8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jan 27, 2010)

Filed January 27, 2010For Securities:ABT

Summary

This 8-K filing from Abbott Laboratories, filed on January 27, 2010, primarily serves to announce the company's financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. The report highlights that Abbott Laboratories is using non-GAAP financial measures, such as net earnings and diluted earnings per share excluding specified items, to provide investors with a clearer view of ongoing business performance. These adjustments account for unusual or unpredictable factors like acquisition costs, restructuring initiatives, and litigation settlements. Investors should note that while Abbott's management believes these non-GAAP measures offer valuable insights, they are intended to supplement, not replace, the standard GAAP financial measures. The filing directs readers to an accompanying press release (Exhibit 99.1) for the detailed financial figures and further discussion. This 8-K focuses on the communication of financial performance and the methodology used to present it, rather than disclosing new material events.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott Laboratories announced its Q4 and full-year 2009 financial results on January 27, 2010.
  • 2The company is utilizing non-GAAP financial measures to report its earnings, including net earnings and diluted EPS, excluding certain specified items.
  • 3These non-GAAP measures are adjusted for factors such as acquisition-related costs, cost reduction initiatives, litigation and tax settlements, and product launch costs.
  • 4Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information for evaluating ongoing business performance.
  • 5Investors are cautioned to consider these non-GAAP measures in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures.
  • 6The detailed financial results and commentary are available in a press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to announce Abbott Laboratories' financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2009. It also details the company's use of non-GAAP financial measures in reporting these results.

Non-GAAP financial measures are financial metrics that exclude certain items from standard GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) figures. Abbott is using them to present net earnings and diluted earnings per share, excluding specified items, to offer investors a view of the company's ongoing operational performance by removing the impact of unusual or unpredictable factors.

The detailed financial results and management's commentary are provided in the press release dated January 27, 2010, which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this 8-K filing. Investors should refer to this press release for the specific numbers.

No, investors are advised by Abbott to consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The GAAP figures provide the standard, regulated view of financial performance.