Abbott Laboratories 0.76B Trade Volume Ranks 129th Amid Institutional Divergence and Bullish Analyst Upgrades

On September 2, 2025, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) saw a trading volume of $0.76 billion, ranking 129th in market activity for the day. The stock closed down 0.90% amid mixed institutional activity and analyst revisions.

Royal Bank of Canada reduced its stake in Abbott by 6.4% during Q1 2025, selling 490,428 shares to hold 7.17 million shares valued at $951 million. Meanwhile, Brighton Jones LLC and Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG increased their holdings by 10.1% and 1.9%, respectively, reflecting divergent institutional views on the stock's trajectory. Over 75% of shares remain under institutional ownership.

Analyst coverage remained bullish despite the decline. Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $137, while Jefferies upgraded from "hold" to "buy." The stock now commands a 1.8% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 29.57%, supported by consistent earnings performance. Abbott reported Q2 revenue of $11.14 billion, exceeding estimates by $130 million, and maintained its 2025 EPS guidance at $5.10-$5.20.

Technical indicators showed mixed signals, with the stock trading near its 200-day moving average of $131.35. The company's low beta of 0.70 and strong balance sheet (debt-to-equity 0.25) suggest resilience amid market volatility. However, insider activity included CFO Philip Boudreau selling 5,550 shares, reducing his holdings by 9.81% in the latest SEC filing.

Backtest results indicate the stock has historically demonstrated moderate volatility, with a 12-month range of $110.86 to $141.23. Analysts project a 12-month average target of $144.47, with two "Strong Buy" ratings and sixteen "Buy" ratings currently assigned to the stock.