Abbott Laboratories

Abbott's board of directors declared a quarterly common dividend of 63 cents per share, marking the 411th consecutive quarterly dividend the company has paid since 1924. The cash dividend is payable Nov. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 15, 2026. Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 54 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have raised dividends annually for at least 25 consecutive years. The company, based in Abbott Park, Illinois, describes itself as a global healthcare leader with 122,000 colleagues serving people in more than 160 countries.

Citi downgraded Boston Scientific to Neutral from Buy, citing the lingering aftermath of an August cyberattack and rising competition across several of its businesses. The bank cut its price target on the medical device maker to $50 from $57, implying roughly 14% upside based on the Sept. 16 close. Analyst Joanne Wuensch said Boston Scientific has been hurt this year by a more mature U.S. pulsed field ablation market with increased competition, a stagnating left atrial appendage closure market, Urology hiccups, and the cybersecurity attack, and she has revised her estimates down eight times year to date. Wuensch warned that new proposed guidelines from the Heart Rhythm Society could weigh on sales of the company's key Watchman LAAC device, projecting Watchman sales will fall 7.6% in the second half of the year followed by an 8.8% drop in 2027, and said Boston Scientific is likely to lose market share when Abbott Laboratories' Amulet LAAC launches in 2027. She added that while she is confident the company will work through its problems, the time to resolution is opaque, investor patience has run thin, and the recovery path remains unclear.

Abbott Laboratories has agreed to a US$385 million settlement tied to its 2022 infant formula recall and the shutdown of its Sturgis plant. The agreement resolves civil claims from families, states, and other plaintiffs who alleged product safety failures and gaps in compliance with federal standards, and it follows investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and multiple states into Abbott's infant formula operations. The settlement, which covers only the civil claims and includes no admission of liability, gives Abbott clearer visibility on its infant nutrition liabilities and removes a high-profile government probe that had been flagged as an ongoing litigation risk. Abbott Laboratories is a large global healthcare manufacturer with a US$178.4b market cap, so issues in its infant formula segment sit alongside a broad mix of medical equipment and other health products. Investors will be watching for concrete follow-through on manufacturing and quality control, especially at Sturgis and Casa Grande, with key signposts in future FDA or USDA plant inspection findings and any new disclosures on remediation spending or compliance milestones in upcoming quarterly filings and earnings calls.

Abbott announced that its Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System was used for the first time in Canada at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal to treat patients with atrial fibrillation. The system, which received Health Canada authorization in April 2026, is designed to deliver more precise, targeted energy with fewer catheter exchanges and reduced radiation exposure than earlier-generation systems, and is also approved and available in the United States, Europe and Australia. Health Canada authorization was based on results from Abbott's VOLT-AF IDE study, a clinical trial of 392 patients conducted at 40 centres in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia, which demonstrated clinically meaningful performance in both safety and effectiveness in treating paroxysmal AFib and persistent AFib. Dr. Atul Verma, director of cardiology at the McGill University Health Centre, said innovations like Volt are notable for combining real-time feedback with a distinctive catheter design that may help optimize contact and energy delivery during procedures. Christopher Piorkowski, chief medical officer of Abbott's electrophysiology business, said the system's introduction in Canada enables an approach that can support conscious sedation and may help make procedures more efficient while supporting quicker recovery. AFib affects between 500,000 to nearly one million Canadians, and people with the condition have 3 to 5 times greater risk for ischemic stroke.

Abbott has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled, a dual-energy device that combines pulsed field ablation and radiofrequency energy in a single catheter to treat complex cases of atrial fibrillation. The approval, announced September 8, 2026, is based on results from the FlexPulse IDE study, which showed favorable safety and effectiveness in patients with paroxysmal AFib. Abbott will begin commercial cases across the country in the coming weeks. This marks the company's fifth major electrophysiology approval in just over a year, following European approvals of the Amulet 360 and TactiFlex Duo, and U.S. and European approvals of the Volt PFA System in 2025. The catheter integrates with Abbott's EnSite X EP System, which provides real-time feedback and a PFA Index to guide lesion formation.

Abbott Laboratories has launched Similac 360 Total Care Made With Whole Milk, the first commercially sterile ready-to-feed liquid infant formula in the U.S. to combine whole milk with a ready-to-feed format. The product, which uses whole milk and a blend of human milk oligosaccharides to more closely mirror breast milk, expands Abbott's infant nutrition portfolio and targets parents seeking convenient, nutritionally advanced options. Priced similarly per feeding to its powder formula, the new product is initially rolling out at Target and Amazon, with broader retail availability expected to be a key indicator of traction. Investors will watch upcoming quarterly reports for U.S. nutrition revenue mix and uptake of ready-to-feed formats, while legal risks around preterm formulas remain a watchpoint after recent NEC settlement agreements.

In a challenge brought by Abbott Laboratories, the National Advertising Division determined that Kendal Nutricare Limited substantiated certain claims about the use of whole milk in its Kendamil infant formula, but recommended that the company modify or discontinue other claims regarding nutritional benefits, ingredients, and heritage. NAD found that Kendal's whole milk ingredient claims were supported, but it recommended discontinuing the claim that competing formulas lose "natural milk fats and important nutrients" because it implied nutritional inferiority without evidence. The division also recommended discontinuing claims that Kendamil's whole milk keeps natural fats closer to breast milk and that its HMO blend supports immune health, as the evidence did not fit those product-specific claims. Additionally, NAD advised Kendal to modify or discontinue heritage claims like "Est. 1962" and "60 years of experience" to clarify they refer to the manufacturing facility, not the brand's age. Kendal stated it will comply with NAD's recommendations.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Abbott Laboratories' Libre Duo 10 Day Continuous Dual Glucose Ketone Monitoring System for diabetes patients aged two and older, making it the first wearable in the U.S. to continuously monitor ketone levels and the first global system to track blood sugar and ketones simultaneously in a single unit. The agency granted marketing authorization via the De Novo pathway for new low-to-moderate-risk devices, following a review of six clinical studies involving over 600 participants that demonstrated accurate tracking of clinically significant ketone variations. The sensor, which offers up to 10 days of wear, alerts users when ketones rise, replacing single-point urine or blood tests. Abbott is working with pump companies to integrate the sensor with automated insulin delivery systems, expecting compatibility with iLet from Beta Bionics Inc and twiist from Sequel Med Tech by the end of this year, and with systems from Insulet Corp and Tandem Diabetes Care Inc by 2027, alongside an exclusive integration with MiniMedGroup Inc for smart dosing systems. William Blair analyst Brandon Vazquez noted the clearance may create a new competitive dynamic for DexCom Inc shares, with the sensor likely most competitive in the pediatric population once integrated with AID pumps next year.

Abbott announced it has received CE Mark for its next-generation Amulet 360 Left Atrial Appendage Occluder, designed to reduce stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The device, which seals the left atrial appendage to prevent blood clots, builds on Abbott's first-generation LAA occluder with a softer, more conformable lobe and smaller anchors to treat a wider range of anatomies. Clinical data from the VERITAS Study, involving 400 patients at over 30 hospitals, showed successful implantation in 99.8% of patients, no early complications, and complete closure in 93.9% of patients at 45 days. The first European procedures were completed in Germany and Denmark, with broader rollout planned in coming weeks. This approval marks Abbott's fourth major electrophysiology approval in just over a year, following the Volt PFA System and TactiFlex Duo.

The global atrial fibrillation treatment devices market is projected to grow from USD 9.6 billion in 2026 to USD 29.0 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 13.1%, according to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The market expansion is driven by the rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation, an aging population, and increasing adoption of advanced ablation and left atrial appendage closure technologies. Ablation catheters are expected to account for approximately 75% of market revenue, while the left atrial appendage closure segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4%, the fastest among device types. Pulsed field ablation is forecast to generate more than 60% of total market revenue by 2035. North America is projected to retain close to 50% of global revenue, while Asia-Pacific is expected to register the fastest regional growth. Key players include Abbott, AtriCure, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic.

Abbott Laboratories and Thermo Fisher Scientific both reported encouraging quarterly results, with Abbott's diagnostics segment sales rising 42% to $3.09 billion in fiscal Q2, surpassing the estimate of $3.02 billion. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Thermo Fisher's organic revenue increased 5%, signaling a potential recovery in life sciences spending. Thermo Fisher's management highlighted improving customer activity across pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets, and its Analytical Instruments business returned to growth after nearly two years of weak demand. Abbott's diversified portfolio across diagnostics, medical devices, and nutrition provides resilience, while Thermo Fisher's outlook depends more heavily on continued recovery in pharmaceutical and biotechnology spending.

Abbott Laboratories has agreed to resolve the Gill case and about 2,000 related necrotizing enterocolitis claims linked to its preterm infant formulas for roughly US$670 million. The settlement reframes investors' view of the company's legal overhang, and the stock has rebounded sharply, rising 13.18% over 30 days and 33.44% over 90 days. At a last close of $116.64, Abbott is framed as slightly undervalued versus a narrative fair value of $119.13, though its 37.4x P/E is above the US Medical Equipment industry average of 27.4x. Risks remain around pricing pressure in diagnostics and potential margin strain from tariffs and foreign exchange.

MiniMed Group announced on August 17 that its MiniMed Flex automated insulin delivery system is now commercially shipping in the U.S., integrated with Abbott Laboratories' Instinct continuous glucose sensor. The system pairs MiniMed's smallest, only app-controlled insulin pump with Abbott's world's-smallest 15-day sensor, holds 300 units of insulin, and connects to a 7-day Extended infusion set. Real-world data shows the system reaches 80% Time in Range and over 90% overnight. Abbott reported $12.6 billion in quarterly revenue for Q2 2026, a 13.0% reported growth rate, and raised full-year EPS guidance to $5.45–$5.60. MiniMed, with a market cap of roughly $5.67 billion, is scheduled to report fiscal Q1 2027 results on September 1, 2026.

Avricore Health's subsidiary HealthTab has signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Abbott to supply and distribute Abbott's point-of-care testing products through the HealthTab platform in the UK. The agreement allows HealthTab to distribute Abbott's Afinion 2 Analyzer in NHS-linked pharmacies to test for HbA1c and lipid profiles, and establishes a framework for expanding point-of-care testing through community pharmacies. CEO Rodger Seccombe called it the company's most significant milestone to date, citing fifteen years of building the pharmacy-based testing model and the need for an industry-leading partner. HealthTab provides a turnkey solution including instruments, consumables, onboarding, training, and a secure cloud-based platform connecting analyzers, patient results, QC data, and pharmacist workflows. The platform's quality program, run with reference laboratory CEQAL, includes centralized lot monitoring, internal quality control, and external quality-assessment events to ensure accurate and traceable results.

Abbott Laboratories and Intuitive Surgical both reported strong fiscal second quarter 2026 results, with Abbott beating estimates and raising its annual profit forecast while Intuitive Surgical also topped consensus on revenue and earnings. Abbott's sales rose 13% on a reported basis and 4.8% on a comparable basis, driven by a 42% jump in diagnostics revenue to $3.09 billion, while Intuitive Surgical's revenue grew 19% to $2.89 billion with adjusted EPS of $2.80 exceeding expectations by $0.30. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Intuitive Surgical kept its 2026 da Vinci procedure growth outlook at 13.5% to 15.5% and warned that tariffs could materially affect margins. Hedge fund ownership data showed Abbott's count rising from 71 to 73 and Intuitive Surgical's falling from 109 to 103 between the two quarters.

Abbott Laboratories' Medical Devices business continues to be one of the company's strongest growth engines, supported by accelerating momentum in electrophysiology, continued adoption of cardiovascular technologies and the large long-term opportunity in continuous glucose monitoring. The company launched the next-generation Volt PFA catheter in the United States in May and expects to move from a limited release to a full commercial launch in the coming quarters. Abbott estimates that roughly 75-80 million people globally could realistically use CGM technology compared with only about 15 million users today, giving the company considerable runway. Abbott received CE Mark for Libre Duo in the second quarter and plans to begin its international rollout in fall 2026. The cardiovascular pipeline acts as an additional growth catalyst, with clinical programs for a balloon-expandable TAVR valve, a leadless conduction-system pacing device based on AVEIR, a Cephea mitral replacement valve and a peripheral IVL device supporting growth into 2029 and beyond.

Abbott Laboratories and Alphabet announced a multi-year partnership on August 11 to embed data from Abbott's non-prescription Lingo biowearable directly into the Google Health app, combining real-time metabolic insights with Google's AI Health Coach for personalized nutrition, sleep, and recovery recommendations. Abbott reported second-quarter 2026 sales of $12.59 billion, up 13.0% reported, with adjusted diluted EPS of $1.31 and raised full-year EPS guidance to $5.45–$5.60, while Alphabet's revenue spiked 24% year-over-year to $119.8 billion and Google Cloud revenue surged 82% on Gemini model adoption. Hedge fund interest diverged, with 73 funds holding Abbott shares in Q1 2026, up from 71, while Alphabet holdings dipped to 201 funds from 203. Investors will watch whether the Lingo-Google Health integration drives user retention for Abbott and whether Google can translate consumer health engagement into enterprise healthcare wins.

Abbott Laboratories' Established Pharmaceuticals Division reported second-quarter 2026 sales growth of 8.4% on a reported basis and 8.7% on a comparable basis, driven by strong performance in emerging markets. Key Emerging Markets delivered 10.7% comparable sales growth, with double-digit gains across several countries in Latin America and Asia Pacific. The company is expanding its biosimilar pipeline to broaden the division's product portfolio and sustain high-single-digit sales growth over the long term. Abbott shares have fallen 14.3% over the past year, and the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Abbott Laboratories and Google Health announced a multi-year partnership to integrate Abbott's Lingo biowearable glucose data with Google's AI-driven consumer health tools. The collaboration aims to feed continuous glucose monitoring insights into the Google Health app to support personalized metabolic health tracking and coaching. The companies plan to run one of the largest real-world metabolic health studies using anonymized Lingo data combined with Google's AI capabilities. The agreement is positioned to support Abbott's role in personalized wellness and wearables by linking its sensor technology with widely used digital health platforms.

The global whey protein market is projected to grow from USD 12.58 billion in 2024 to USD 26.04 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate of 7.56 percent, according to a new report from Custom Market Insights. The market is expected to reach USD 13.52 billion in 2025. Key players include Abbott, Arla Foods, Glanbia plc, Nestle S.A., and Danone's Nutricia. Growth drivers include rising demand for clean-label products, ready-to-drink beverages, personalized nutrition, and expansion of e-commerce.

Abbott Laboratories beat fiscal second-quarter estimates and raised its full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60, up from $5.38 to $5.58, driven by a 42% surge in diagnostics sales to $3.09 billion. Medtronic reported its highest annual revenue growth in ten years, with fiscal 2026 revenue reaching $36.4 billion, up 8.4% as reported, as newer platforms like Symplicity Spyral, now annualizing at approximately $100 million, gained traction. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth outlook of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Medtronic faces an estimated $250 million tariff headwind in fiscal 2027. Hedge fund ownership of Abbott rose to 73 funds in the first quarter of 2026, while Medtronic's declined to 60.

Johnson & Johnson raised its full-year sales guidance to a midpoint of $101.1 billion, up from $100.8 billion previously, following fiscal second-quarter results that beat estimates. The healthcare giant reported quarterly sales of $25.31 billion, above the $25.05 billion average analyst estimate, with adjusted earnings per share of $2.90 versus the $2.85 expectation. Its pharmaceutical unit generated $16.38 billion in sales, exceeding the $16.1 billion estimate, driven by a 72.5% surge in Tremfya sales to $2 billion, which helped offset a more than 55% drop in Stelara revenue to $740 million due to patent loss. The company also raised its adjusted earnings per share forecast to $11.68 at the midpoint from $11.55. Abbott Laboratories, which also beat quarterly estimates and raised its annual profit forecast, saw its diagnostics segment rise 42% to $3.09 billion, while reaffirming its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%.

Abbott Laboratories has completed a share repurchase tranche totaling approximately $1.35 billion, buying back 14,015,097 shares, including 11,599,094 shares between April and June 2026. The company's shares last closed at $107.81, with a 27.86% gain over the past 90 days, though year-to-date and one-year total shareholder returns are down 13.19% and 17.86%, respectively. Recent drivers include the completed buyback and the April acquisition of Exact Sciences, alongside lower 2026 guidance linked to earnings dilution from that deal. A popular narrative places Abbott's fair value at $119.13, suggesting the stock may be undervalued, while risks include pricing pressure in diagnostics and glucose monitoring, as well as potential earnings drag from tariffs and foreign exchange moves.

Boston Scientific lowered its 2026 sales and earnings outlook, citing slower WATCHMAN demand, U.S. electrophysiology share losses, and limited operating leverage. The company now expects reported sales growth of 5.5 to 6.5 percent, down from a prior range of 7 to 8.5 percent, while organic sales growth guidance fell to 5 to 6 percent from 6.5 to 8 percent. Adjusted earnings per share are now seen at $3.28 to $3.32, below the previous $3.34 to $3.41. The third-quarter outlook also points to a sharper slowdown, with reported and organic sales growth of 3 to 5 percent and adjusted earnings of 80 to 82 cents per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. Management expects lower WATCHMAN and electrophysiology sales to weaken product mix and push full-year adjusted gross margin below the 2025 level, while adjusted operating margin expansion is now forecast at 0 to 25 basis points, down from 50 to 75 basis points. Key recovery catalysts, including FARAWAVE Ultra and intracardiac echocardiography products, are not expected until the second half of 2027, leaving the company exposed to rivals such as Abbott Laboratories, which reaffirmed 6.5 to 7.5 percent comparable sales growth guidance for 2026. A restructuring program targeting about $500 million in run-rate savings exiting 2029 is expected to deliver more than half of the savings and related spending by the end of 2027, but near-term revenue growth is forecast below the weighted average market growth rate with limited adjusted earnings growth in 2027. Shares of Boston Scientific have gained 3.7 percent since the second-quarter earnings announcement, outperforming the industry's 1.5 percent decline, though the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of 5, or Strong Sell.

Novartis, Abbott Laboratories, and Visa are highlighted as three dividend stocks capable of sustaining consistent payout growth over the long term. Novartis is navigating the largest patent expiry in its history, yet second-quarter net sales rose 3% year over year to $14.4 billion, supported by newer products like Kesimpta and Fabhalta, and it has increased dividends for 29 consecutive years with a forward yield of 3%. Abbott Laboratories, a Dividend King with at least 50 straight annual payout increases, is seeing strength in its medical device segment led by the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring franchise and has bolstered its diagnostics unit through an acquisition in cancer diagnostics. Visa, which has raised its dividend every year since going public in 2008, continues to grow revenue and earnings while leveraging its vast network and integrating buy-now-pay-later capabilities to fend off competition and legal challenges.

Abbott Laboratories, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and Johnson & Johnson each reported record quarterly sales and raised guidance in the latest earnings cycle. Abbott posted an all-time high of $12.6 billion in sales, up 13% year-over-year, and lifted its adjusted EPS forecast. Taiwan Semiconductor recorded $40.2 billion in revenue, a 33% increase, and raised its full-year revenue growth outlook to roughly 40%. Johnson & Johnson achieved a new quarterly record of $25.3 billion in sales, up 6.6%, and increased both its fiscal-year sales and adjusted EPS guidance, putting it on track to surpass $100 billion in annual revenue for the first time.

Abbott Laboratories is leaning into three of healthcare's most durable innovation themes: continuous glucose monitoring, oncology diagnostics and advanced cardiovascular treatment. Continuous glucose monitoring sales exceeded $2 billion in the second quarter of 2026 and grew 9.5% on a comparable basis, supported by the scale and adoption of FreeStyle Libre. Cancer Diagnostics sales totaled $919 million in the second quarter and grew 13.3% on a comparable basis, while Electrophysiology grew 13.4% on a comparable basis. The company also secured CE Mark for Libre Duo, a dual glucose-ketone wearable sensor, and expects Volt PFA, TactiFlex Duo, Amulet 360 and coronary intravascular lithotripsy launches to broaden its cardiovascular opportunity over the next 12 months. Abbott currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), along with a VGM Score of C, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of A.

Abbott Laboratories raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60, up from the prior $5.38 to $5.58, following fiscal second-quarter results that beat estimates. Sales in the diagnostics segment, which includes the recently acquired Exact Sciences colorectal cancer screening test Cologuard, rose 42% to $3.09 billion, surpassing the $3.02 billion estimate and emerging as the quarter's strongest performer. The company reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%, while worldwide nutrition sales fell 3.1% on a reported basis, though they improved sequentially by $127 million from the first quarter. William Blair reiterated an Outperform rating, noting that the diagnostics results should improve sentiment around the Exact Sciences acquisition and that growth in medical devices helps offset concerns about hospital procedure volumes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Freenome's SimpleScreen CRC, a blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer in adults 45 and older at average risk, with Abbott set to exclusively commercialize the test in the U.S. this fall. The approval triggers a $100 million milestone payment from Abbott to Freenome under their August 2025 commercial agreement. In the PREEMPT CRC study, the largest prospective validation study for a blood-based colorectal cancer screening test, SimpleScreen CRC demonstrated 81.1% sensitivity for colorectal cancer and 90.4% specificity for advanced colorectal neoplasia. The test meets Medicare coverage criteria and is expected to be incorporated into American Cancer Society guidelines by name, expanding access for up to 60 million Americans who are overdue for screening. Freenome plans to include SimpleScreen CRC in its broader SimpleScreen portfolio while advancing additional single- and multi-cancer tests on the same multiomics platform.

General Motors, Abbott Laboratories, and Johnson & Johnson all raised their full-year guidance following strong second-quarter earnings reports. General Motors posted a 14% earnings per share beat on sales of $48.0 billion and lifted its adjusted EBIT, adjusted EPS, and automotive operating cash flow outlook for the second time this year. Abbott Laboratories reported adjusted EPS of $1.31 on $12.6 billion in sales and raised its adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45–$5.60 while reaffirming its comparable sales forecast. Johnson & Johnson beat on both top and bottom lines for the ninth consecutive quarter and increased its sales and adjusted EPS guidance, putting it on track to surpass $100 billion in annual revenue for the first time in its history.

Abbott Laboratories reported quarterly earnings with higher year-over-year sales but lower net income and earnings per share, sharpening focus on upcoming estimates. The most followed narrative points to a fair value of $116.54 per share, implying the stock is 13.7% undervalued relative to its last close of $100.57. This valuation is anchored on long-term earnings and cash flow assumptions, including robust growth in branded generics and biosimilars driven by expanding healthcare access in emerging markets such as India, China, Latin America, and the Middle East. However, sustained pressure from China volume-based procurement or softer diagnostic utilization could challenge the earnings path. The stock has rallied 12.66% over the past seven days and 14.51% over the past 30 days, contrasting with a year-to-date decline of 19.02%.

The global electrophysiology market is projected to grow from USD 12.89 billion in 2025 to USD 43.05 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 12.79%, according to a new report by SNS Insider. Ablation catheters held the largest product segment share at 46.82% in 2025, while pulse field ablation is the fastest-growing segment with a CAGR of 17.64%. North America led the market with a 42.37% revenue share in 2025, and the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest at a 14.44% CAGR through 2035. Key companies include Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Boston Scientific, and Philips Healthcare.

Abbott Laboratories raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance and signaled accelerating momentum across key businesses. The company now expects adjusted EPS of $5.45 to $5.60, up from $5.38 to $5.58, after second-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share beat estimates. CEO Robert Ford said about 80% of the expected second-half lift should come from Nutrition, Electrophysiology, Core Laboratory and Cancer Diagnostics. Management highlighted improving nutrition trends, new electrophysiology launches, steadier diagnostics demand and a larger reimbursement runway in diabetes care. Abbott reaffirmed comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%.

Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, dragged down by technology stocks, as investors assessed second-quarter earnings and a batch of economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% to 52,553.32, the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.5% to 25,881.95, and the S&P 500 lost 0.5% to 7,533.77. Among the S&P 500's 11 sectors, the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR fell 2.9%, the Information Technology Select Sector SPDR dropped 1.8%, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR slipped 0.3%, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR rose 2.9%. The CBOE Volatility Index increased 6.8% to 16.73. In earnings, UnitedHealth Group reported second-quarter earnings of $6.38 per share on revenues of $112.03 billion, Abbott Laboratories posted earnings of $1.31 per share on revenues of $12.59 billion, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services earned $1.91 per share on revenues of $3.5 billion, with all three beating estimates and their stocks rising 1.2%, 10.7%, and 8%, respectively. On the economic front, retail sales rose 0.2% in June, pending home sales fell 5.4%, initial jobless claims dropped to 208,000, and the Philly Fed Index surged to 41.1.