Checking the ABT stock price today feels a bit like watching a marathon runner catch their breath. As of the market close on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) wrapped up the day at $125.00. That’s a modest gain of about 0.56% from yesterday's finish. Honestly, it's not the kind of explosive move that makes headlines, but for a $217 billion healthcare giant, it’s a steady pulse in a market that’s been acting a little jittery lately.
Investors have been keeping a close eye on the $123 to $125 range. Throughout the trading session, the stock hit a high of $125.09 and dipped as low as $122.99. Volume was healthy, with over 7.1 million shares changing hands, which is a step up from the typical average. But the real story isn't just today's decimal points; it's the massive $23 billion cloud hanging over the ticker: the proposed acquisition of Exact Sciences.
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Why the Market is Acting Weird About ABT
If you're wondering why the stock is sitting closer to its 52-week low ($110.86) than its high ($141.23), you've got to look at the "deal math." Abbott is trying to swallow Exact Sciences for $105 per share in cash. It's a bold move to dominate the cancer diagnostics space, but Wall Street is currently doing that annoying thing where they worry about the cost today instead of the profit tomorrow.
Management already warned that this deal is going to be "dilutive." Basically, that’s corporate speak for "our earnings per share (EPS) are going to take a hit." They’re projecting a 20-cent drag on EPS for 2026. Because of that, some big names like Goldman Sachs have been trimming their price targets, recently nudging theirs down to $152.
But then you have the optimists. Analysts at Bernstein actually bumped their target to $154. They see the long game. They know that once the COVID-testing money finally dries up for good, Abbott needs a new engine. Cancer screening is that engine.
The Dividend Clock is Ticking
You’ve probably heard that Abbott is a "Dividend King." They've raised their payout for decades. If you’re holding shares—or thinking about it—tomorrow, January 15, is a massive date. It’s the ex-dividend date.
If you don't own the stock by the time the market opens tomorrow, you miss out on the upcoming $0.63 per share payout.
That $0.63 is actually a 6.7% bump from what they were paying last quarter. It brings the forward dividend yield to about 2.01%. In a world where tech stocks pay you nothing but "vibes" and "potential," getting a 2% check just for sitting there is a solid deal for the more conservative crowd.
The AI Wildcard: Libre Assist
Is it even 2026 if we aren't talking about AI? Abbott just launched something called "Libre Assist" in the U.S. It’s a generative AI feature tucked inside their FreeStyle Libre app. For people with diabetes, this is actually kind of a big deal. Instead of just looking at a graph of blood sugar levels and feeling confused, users can ask the app questions in plain English.
"How did that pizza affect me last night?"
The AI looks at the data and gives a real answer. This matters for the ABT stock price today because the Libre franchise is Abbott's crown jewel. It’s the growth engine. If AI makes the app "stickier"—meaning people are less likely to switch to a competitor—the long-term valuation of the company gets a serious floor.
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What the Smart Money is Doing
The "big boys" aren't exactly running for the exits.
- Norges Bank (the massive Norwegian sovereign wealth fund) recently plowed over $3 billion into a new stake.
- Vanguard and Invesco have also been topping off their tanks, adding millions of shares in the last quarter of 2025.
- Options traders were surprisingly aggressive today, buying nearly 93,000 call options. That usually suggests someone expects a pop sooner rather than later.
Maybe they're front-running the earnings report. Mark your calendars for January 22, 2026. That’s when Abbott drops its Q4 results. Analysts are looking for an EPS of around $1.50 and revenue near $11.79 billion. If they beat those numbers, that $125 price tag might look like a bargain in the rearview mirror.
Making Sense of the Numbers
Let's get real for a second. Investing in Abbott right now is a bet on the integration of Exact Sciences and the continued dominance of medical devices.
If the merger vote on February 20 goes smoothly, the uncertainty might finally lift. But if there’s drama with the Exact Sciences shareholders, expect some volatility. Currently, the stock trades at a forward P/E of about 15.6. Compared to some of its peers in the medical device sector that are trading at 20x or 30x earnings, Abbott looks "cheap." But it's cheap for a reason—the market is waiting to see if they can actually pull off this merger without stumbling.
Actionable Insights for Investors:
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- Watch the Ex-Date: If you want the February 13 dividend payment, you need to be a shareholder of record before the ex-dividend date on January 15.
- Earnings Volatility: Expect a swing on January 22. If the company provides "soft" guidance for 2026 due to the merger costs, the stock could test that $120 support level again.
- Long-Term Thesis: Look past the "dilution" talk. The move into oncology diagnostics through Exact Sciences is a 10-year play, not a 10-day play.
- Technical Levels: Keep an eye on the 200-day moving average, which is currently sitting around $129. If the stock can break and hold above $130, the "Moderate Buy" consensus from analysts might start to look more like a "Strong Buy."
Abbott is basically the "blue chip" of healthcare. It’s rarely the most exciting stock in the portfolio, but on days like today, its stability is exactly why people hold it.