8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jul 21, 2010)

Filed July 21, 2010For Securities:ABT

Summary

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) filed an 8-K on July 21, 2010, primarily to report its financial results for the second quarter of 2010. The filing includes a press release (Exhibit 99.1) detailing these results. A key aspect highlighted in the filing is Abbott's use of non-GAAP financial measures, such as net earnings and diluted earnings per share, excluding specific items. The company states that these adjustments, which can include acquisition-related costs, currency impacts, and litigation settlements, are used to provide investors with a clearer view of ongoing business performance. While the specific financial figures are within the furnished press release, this 8-K serves as an official notification of the earnings announcement. Investors are advised that while these non-GAAP measures are presented to aid understanding of operational performance, they should be considered alongside, and not as a replacement for, standard GAAP-based financial metrics. The filing also confirms the CFO, Thomas C. Freyman, as the authorized signatory for this report.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott Laboratories announced its second quarter 2010 financial results via an 8-K filing on July 21, 2010.
  • 2The report incorporates a press release (Exhibit 99.1) containing the detailed financial results for the quarter.
  • 3Abbott utilizes non-GAAP financial measures, excluding specified items, to present its net earnings and diluted earnings per share.
  • 4The company uses these non-GAAP measures to provide investors with a better understanding of ongoing business performance.
  • 5Adjustments to non-GAAP measures include items like acquisition costs, currency fluctuations, litigation, and product launch expenses.
  • 6Investors are cautioned to consider these non-GAAP measures in conjunction with, not as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures.
  • 7The filing was authorized by Thomas C. Freyman, Executive Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to announce and provide access to Abbott Laboratories' financial results for the second quarter of 2010, as detailed in the accompanying press release (Exhibit 99.1).

Non-GAAP financial measures are financial metrics that exclude certain items from the standard GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) calculations. Abbott uses them, such as net earnings and diluted EPS excluding specified items, to present what they believe is a clearer picture of their ongoing business performance by removing the impact of unusual or unpredictable factors like acquisition costs, currency devaluations, and litigation settlements.

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

The specific financial results are contained within the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this 8-K report. This document provides the detailed earnings information for the second quarter of 2010.