Will ABT's Q1 2025 earnings beat forecasts?

Abbott Laboratories' (ABT) Q1 2025 earnings are likely to be in line with forecasts, rather than exceeding them, based on the following points:

1. Guidance and Forecasts: ABT's Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) guidance is between $1.05 and $1.09, which is below the analyst estimate of $1.11. The company also forecasted an EPS of $5.05 to $5.25 for the full year 2025, with a midpoint that aligns with the analyst estimate of $5.16. This suggests that the Q1 performance is expected to be at the lower end of the range, not exceeding expectations.

2. Recent Performance: ABT's recent performance has been strong, with a 9.5% sales growth excluding COVID testing for the year and a 10% increase in Q4 excluding COVID testing. However, the Q4 sales of $10.97 billion were slightly below the analyst estimate of $11.03 billion. This indicates a strong trend but with some minor deviations from expectations.
3. Market Sentiment: Despite the positive outlook, ABT's shares have fallen due to the Q1 profit forecast below estimates. This sentiment could persist until the Q1 results are disclosed and proven to be better than expected.
4. Analyst Views: While analysts have a positive outlook on ABT, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy", the recent downgrade by William Blair to $1.07 per share for Q1 2025 suggests that some analysts are cautious about the Q1 performance.

In conclusion, while ABT has a strong growth trajectory, the guidance and recent performance indicators suggest that the Q1 2025 earnings are more likely to meet forecasts rather than exceed them.