The latest trading day saw Abbott (ABT) settling at $101.74, representing a +1% change from its previous close.
Healthcare stocks to buy are booming in the U.S. due to the nation's aging population. Spending on healthcare in the U.S. now totals $4.4 trillion, or $13,493 per person, each year — more than any other country on earth.
Earlier, the Federal Reserve stood poised to cut the benchmark interest rate, which boded well for reliable dividend stocks. Essentially, Uncle Sam's high yields wouldn't compete with the passive income stemming from private enterprises.
The bull market continues; markets quickly dusted off the 5% correction in April and soared to new highs. With too much cash on the sidelines, every shallow correction has become a buying opportunity.
Abbott (ABT) concluded the recent trading session at $103.95, signifying a -0.27% move from its prior day's close.
Abbott's (ABT) share recovery in the Nutrition business buoys optimism.
When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?
Panagora Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Free Report) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,804 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock after purchasing an additional 724 shares during the quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $2,950,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ABT. Perigon Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 47,080 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock worth $5,182,000 after acquiring an additional 2,317 shares during the period. Boston Partners boosted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 634.6% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 29,758 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock valued at $2,882,000 after purchasing an additional 25,707 shares during the last quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC increased its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.4% during the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 3,106 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock worth $301,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the period. Gradient Investments LLC raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 257,508 shares of the healthcare product maker’s stock worth $28,344,000 after buying an additional 11,508 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter valued at $2,111,000. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories In other news, EVP Lisa D. Earnhardt sold 22,852 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.25, for a total value of $2,428,025.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 61,462 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,530,337.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Jr. Robert E. Funck sold 10,097 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.57, for a total value of $1,055,843.29. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 211,341 shares in the company, valued at $22,099,928.37. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Lisa D. Earnhardt sold 22,852 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.25, for a total transaction of $2,428,025.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 61,462 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,530,337.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 46,884 shares of company stock worth $5,153,916. Insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have issued reports on ABT. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $128.00 to $125.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 18th. Raymond James reissued a “buy” rating and set a $124.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, April 24th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Citigroup raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $126.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $141.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $121.50. Get Our Latest Analysis on ABT Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 0.7 % ABT stock opened at $104.09 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $109.59 and its 200-day moving average is $109.43. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $89.67 and a twelve month high of $121.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $181.08 billion, a PE ratio of 32.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 17th. The healthcare product maker reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.96 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $9.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.88 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 13.96%. The business’s revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.03 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Abbott Laboratories (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Ménière's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.
Abbott Laboratories is one of the smaller holdings in my portfolio, but that won't be the case for much longer. Strength throughout the base business powered the company's sales higher in the first quarter. ABT's interest coverage ratio approached 25 in the most recent quarter, which supports an AA- credit rating from S&P.