Abbott Laboratories (ABT): Short-Term Headwinds, Strategic Pipeline Strength, and UBS Buy Rating

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is one of the best 52-week low blue-chip stocks to buy right now. Reuters reported on February 4 that Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) has logged 860 serious injuries tied to the recall of certain FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus glucose monitoring sensors, based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration data through January 7. That figure is up from 736 severe adverse events and seven deaths disclosed in November.

The FDA issued an early alert on December 2 and later classified the matter as a Class I recall on January 14, its most serious category. Abbott had cautioned that defective sensors could produce inaccurate glucose readings, potentially leading patients to delay or skip insulin doses. The company said the problem was traced to a single production line and has since been resolved.

On January 23, UBS reiterated a Buy rating on Abbott Laboratories and set a $158 price target. The bullish stance underlines the research firm’s confidence in the company’s prospects, despite recent concerns about lower-than-expected fourth-quarter results.

There are growing concerns about the company’s 2026 organic sales growth of about 7%, following its 3.8% organic sales growth. UBS said that despite a sales miss, Abbott showed financial resilience, posting earnings of $1.50 per share in line with expectations and guiding to 2026 EPS of $5.55 to $5.80, broadly in line with consensus at the midpoint. UBS expects the company to return to high single-digit organic growth, including the reacceleration of the electrophysiology business in the US.

The company’s revenue base is also expected to benefit from the launch of the Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System. The research firm also expects the stock to receive a boost from the upcoming clinical trial for left atrial appendage closure. It also expects Abbott Laboratories to be one of the primary beneficiaries of continuous glucose monitoring becoming the standard of care in diabetes over the next three years.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is a global healthcare company that researches, develops, and manufactures medical devices, diagnostic tools, branded generic medicines, and nutritional products.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.