Capital Analysts LLC Boosts Stock Position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)

Capital Analysts LLC increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Free Report) by 3.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 88,675 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock after purchasing an additional 3,314 shares during the period. Capital Analysts LLC's holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $10,030,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. UP Strategic Wealth Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the fourth quarter worth $268,000. Three Seasons Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $1,428,000. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 287.9% in the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 970,705 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $109,797,000 after buying an additional 720,451 shares during the period. Topsail Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the fourth quarter worth about $357,000. Finally, Empire Financial Management Company LLC increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Empire Financial Management Company LLC now owns 39,326 shares of the healthcare product maker's stock valued at $4,448,000 after acquiring an additional 533 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.18% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, EVP Lisa D. Earnhardt sold 91,167 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.82, for a total transaction of $12,199,967.94. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 71,928 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,625,404.96. This trade represents a 55.90 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Daniel Gesua Sive Salvadori sold 23,771 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.50, for a total value of $3,054,573.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 125,697 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,152,064.50. This represents a 15.90 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 116,449 shares of company stock valued at $15,463,316. Company insiders own 0.46% of the company's stock.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of ABT stock traded up $1.02 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $130.55. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,315,246 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,068,306. The business has a fifty day moving average of $130.49 and a 200-day moving average of $122.60. The company has a market cap of $226.42 billion, a PE ratio of 17.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.80. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $99.71 and a 52 week high of $141.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.38 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.74% and a net margin of 31.95%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be issued a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 15th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.81%. Abbott Laboratories's payout ratio is currently 30.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ABT has been the subject of several research reports. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories to $136.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. UBS Group upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $146.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $138.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Piper Sandler reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $145.00 price objective (up from $133.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $142.59.

Abbott Laboratories Profile

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.