Why Was Abbott Stock Down on Oct 22, 2026?
Abbott fell 1.89% on October 21, 2026 after it lowered its 2026 sales growth forecast to about 6.0% and announced a spin-off of its $8.5 billion nutrition business. Third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.42 matched forecasts.
- Abbott fell 1.89% to $100.51 on October 21, 2026, after third-quarter results and a planned nutrition spin-off.
- It lowered its 2026 comparable sales growth forecast to about 6.0% from 6.5% to 7.5%, and kept its EPS midpoint.
- Electrophysiology growth is now expected at about 20% in the fourth quarter, down from about 25%.
Abbott Laboratories stock fell 1.89% to $100.51 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, after the company lowered its 2026 sales growth forecast and announced a plan to spin off its nutrition business. Third-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.42 matched forecasts, and Abbott kept the midpoint of its full-year EPS forecast, but it now expects comparable sales growth of about 6.0% this year, down from 6.5% to 7.5%.
The results reached the MoveSurge news feed at 07:31:07 ET, before the market opened. ABT went from $100.50 to $101.00 in the first minute, a gain of 0.50%, then fell to $99.00 fourteen minutes later, a drop of 1.49%.
| Third quarter 2026 | Sales | Reported growth | Comparable growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Abbott | $13.01 billion | 14.5% | 7.0% |
| Medical Devices | $5.83 billion | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| Diagnostics | $3.31 billion | 46.7% | 6.4% |
| Nutrition | $2.26 billion | 5.1% | 4.9% |
| Established Pharmaceuticals | $1.61 billion | 6.8% | 8.4% |
Why the sales forecast came down
Abbott narrowed its 2026 adjusted EPS forecast to $5.50 to $5.55 from $5.45 to $5.60, which keeps the midpoint, while the comparable sales growth forecast fell to about 6.0%. On the call, the company said it now expects electrophysiology, its heart-rhythm business, to grow about 20% in the fourth quarter instead of about 25%, because some customers paused orders while they wait for a newer device. It expects diabetes care to grow in the low to mid single digits for several quarters, slower than before, because of pricing outside the United States and slower reimbursement. Comparable growth leaves out acquisitions and currency effects, and reported diagnostics growth of 46.7% includes Exact Sciences, which Abbott bought in March 2026.
The nutrition spin-off
The nutrition business has about $8.5 billion in annual sales and makes Similac, PediaSure, Pedialyte, Glucerna and Ensure. Abbott plans to hand its shares to Abbott shareholders in a tax-free distribution and expects to finish by the end of 2027. The new company does not have a name yet, and Daniel Salvadori, who runs Abbott's established pharmaceuticals and nutrition businesses, will lead it. Chief executive Robert Ford said the lawsuits over formula for premature infants do not have to be resolved before the separation. More detail on the spin-off and the quarter is on our Abbott third-quarter 2026 earnings page.
Earlier: the September infant formula settlement
On September 14, 2026, the Justice Department announced that Abbott agreed to pay $384,999,040 to settle False Claims Act allegations over powdered infant formula made at its Sturgis, Michigan and Casa Grande, Arizona plants. The settlement contained no finding of liability, and Abbott did not admit wrongdoing.
Why was Abbott stock down on Oct 22, 2026?
Abbott fell 1.89% to $100.51 on October 21, 2026 after it lowered its 2026 comparable sales growth forecast to about 6.0% from 6.5% to 7.5% and announced a plan to spin off its nutrition business. Third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.42 matched forecasts.
What is Abbott's 2026 guidance?
Abbott expects 2026 adjusted EPS of $5.50 to $5.55, narrowed from $5.45 to $5.60, and comparable sales growth of about 6.0%, down from 6.5% to 7.5%.
When will Abbott spin off its nutrition business?
Abbott expects to complete the tax-free spin-off by the end of 2027. The new company, with about $8.5 billion in annual sales, will be led by Daniel Salvadori.
Sources
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Abbott reports third-quarter 2026 results and reaffirms full-year EPS guidance
— Abbott
Sales of $13.01 billion, reported and comparable growth by segment, adjusted EPS of $1.42, the narrowed EPS forecast and the 6.0% comparable sales growth forecast.
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Abbott third-quarter 2026 results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1)
— Abbott via SEC EDGAR
The filed copy of the third-quarter 2026 results release.
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Abbott announces plan to separate its nutrition business (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1)
— Abbott via SEC EDGAR
Nutrition business of about $8.5 billion in annual sales, tax-free distribution and completion by the end of 2027.
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Abbott reports third-quarter 2026 results (segment detail)
— StockTitan
Segment sales and growth rates for Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Nutrition and Established Pharmaceuticals.
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Abbott beats revenue estimates, shares slide amid planned nutrition unit spinoff
— Investing.com
Nutrition sales of $2.26 billion up 5.1%, and Daniel Salvadori as chief executive of the new company.
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Abbott Laboratories Q3 call highlights
— Yahoo Finance
Fourth-quarter electrophysiology growth now expected at about 20% instead of about 25%, and slower diabetes care growth.
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Abbott plans to spin off its nutrition business
— Bloomberg
The new nutrition company is still unnamed.
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