8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jan 26, 2011)

Filed January 26, 2011For Securities:ABT

Summary

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) filed an 8-K on January 26, 2011, to announce its fourth quarter and full-year 2010 results of operations. The filing primarily serves to furnish a press release containing these financial results. Investors should note that Abbott utilizes non-GAAP financial measures, such as net earnings and diluted earnings per share excluding specified items, to provide a clearer view of ongoing business performance by adjusting for unusual or unpredictable factors. These non-GAAP measures are intended to help investors better evaluate the company's operational performance by excluding items like acquisition-related costs, currency impacts, litigation settlements, and product recall expenses. While management believes these measures offer valuable insights, Abbott cautions investors to consider them alongside, and not as a substitute for, their GAAP-prepared financial statements. The filing itself does not contain detailed financial statements but references an attached press release for the specific figures.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott Laboratories announced its fourth quarter and full-year 2010 financial results via an 8-K filing on January 26, 2011.
  • 2The primary purpose of the 8-K filing is to furnish a press release containing the company's operational and financial performance.
  • 3Abbott employs non-GAAP financial measures, including net earnings and diluted EPS excluding specified items, in its reporting.
  • 4These non-GAAP measures are adjusted for significant items such as acquisition costs, currency fluctuations, litigation, and product recalls.
  • 5The company states that these non-GAAP figures aid investors in assessing ongoing business performance.
  • 6Abbott advises investors to view non-GAAP measures in conjunction with, not as replacements for, GAAP financial results.
  • 7The filing incorporates by reference Exhibit 99.1, which is the press release detailing the financial results.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to announce and provide Abbott Laboratories' financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2010. It officially furnishes the press release containing these results for public and investor access.

Non-GAAP financial measures are financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Abbott uses them, such as net earnings and diluted EPS excluding specified items, to present a view of their ongoing business performance by adjusting for factors that might be unusual, unpredictable, or not representative of core operations, like acquisition costs or litigation settlements. Management believes these measures offer useful additional information to investors.

No, Abbott cautions investors to consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, their financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP provides a standardized framework for financial reporting, and both sets of measures should be reviewed for a complete understanding of the company's financial health.

The detailed financial results are contained within the press release dated January 26, 2011, which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this 8-K filing. Investors should refer to that press release for specific figures and commentary on the results.