Abbott announced robust second-quarter 2026 financial results, reporting a 13.0 percent increase in reported sales and 4.8 percent on a comparable basis. GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter was $0.53, while adjusted diluted EPS, excluding specified items, reached $1.31. In response to this strong performance, Abbott raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60, an increase from its prior forecast of $5.38 to $5.58. The company also reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%.
Key drivers of growth in the second quarter included Worldwide Medical Devices, which saw sales increase 9.0 percent on a reported basis and 8.4 percent comparably, with Electrophysiology leading with low-teens growth and Diabetes Care growing 11.0 percent (reported) and 9.5 percent (comparable) for continuous glucose monitors. Worldwide Diagnostics sales surged 42.3 percent on a reported basis, though comparable sales growth was 2.9 percent, driven by strong core laboratory diagnostics in the U.S. and Latin America. Additionally, Cancer Diagnostics benefited from mid-teens growth of Cologuard.
Despite overall positive results, Worldwide Nutrition sales decreased 3.1 percent reported and 3.6 percent comparably, reflecting lower sales volumes and strategic pricing actions from late 2025, although sequential sales increased by $127 million compared to the first quarter of 2026. Established Pharmaceuticals showed solid growth, increasing 8.4 percent reported and 8.7 percent comparably. Abbott returned $2.1 billion to shareholders during the quarter through dividends and share repurchases, and it declared its 410th consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share.
Robert B. Ford, Chairman and CEO, commented that the second-quarter results demonstrate building momentum that is expected to continue, driving accelerating sales and earnings growth in the second half of the year. He had previously expressed optimism about the Exact Sciences deal, which contributed to cancer diagnostics and was anticipated to add about $3 billion in incremental sales in 2026. This revised guidance reflects a more positive outlook compared to earlier in the year when the company had trimmed its profit forecast due to the impact of the Exact Sciences acquisition.
