Abbott earnings: October 21, 2026
Abbott's next results are expected on October 21, 2026. Watch whether Nutrition, Electrophysiology, Core Laboratory and Cancer Diagnostics improve.
What has Abbott guided for 2026?
Management guides to 6.5%–7.5% comparable sales growth and adjusted diluted EPS of $5.45–$5.60 in 2026. Q3 guidance is adjusted diluted EPS of $1.38–$1.46, supported by improvement in Nutrition, Electrophysiology, Core Laboratory and Cancer Diagnostics. Exact Sciences is expected to dilute adjusted EPS by $0.20 in 2026. The dilution is expected to be $0.16 in 2027, with accretion in 2028.
| Period guided | Low | High | Date given | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparable sales growth | Year to Dec 2026 | 6.5% | 7.5% | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | Year to Dec 2026 | 5.45 | 5.60 | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share — third-quarter | Quarter to Sep 2026 | 1.38 | 1.46 | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Dilution related to the acquisition of Exact Sciences | Year to Dec 2026 | 0.20 | 0.20 | Apr 16, 2026 |
| Dilutive to adjusted earnings per share (EPS) | Year to Dec 2027 | -0.16 | -0.16 | Nov 20, 2025 |
Did Abbott keep its past promises?
Abbott delivered adjusted earnings per share of US$5.15 in 2025 after forecasting a range of US$5.05–US$5.25. It later lowered its organic sales-growth forecast, where “organic” means growth measured without specified effects such as acquisitions and currency movements. In 2026, Abbott cut its earnings forecast after buying Exact Sciences, then raised it in July. That was progress, but the new range remained below January’s original forecast.
What trend do Abbott's recent quarters show?
Across the eight quarters through June 2026, Abbott recorded four EPS beats and four matches, with no misses at the displayed precision. That suggests dependable execution rather than a pattern of large upside. Revenue has sometimes fallen short even when EPS matched expectations, so earnings per share alone cannot show that sales are accelerating broadly.
| Jun 2026 | Mar 2026 | Dec 2025 | Sep 2025 | Jun 2025 | Mar 2025 | Dec 2024 | Sep 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 12,593 | 11,164 | 11,459 | 11,369 | 11,142 | 10,358 | 10,974 | 10,635 |
| Operating income | 1,693 | 1,345 | 2,251 | 2,057 | 2,052 | 1,693 | 1,911 | 1,859 |
| Net income | 928 | 1,077 | 1,776 | 1,644 | 1,779 | 1,325 | 9,229 | 1,646 |
| EPS, diluted | 0.53 | 0.61 | 1.01 | 0.94 | 1.01 | 0.76 | 5.27 | 0.94 |
What should I watch in Abbott's next results?
Management identified Nutrition, Electrophysiology, Core Laboratory and Cancer Diagnostics as the main sources of second-half improvement. The next report should therefore be judged by whether those businesses improve, not merely by whether cost control produces another EPS match.
October 21 is the first scheduled checkpoint. Investors will compare adjusted EPS with the company’s guidance and the US$1.42 consensus estimate, but the stronger evidence will come from the named growth businesses. They should also watch whether management maintains the launch timetable and explains how much work remains for the final quarter.