So, you’re looking at the ticker and wondering why Abbott share price today is hovering right around $123.52. It's down about 0.68% as of this Thursday afternoon, January 15, 2026. Honestly, it’s one of those days where the market feels a bit indecisive, and Abbott is just caught in the middle of it.
The stock opened at $124.40, flirted with a high of $124.42, and dipped as low as $123.00. If you’ve been holding this for a while, you’ve probably noticed it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster lately. We’re sitting quite a bit off the 52-week high of $141.23, yet safely above the low of $111.02.
Basically, today is a massive "waiting game."
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The Dividend Factor Everyone Is Checking Today
If you noticed a bunch of people talking about Abbott this morning, it’s probably because today, January 15, 2026, is a critical date. It is the ex-dividend date.
If you didn’t own the shares before today, you aren't getting the next payout.
The company recently bumped the quarterly dividend to $0.63 per share. That’s a roughly 6.8% increase from the previous $0.59. For a "Dividend King" like Abbott—having raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years—this is just business as usual, but for investors, it’s a reliable paycheck.
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The actual cash hits accounts on February 13, 2026.
Why the Price Feels So Stuck
It’s weird, right? The company is doing fine, yet the stock feels like it’s treading water.
Wall Street is currently fixated on one specific date: January 22, 2026. That is when Abbott is expected to drop its Q4 2025 earnings report. Everyone is holding their breath to see if they can hit the consensus EPS estimate of $1.50 and revenue of roughly $11.79 billion.
- Medical Devices: This is the engine room. The Libre 3 glucose monitor is still a juggernaut, pulling in billions.
- The AI Buzz: They just showed off the "Libre Assist" at CES 2026. It’s an AI tool that predicts how your body will react to food before you even eat it. Cool? Yes. Moving the needle on the stock today? Not really.
- Post-COVID Hangover: Let’s be real, the testing revenue that made them a superstar in 2021 is basically gone. COVID testing fell from $265 million in late '24 to just $69 million recently.
Investors are trying to figure out if the "base business" (the heart valves, the baby formula, and the diabetes tech) can grow fast enough to cover that hole. Analysts like Shagun Singh at RBC and the team at Barclays are still bullish, with some price targets as high as $169, but the market isn't buying into that rally just yet.
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What Most People Get Wrong About ABT
A lot of retail traders see a "Moderate Buy" rating and think it’s a slam dunk. But you’ve got to look at the Forward P/E ratio, which is sitting around 22.23.
That’s a premium.
The medical products industry average is closer to 20.42. You're paying extra for the "Abbott name" and that 54-year dividend streak. Is it worth it? Most institutional guys think so, considering they own about 75% of the float. They like the stability, especially since the company’s debt-to-equity ratio is a tiny 0.23. They aren’t overleveraged, which is a rare thing these days.
Actionable Insights for Your Portfolio
If you're watching Abbott share price today to decide on a move, don't just stare at the 1-minute chart. The real story is in the "metabolic health" pivot.
First, watch the support level. The stock has been struggling to stay above its 200-day moving average of $129.14. Until it breaks back above that, it might keep drifting.
Second, keep an eye on the January 22 earnings call. If management raises their 2026 guidance above the current $5.73 EPS forecast, that’s your catalyst.
Third, if you’re an income investor, the 2.0% yield is solid, but remember that the "ex-date" has passed for this cycle. If you buy today, you're playing for the long-term growth and the May dividend, not the February one.
Lastly, check the news for any updates on the rumored Exact Sciences deal or mid-sized acquisitions in the robotic surgery space. Abbott has a massive cash pile, and they are notoriously picky about what they buy. A smart acquisition could be exactly what’s needed to wake this stock up from its current $123-range slumber.
Keep an eye on the volume; it's been around 7 million shares lately. If we see a spike in volume without a price drop, it usually means the big institutional "smart money" is quietly building a position before the earnings data goes public next week.