8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jan 25, 2006)

Filed January 25, 2006For Securities:ABT

Summary

Abbott Laboratories filed an 8-K on January 25, 2006, to report its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2005. The report primarily references a press release (Exhibit 99.1) which details these results. Investors should note that Abbott utilizes non-GAAP financial measures, such as earnings excluding certain specified items and diluted earnings per common share excluding these items, to present its performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures offer a clearer view of ongoing business performance by adjusting for unusual or unpredictable factors like merger-related costs, restructuring charges, and litigation expenses. While these adjusted figures are used internally for performance monitoring, the company advises investors to consider them alongside, not as a replacement for, GAAP-based financial measures.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott Laboratories announced its Q4 and Full Year 2005 financial results on January 25, 2006.
  • 2The 8-K filing primarily serves to furnish the associated press release (Exhibit 99.1) containing these results.
  • 3The company is using non-GAAP financial measures in its reporting, including adjusted earnings and diluted earnings per share.
  • 4These non-GAAP measures exclude items such as merger-related costs, purchase accounting adjustments, restructuring and impairment charges, and litigation charges.
  • 5Abbott's management states these adjusted measures provide a better evaluation of ongoing business performance.
  • 6Investors are cautioned to consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to announce and provide Abbott Laboratories' financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2005. It incorporates by reference the press release that contains these detailed results.

Abbott is using both GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP measures provided are specifically 'earnings from continuing operations excluding certain specified items' and 'diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations excluding certain specified items'.

Abbott's management uses non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with a clearer view of the company's ongoing business performance. These measures adjust for factors that are considered unusual or unpredictable, such as merger costs, restructuring charges, and litigation expenses, which management believes can obscure the underlying operational results.

Abbott advises investors to consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. This means investors should look at both the GAAP and non-GAAP figures to get a complete picture of the company's financial health and performance.