Abbott Laboratories Posts Big Drop in COVID-19 Testing Revenue

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Abbott Laboratories Posts Big Drop in COVID-19 Testing Revenue

Key Takeaways

  • Sales at Abbott Laboratories’ diagnostics unit dropped in the second quarter as demand for COVID-19 tests slumped.
  • The company beat profit and sales estimates on strong sales of its medical devices.
  • Abbott raised its full-year profit and organic sales growth outlooks.

Shares of Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) declined in intraday trading Thursday as the healthcare products maker’s sales of COVID-19 tests slumped with the pandemic ending.

The company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS ) of $1.14, with revenue rising 4% year-over-year to $10.38 billion. Both beat estimates.

The results were boosted by sales at Abbott’s medical devices segment, which were up 10.2% to $4.73 billion. Diabetes care product sales, which include those for its popular Freestyle Libre glucose-monitoring device, jumped 15.8% to $1.65 billion.

However, sales at its diagnostics unit fell 5.3% to $2.20 billion as COVID-19 test revenue slumped to $102 million from $263 million a year ago.

‘Positive Momentum Heading Into the Second Half’

Chief Executive Officer (CEO ) Robert Ford said Abbott has “a lot of positive momentum heading into the second half of the year,” and that’s why it is raising its full-year guidance.

The company now sees 2024 adjusted EPS of $4.61 to $4.71, up from the earlier outlook of $4.55 to $4.70. It also raised the bottom of its organic sales growth range forecast, excluding COVID-19-related testing sales, to 9.5% to 10.0% from the previous guidance of 8.5% to 10.0%.

Abbott Laboratories shares were down 3.5% as of 1:55 p.m. ET Thursday to $101.04, near their lows for the year.