, which excludes specified items.”
- Operating earnings: “Operating Earnings | 1,693 | 2,052 | (17.5) Interest expense, net | 299 | 50 | n/m Net foreign exchange (gain) loss | 4 | (11)”
- Nutrition: “Total reported | 12,593 | 2,144 | 3,092 | 1,499 | 5,853 % Change vs. 2Q25”
- Diagnostics: “Total reported | 12,593 | 2,144 | 3,092 | 1,499 | 5,853 % Change vs. 2Q25”
- Established Pharmaceuticals: “Total reported | 12,593 | 2,144 | 3,092 | 1,499 | 5,853 % Change vs. 2Q25”
- Medical Devices: “Total reported | 12,593 | 2,144 | 3,092 | 1,499 | 5,853 % Change vs. 2Q25”
- Cancer Diagnostics: “Total reported | 3,092 | 1,418 | 919 | 755 % Change vs. 2Q25”
- Electrophysiology: “Total reported | 5,853 | 743 | 861 | 401 | 803 | 597 | 260 | 2,188 % Change vs. 2Q25”
- Diabetes Care: “Total reported | 5,853 | 743 | 861 | 401 | 803 | 597 | 260 | 2,188 % Change vs. 2Q25”
Copied from the press release ↗ and other documents in the SEC filing ↗. A figure is published only if its sentence is in the filing.
| From the filing | Q2 2026 | vs year ago | vs last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $12.6B | +13.0% | +12.8% |
| Operating income | $1.7B | −17.5% | +25.9% |
| Net income | $928.0M | −47.8% | −13.8% |
| Diluted EPS | $0.53 | −47.5% | −13.1% |
| Free cash flow | $2.0B | +28.9% | +117.4% |
| Operating margin | 13.4% | −5.0 pts | +1.4 pts |
Calculated by code from XBRL, not by the model.
Outlook
| Metric | Period | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Comparable sales growth | full-year 2026 | 6.5% to 7.5% |
| Adjusted diluted EPS | full-year 2026 | $5.45 to $5.60 |
| Adjusted diluted EPS | third-quarter 2026 | $1.38 to $1.46 |
Key takeaways
Acquisition drove reported growth well above comparable
Reported sales growth was 13.0 percent versus comparable growth of 4.8 percent. Exact Sciences, acquired on March 23, 2026, added $919 million of Cancer Diagnostics sales.
GAAP earnings fell sharply on deal-related charges
GAAP diluted EPS was $0.53 against $1.01 a year ago. Specified items totaled $0.78 per share, including $385 million for legal reserves tied to an agreed-in-principle settlement.
Medical Devices led with 8.4% comparable growth
Electrophysiology grew 13.4 percent comparable, and Diabetes Care grew 9.0 percent. Continuous glucose monitor sales grew 11.0 percent reported.
Nutrition remains the weak spot
Nutrition sales fell 3.6 percent on a comparable basis on lower volumes and pricing actions taken in the fourth quarter of 2025. Sales rose $127 million sequentially from the first quarter.
Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised to $5.45-$5.60
The prior range was $5.38 to $5.58, and comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5% was reaffirmed. Third-quarter adjusted EPS is guided to $1.38 to $1.46.
Charts
Fourth quarter worked out from the annual figure.
Data
| Q4 2024 | $11.0B * |
| Q1 2025 | $10.4B |
| Q2 2025 | $11.1B |
| Q3 2025 | $11.4B |
| Q4 2025 | $11.5B * |
| Q1 2026 | $11.2B |
| Q2 2026 | $12.6B |
| Q3 2026 | $13.0B |
Data
| Q1 2025 | $0.76 |
| Q2 2025 | $1.01 |
| Q3 2025 | $0.94 |
| Q1 2026 | $0.61 |
| Q2 2026 | $0.53 |
| Q3 2026 | $0.53 |
Fourth-quarter EPS appears once the press release is read; filings report it only for the full year.
Data
| Q4 2024 | 17.4% |
| Q1 2025 | 16.3% |
| Q2 2025 | 18.4% |
| Q3 2025 | 18.1% |
| Q4 2025 | 19.6% |
| Q1 2026 | 12.0% |
| Q2 2026 | 13.4% |
| Q3 2026 | 10.4% |
Data
| Q4 2024 | $2.1B |
| Q1 2025 | $933.0M |
| Q2 2025 | $1.5B |
| Q3 2025 | $2.3B |
| Q4 2025 | $2.6B |
| Q1 2026 | $916.0M |
| Q2 2026 | $2.0B |
| Q3 2026 | $1.2B |
Operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, from cash flow statements.
Questions
What were Abbott's second-quarter 2026 results?
Sales were $12,593 million, up 13.0 percent reported and 4.8 percent comparable. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.53 and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.31.
Did Abbott change its 2026 guidance?
It raised full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance to $5.45 to $5.60 from $5.38 to $5.58. It reaffirmed comparable sales growth of 6.5% to 7.5%.
Why did GAAP EPS fall to $0.53 from $1.01?
Specified items cost $0.78 per share, including intangible amortization, acquisition charges and a $385 million legal reserve. Interest expense rose to $299 million from $50 million, and the GAAP tax rate was 39.1%.
Which Abbott businesses performed best and worst?
Medical Devices grew 8.4 percent comparable, led by Electrophysiology at 13.4 percent, and Established Pharmaceuticals grew 8.7 percent. Nutrition declined 3.6 percent comparable.
What is Abbott guiding for the third quarter?
Abbott projects third-quarter 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $1.38 to $1.46. It did not provide GAAP guidance.
Documents
SEC filing