Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories received FDA De Novo authorization for its Libre Duo 10 Day, the first dual glucose ketone monitoring wearable for U.S. patients, cleared for people with diabetes as young as age 2. The device supports real-time tracking of both glucose and ketone levels, aiming to help address diabetic ketoacidosis risk. Abbott plans to integrate Libre Duo 10 Day with leading insulin pump systems in the U.S. over the coming years, extending its FreeStyle Libre franchise into dual-analyte sensing and deeper software integration. The company, with a market cap of about $200.9 billion, sees this as part of its broader diagnostics and digital health offering, though analysts note potential pricing and reimbursement scrutiny and competition from Dexcom and Medtronic.

The global atrial fibrillation treatment devices market is projected to grow from USD 9.6 billion in 2026 to USD 29.0 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 13.1%, according to a new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The market expansion is driven by the rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation, an aging population, and increasing adoption of advanced ablation and left atrial appendage closure technologies. Ablation catheters are expected to account for approximately 75% of market revenue, while the left atrial appendage closure segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4%, the fastest among device types. Pulsed field ablation is forecast to generate more than 60% of total market revenue by 2035. North America is projected to retain close to 50% of global revenue, while Asia-Pacific is expected to register the fastest regional growth. Key players include Abbott, AtriCure, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic.

Abbott Laboratories and Thermo Fisher Scientific both reported encouraging quarterly results, with Abbott's diagnostics segment sales rising 42% to $3.09 billion in fiscal Q2, surpassing the estimate of $3.02 billion. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Thermo Fisher's organic revenue increased 5%, signaling a potential recovery in life sciences spending. Thermo Fisher's management highlighted improving customer activity across pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets, and its Analytical Instruments business returned to growth after nearly two years of weak demand. Abbott's diversified portfolio across diagnostics, medical devices, and nutrition provides resilience, while Thermo Fisher's outlook depends more heavily on continued recovery in pharmaceutical and biotechnology spending.

Abbott Laboratories has agreed to resolve the Gill case and about 2,000 related necrotizing enterocolitis claims linked to its preterm infant formulas for roughly US$670 million. The settlement reframes investors' view of the company's legal overhang, and the stock has rebounded sharply, rising 13.18% over 30 days and 33.44% over 90 days. At a last close of $116.64, Abbott is framed as slightly undervalued versus a narrative fair value of $119.13, though its 37.4x P/E is above the US Medical Equipment industry average of 27.4x. Risks remain around pricing pressure in diagnostics and potential margin strain from tariffs and foreign exchange.

MiniMed Group announced on August 17 that its MiniMed Flex automated insulin delivery system is now commercially shipping in the U.S., integrated with Abbott Laboratories' Instinct continuous glucose sensor. The system pairs MiniMed's smallest, only app-controlled insulin pump with Abbott's world's-smallest 15-day sensor, holds 300 units of insulin, and connects to a 7-day Extended infusion set. Real-world data shows the system reaches 80% Time in Range and over 90% overnight. Abbott reported $12.6 billion in quarterly revenue for Q2 2026, a 13.0% reported growth rate, and raised full-year EPS guidance to $5.45–$5.60. MiniMed, with a market cap of roughly $5.67 billion, is scheduled to report fiscal Q1 2027 results on September 1, 2026.

Avricore Health's subsidiary HealthTab has signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Abbott to supply and distribute Abbott's point-of-care testing products through the HealthTab platform in the UK. The agreement allows HealthTab to distribute Abbott's Afinion 2 Analyzer in NHS-linked pharmacies to test for HbA1c and lipid profiles, and establishes a framework for expanding point-of-care testing through community pharmacies. CEO Rodger Seccombe called it the company's most significant milestone to date, citing fifteen years of building the pharmacy-based testing model and the need for an industry-leading partner. HealthTab provides a turnkey solution including instruments, consumables, onboarding, training, and a secure cloud-based platform connecting analyzers, patient results, QC data, and pharmacist workflows. The platform's quality program, run with reference laboratory CEQAL, includes centralized lot monitoring, internal quality control, and external quality-assessment events to ensure accurate and traceable results.

Abbott Laboratories and Intuitive Surgical both reported strong fiscal second quarter 2026 results, with Abbott beating estimates and raising its annual profit forecast while Intuitive Surgical also topped consensus on revenue and earnings. Abbott's sales rose 13% on a reported basis and 4.8% on a comparable basis, driven by a 42% jump in diagnostics revenue to $3.09 billion, while Intuitive Surgical's revenue grew 19% to $2.89 billion with adjusted EPS of $2.80 exceeding expectations by $0.30. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Intuitive Surgical kept its 2026 da Vinci procedure growth outlook at 13.5% to 15.5% and warned that tariffs could materially affect margins. Hedge fund ownership data showed Abbott's count rising from 71 to 73 and Intuitive Surgical's falling from 109 to 103 between the two quarters.

Abbott Laboratories' Medical Devices business continues to be one of the company's strongest growth engines, supported by accelerating momentum in electrophysiology, continued adoption of cardiovascular technologies and the large long-term opportunity in continuous glucose monitoring. The company launched the next-generation Volt PFA catheter in the United States in May and expects to move from a limited release to a full commercial launch in the coming quarters. Abbott estimates that roughly 75-80 million people globally could realistically use CGM technology compared with only about 15 million users today, giving the company considerable runway. Abbott received CE Mark for Libre Duo in the second quarter and plans to begin its international rollout in fall 2026. The cardiovascular pipeline acts as an additional growth catalyst, with clinical programs for a balloon-expandable TAVR valve, a leadless conduction-system pacing device based on AVEIR, a Cephea mitral replacement valve and a peripheral IVL device supporting growth into 2029 and beyond.

Abbott Laboratories and Alphabet announced a multi-year partnership on August 11 to embed data from Abbott's non-prescription Lingo biowearable directly into the Google Health app, combining real-time metabolic insights with Google's AI Health Coach for personalized nutrition, sleep, and recovery recommendations. Abbott reported second-quarter 2026 sales of $12.59 billion, up 13.0% reported, with adjusted diluted EPS of $1.31 and raised full-year EPS guidance to $5.45–$5.60, while Alphabet's revenue spiked 24% year-over-year to $119.8 billion and Google Cloud revenue surged 82% on Gemini model adoption. Hedge fund interest diverged, with 73 funds holding Abbott shares in Q1 2026, up from 71, while Alphabet holdings dipped to 201 funds from 203. Investors will watch whether the Lingo-Google Health integration drives user retention for Abbott and whether Google can translate consumer health engagement into enterprise healthcare wins.

Abbott Laboratories' Established Pharmaceuticals Division reported second-quarter 2026 sales growth of 8.4% on a reported basis and 8.7% on a comparable basis, driven by strong performance in emerging markets. Key Emerging Markets delivered 10.7% comparable sales growth, with double-digit gains across several countries in Latin America and Asia Pacific. The company is expanding its biosimilar pipeline to broaden the division's product portfolio and sustain high-single-digit sales growth over the long term. Abbott shares have fallen 14.3% over the past year, and the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Abbott Laboratories and Google Health announced a multi-year partnership to integrate Abbott's Lingo biowearable glucose data with Google's AI-driven consumer health tools. The collaboration aims to feed continuous glucose monitoring insights into the Google Health app to support personalized metabolic health tracking and coaching. The companies plan to run one of the largest real-world metabolic health studies using anonymized Lingo data combined with Google's AI capabilities. The agreement is positioned to support Abbott's role in personalized wellness and wearables by linking its sensor technology with widely used digital health platforms.

The global whey protein market is projected to grow from USD 12.58 billion in 2024 to USD 26.04 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate of 7.56 percent, according to a new report from Custom Market Insights. The market is expected to reach USD 13.52 billion in 2025. Key players include Abbott, Arla Foods, Glanbia plc, Nestle S.A., and Danone's Nutricia. Growth drivers include rising demand for clean-label products, ready-to-drink beverages, personalized nutrition, and expansion of e-commerce.

Abbott Laboratories beat fiscal second-quarter estimates and raised its full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60, up from $5.38 to $5.58, driven by a 42% surge in diagnostics sales to $3.09 billion. Medtronic reported its highest annual revenue growth in ten years, with fiscal 2026 revenue reaching $36.4 billion, up 8.4% as reported, as newer platforms like Symplicity Spyral, now annualizing at approximately $100 million, gained traction. Abbott reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth outlook of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Medtronic faces an estimated $250 million tariff headwind in fiscal 2027. Hedge fund ownership of Abbott rose to 73 funds in the first quarter of 2026, while Medtronic's declined to 60.

Johnson & Johnson raised its full-year sales guidance to a midpoint of $101.1 billion, up from $100.8 billion previously, following fiscal second-quarter results that beat estimates. The healthcare giant reported quarterly sales of $25.31 billion, above the $25.05 billion average analyst estimate, with adjusted earnings per share of $2.90 versus the $2.85 expectation. Its pharmaceutical unit generated $16.38 billion in sales, exceeding the $16.1 billion estimate, driven by a 72.5% surge in Tremfya sales to $2 billion, which helped offset a more than 55% drop in Stelara revenue to $740 million due to patent loss. The company also raised its adjusted earnings per share forecast to $11.68 at the midpoint from $11.55. Abbott Laboratories, which also beat quarterly estimates and raised its annual profit forecast, saw its diagnostics segment rise 42% to $3.09 billion, while reaffirming its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%.

Abbott Laboratories has completed a share repurchase tranche totaling approximately $1.35 billion, buying back 14,015,097 shares, including 11,599,094 shares between April and June 2026. The company's shares last closed at $107.81, with a 27.86% gain over the past 90 days, though year-to-date and one-year total shareholder returns are down 13.19% and 17.86%, respectively. Recent drivers include the completed buyback and the April acquisition of Exact Sciences, alongside lower 2026 guidance linked to earnings dilution from that deal. A popular narrative places Abbott's fair value at $119.13, suggesting the stock may be undervalued, while risks include pricing pressure in diagnostics and glucose monitoring, as well as potential earnings drag from tariffs and foreign exchange moves.

Boston Scientific lowered its 2026 sales and earnings outlook, citing slower WATCHMAN demand, U.S. electrophysiology share losses, and limited operating leverage. The company now expects reported sales growth of 5.5 to 6.5 percent, down from a prior range of 7 to 8.5 percent, while organic sales growth guidance fell to 5 to 6 percent from 6.5 to 8 percent. Adjusted earnings per share are now seen at $3.28 to $3.32, below the previous $3.34 to $3.41. The third-quarter outlook also points to a sharper slowdown, with reported and organic sales growth of 3 to 5 percent and adjusted earnings of 80 to 82 cents per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents. Management expects lower WATCHMAN and electrophysiology sales to weaken product mix and push full-year adjusted gross margin below the 2025 level, while adjusted operating margin expansion is now forecast at 0 to 25 basis points, down from 50 to 75 basis points. Key recovery catalysts, including FARAWAVE Ultra and intracardiac echocardiography products, are not expected until the second half of 2027, leaving the company exposed to rivals such as Abbott Laboratories, which reaffirmed 6.5 to 7.5 percent comparable sales growth guidance for 2026. A restructuring program targeting about $500 million in run-rate savings exiting 2029 is expected to deliver more than half of the savings and related spending by the end of 2027, but near-term revenue growth is forecast below the weighted average market growth rate with limited adjusted earnings growth in 2027. Shares of Boston Scientific have gained 3.7 percent since the second-quarter earnings announcement, outperforming the industry's 1.5 percent decline, though the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of 5, or Strong Sell.

Novartis, Abbott Laboratories, and Visa are highlighted as three dividend stocks capable of sustaining consistent payout growth over the long term. Novartis is navigating the largest patent expiry in its history, yet second-quarter net sales rose 3% year over year to $14.4 billion, supported by newer products like Kesimpta and Fabhalta, and it has increased dividends for 29 consecutive years with a forward yield of 3%. Abbott Laboratories, a Dividend King with at least 50 straight annual payout increases, is seeing strength in its medical device segment led by the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring franchise and has bolstered its diagnostics unit through an acquisition in cancer diagnostics. Visa, which has raised its dividend every year since going public in 2008, continues to grow revenue and earnings while leveraging its vast network and integrating buy-now-pay-later capabilities to fend off competition and legal challenges.

Abbott Laboratories, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and Johnson & Johnson each reported record quarterly sales and raised guidance in the latest earnings cycle. Abbott posted an all-time high of $12.6 billion in sales, up 13% year-over-year, and lifted its adjusted EPS forecast. Taiwan Semiconductor recorded $40.2 billion in revenue, a 33% increase, and raised its full-year revenue growth outlook to roughly 40%. Johnson & Johnson achieved a new quarterly record of $25.3 billion in sales, up 6.6%, and increased both its fiscal-year sales and adjusted EPS guidance, putting it on track to surpass $100 billion in annual revenue for the first time.

Abbott Laboratories is leaning into three of healthcare's most durable innovation themes: continuous glucose monitoring, oncology diagnostics and advanced cardiovascular treatment. Continuous glucose monitoring sales exceeded $2 billion in the second quarter of 2026 and grew 9.5% on a comparable basis, supported by the scale and adoption of FreeStyle Libre. Cancer Diagnostics sales totaled $919 million in the second quarter and grew 13.3% on a comparable basis, while Electrophysiology grew 13.4% on a comparable basis. The company also secured CE Mark for Libre Duo, a dual glucose-ketone wearable sensor, and expects Volt PFA, TactiFlex Duo, Amulet 360 and coronary intravascular lithotripsy launches to broaden its cardiovascular opportunity over the next 12 months. Abbott currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), along with a VGM Score of C, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of A.

Abbott Laboratories raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60, up from the prior $5.38 to $5.58, following fiscal second-quarter results that beat estimates. Sales in the diagnostics segment, which includes the recently acquired Exact Sciences colorectal cancer screening test Cologuard, rose 42% to $3.09 billion, surpassing the $3.02 billion estimate and emerging as the quarter's strongest performer. The company reaffirmed its full-year comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%, while worldwide nutrition sales fell 3.1% on a reported basis, though they improved sequentially by $127 million from the first quarter. William Blair reiterated an Outperform rating, noting that the diagnostics results should improve sentiment around the Exact Sciences acquisition and that growth in medical devices helps offset concerns about hospital procedure volumes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Freenome's SimpleScreen CRC, a blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer in adults 45 and older at average risk, with Abbott set to exclusively commercialize the test in the U.S. this fall. The approval triggers a $100 million milestone payment from Abbott to Freenome under their August 2025 commercial agreement. In the PREEMPT CRC study, the largest prospective validation study for a blood-based colorectal cancer screening test, SimpleScreen CRC demonstrated 81.1% sensitivity for colorectal cancer and 90.4% specificity for advanced colorectal neoplasia. The test meets Medicare coverage criteria and is expected to be incorporated into American Cancer Society guidelines by name, expanding access for up to 60 million Americans who are overdue for screening. Freenome plans to include SimpleScreen CRC in its broader SimpleScreen portfolio while advancing additional single- and multi-cancer tests on the same multiomics platform.

General Motors, Abbott Laboratories, and Johnson & Johnson all raised their full-year guidance following strong second-quarter earnings reports. General Motors posted a 14% earnings per share beat on sales of $48.0 billion and lifted its adjusted EBIT, adjusted EPS, and automotive operating cash flow outlook for the second time this year. Abbott Laboratories reported adjusted EPS of $1.31 on $12.6 billion in sales and raised its adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45–$5.60 while reaffirming its comparable sales forecast. Johnson & Johnson beat on both top and bottom lines for the ninth consecutive quarter and increased its sales and adjusted EPS guidance, putting it on track to surpass $100 billion in annual revenue for the first time in its history.

Abbott Laboratories reported quarterly earnings with higher year-over-year sales but lower net income and earnings per share, sharpening focus on upcoming estimates. The most followed narrative points to a fair value of $116.54 per share, implying the stock is 13.7% undervalued relative to its last close of $100.57. This valuation is anchored on long-term earnings and cash flow assumptions, including robust growth in branded generics and biosimilars driven by expanding healthcare access in emerging markets such as India, China, Latin America, and the Middle East. However, sustained pressure from China volume-based procurement or softer diagnostic utilization could challenge the earnings path. The stock has rallied 12.66% over the past seven days and 14.51% over the past 30 days, contrasting with a year-to-date decline of 19.02%.

The global electrophysiology market is projected to grow from USD 12.89 billion in 2025 to USD 43.05 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 12.79%, according to a new report by SNS Insider. Ablation catheters held the largest product segment share at 46.82% in 2025, while pulse field ablation is the fastest-growing segment with a CAGR of 17.64%. North America led the market with a 42.37% revenue share in 2025, and the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest at a 14.44% CAGR through 2035. Key companies include Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Boston Scientific, and Philips Healthcare.

Abbott Laboratories raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance and signaled accelerating momentum across key businesses. The company now expects adjusted EPS of $5.45 to $5.60, up from $5.38 to $5.58, after second-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share beat estimates. CEO Robert Ford said about 80% of the expected second-half lift should come from Nutrition, Electrophysiology, Core Laboratory and Cancer Diagnostics. Management highlighted improving nutrition trends, new electrophysiology launches, steadier diagnostics demand and a larger reimbursement runway in diabetes care. Abbott reaffirmed comparable sales growth guidance of 6.5% to 7.5%.

Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, dragged down by technology stocks, as investors assessed second-quarter earnings and a batch of economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% to 52,553.32, the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.5% to 25,881.95, and the S&P 500 lost 0.5% to 7,533.77. Among the S&P 500's 11 sectors, the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR fell 2.9%, the Information Technology Select Sector SPDR dropped 1.8%, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR slipped 0.3%, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR rose 2.9%. The CBOE Volatility Index increased 6.8% to 16.73. In earnings, UnitedHealth Group reported second-quarter earnings of $6.38 per share on revenues of $112.03 billion, Abbott Laboratories posted earnings of $1.31 per share on revenues of $12.59 billion, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services earned $1.91 per share on revenues of $3.5 billion, with all three beating estimates and their stocks rising 1.2%, 10.7%, and 8%, respectively. On the economic front, retail sales rose 0.2% in June, pending home sales fell 5.4%, initial jobless claims dropped to 208,000, and the Philly Fed Index surged to 41.1.

US stock futures are drifting lower as investors weigh tighter financial conditions against mixed global growth signals, with E-mini S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 contracts off by around 0.1% to 0.4%. A planned 25% US tariff on some Brazilian imports raises cost concerns for trade- and agriculture-linked companies, while US crude stockpiles and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve sit at multi-decade lows, potentially feeding through to fuel prices and household budgets. Among top movers, Abbott Laboratories jumped 10.71% after Q2 results eased medtech and nutrition worries, J.B. Hunt Transport Services climbed 8.01% on earnings and analyst target hikes, and FedEx Freight Holding Company gained 7.50% following fresh coverage highlighting freight sector momentum. On the losing side, AST SpaceMobile fell 17.04% after pricing US$1 billion of convertible notes, Nebius Group declined 13.90% on New York's hyperscale data center moratorium, and Bloom Energy dropped 13.64% amid short seller reports and scandium supply questions. Looking ahead, financials earnings from Fifth Third Bancorp, Truist Financial, Regions Financial, and Travelers Companies, along with global inflation readings including China Loan Prime Rate decisions and Canada CPI, will shape the next few sessions.

Biotech stocks surged Thursday, led by CareDx which soared over 35% after Medicare finalized a policy confirming coverage for its transplant surveillance portfolio, including AlloSure Kidney and AlloMap Heart, effective August 30, 2026. AtaiBeckley jumped more than 33% on news it will be acquired by Eli Lilly in a deal valued at up to $3.8 billion, comprising $2.8 billion in upfront cash and up to $1.0 billion in contingent value rights tied to milestones for its depression treatments BPL-003 and VLS-01. Abbott Laboratories gained over 10% after reporting second-quarter net sales of $12.6 billion, a 13% increase, and raising its full-year adjusted earnings per share outlook to a range of $5.45 to $5.60. Apollomics added another 21%, bringing its weekly gain to more than 60%, as its lead candidate Vebreltinib advances in a Phase 2 trial for clear cell sarcoma and the company regained Nasdaq compliance. Virax Biolabs rose 13% after its CEO highlighted a narrowed net loss of $5.0 million, a $3.3 million capital raise, and a supply agreement with Fosun Diagnostics, while Entera Bio climbed over 12% ahead of a planned Phase 3 trial for its oral osteoporosis tablet EB613.

U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq 100 falling to a one-week low, as chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks slumped. The S&P 500 closed down 0.51%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.20%, and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.62%. Weakness in semiconductor and cloud infrastructure names weighed on the market, while Alphabet fell more than 4% after reports that Google is months behind schedule on its most powerful AI model. In contrast, software stocks and trucking companies rallied, with JB Hunt Transport Services gaining over 8% on stronger-than-expected Q2 revenue and Abbott Laboratories surging more than 10% after raising its full-year adjusted EPS forecast. Hawkish Fed comments and stronger-than-expected economic data pushed bond yields higher, with the 10-year T-note yield rising 2 basis points to 4.57%.

Abbott Laboratories reported second-quarter sales growth of 4.8% on a comparable basis and raised its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60. Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $1.31, exceeding the midpoint of the company's guidance. The company also raised its full-year comparable sales growth guidance to 6.5% to 7.5%. Medical Devices sales grew 8.5%, with Electrophysiology in the low-teens, Rhythm Management up 9.5%, and Heart Failure up 9%. Diagnostics sales saw a 7.5% increase in the US business, while Rapid and Molecular Diagnostics declined 8% due to a weaker respiratory virus season, and Cancer Diagnostics grew 13%. Nutrition sales rose sequentially by $125 million, and Established Pharmaceuticals sales grew 9%, driven by markets including India, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Continuous glucose monitoring sales exceeded $2 billion with 9.5% growth. Adjusted gross margin was 58.0% of sales, a 100 basis point increase from the prior year.

The semiconductor sell-off extended into a fourth session on Thursday, with memory chip stocks taking another heavy beating after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing raised its capital expenditure forecast. Taiwan Semi beat earnings estimates but fell 4.6% after announcing it would spend between $60 billion and $64 billion this year, up from a prior forecast of $52 billion to $56 billion, and committed another $100 billion to Arizona chipmaking facilities. SK Hynix cratered 9.1%, adding to Wednesday's 13.2% plunge and leaving the stock down roughly 30% from recent post-IPO highs, while Micron Technology dropped 6.3%, Nvidia fell 2.7%, and Broadcom slid 3.6%. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.9%, the S&P 500 fell 0.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average limited its decline to just 0.1% as healthcare stocks provided a cushion. UnitedHealth Group bounced 3.6% after crushing earnings estimates and raising guidance, and Abbott Laboratories soared 12.5% on a beat-and-raise performance, offsetting a 4.6% drop in Goldman Sachs and a 3.6% slide in Caterpillar.

U.S. stocks were mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising to a one-week high while the Nasdaq 100 fell to a one-week low, as a selloff in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks weighed on the broader market. The iShares Semiconductor ETF dropped more than 2%, with Sandisk down over 8% and ARM Holdings down over 7%, following a 6% plunge in South Korea's Kospi Index driven by sharp losses in SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. UnitedHealth Group jumped 4% after reporting second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $6.38, well above the consensus of $4.89, and raising its full-year adjusted EPS estimate to $19.50 to $20.00, while Abbott Laboratories surged more than 11% after lifting its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to a range of $5.45 to $5.60. Stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data, including a drop in weekly initial jobless claims to a 10-week low of 208,000 and a Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey rising to a 4.5-year high of 41.4, pushed the 10-year Treasury yield up 3 basis points to 4.58%. WTI crude oil prices rose nearly 1% after the U.S. launched fresh airstrikes on Iran and struck a sanctioned Iranian oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, with President Trump pledging to intensify bombardment until Iran stops attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Abbott Laboratories shares rose nearly 11% on Thursday after the healthcare company reported second quarter 2026 results that topped Wall Street expectations and raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance. The company posted adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.31 for the quarter, ahead of analyst expectations of $1.28, while revenue came in at $12.59 billion, slightly above the consensus estimate of $12.52 billion and up 13% on a reported basis from the prior-year period. On a comparable basis, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange and other specified items, sales increased 4.8% in the second quarter, and Abbott reaffirmed its full-year 2026 comparable sales growth outlook of 6.5% to 7.5%. The company raised its full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60, compared with its previous outlook of $5.38 to $5.58, and expects third quarter adjusted diluted EPS of $1.38 to $1.46. CEO Robert Ford said the results reflect building momentum that is expected to drive accelerating sales and earnings growth in the second half of the year, while the company highlighted developments including completion of enrollment in a pivotal trial for its Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy System, CE Mark approval for the Libre Duo biowearable sensor, and submission of its Amulet 360 device to the FDA.

Several stocks made big moves in midday trading following earnings reports and analyst actions. ManpowerGroup surged 33% after calling for third-quarter revenue to rise 2% to 6%, above the FactSet consensus of 1.7%, and posting adjusted earnings of 99 cents per share on revenue of $4.9 billion, topping estimates. Abbott Laboratories jumped almost 11% as it raised its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $5.45 to $5.60 per share, above the FactSet consensus of $5.47. UnitedHealth rose 4% after reporting adjusted earnings of $6.38 per share on revenue of $112.03 billion, beating LSEG estimates, and hiked its full-year outlook. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shed 2% despite beating second-quarter earnings estimates, as it raised full-year capital expenditures to between $60 billion and $64 billion and announced an additional $100 billion investment in Arizona. AtaiBeckley jumped 33% after Eli Lilly agreed to buy the psychedelic drugmaker for $2.8 billion, or $6.75 per share in cash, with potential milestone payments of up to $2.50 per share. GE Aerospace dropped 4% even after beating second-quarter earnings and revenue estimates and raising full-year guidance. United Airlines fell more than 1% as softer-than-expected third-quarter guidance of $2.50 to $3.50 per share, below the FactSet estimate of $3.53, overshadowed an earnings beat. J.B. Hunt Transport Services jumped almost 7% after reporting earnings of $1.91 per share on revenue of $3.5 billion, exceeding FactSet estimates. Cintas gained 6.5% following a Bank of America upgrade to buy, while Cinemark and Imax fell about 4% and 2% respectively after Wells Fargo downgraded both to equal weight. AST SpaceMobile tumbled more than 16% on plans to offer $1 billion of convertible senior notes due 2034.