8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jan 25, 2012)

Filed January 25, 2012For Securities:ABT

Summary

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) filed an 8-K on January 25, 2012, primarily to announce its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011. The report incorporates a press release containing these results, which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1. 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. These adjustments account for unusual or unpredictable factors like acquisition costs, asset impairments, and restructuring initiatives. While Abbott's management believes these measures offer valuable insights for investors, they are intended to supplement, not replace, traditional GAAP financial figures.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott Laboratories announced Q4 and full-year 2011 financial results on January 25, 2012.
  • 2The 8-K filing primarily serves to provide access to the Q4 and full-year earnings press release (Exhibit 99.1).
  • 3The company employs non-GAAP financial measures, such as earnings per share excluding specified items, to present ongoing business performance.
  • 4These non-GAAP measures adjust for items including acquisition-related costs, asset impairments, and restructuring initiatives.
  • 5Abbott's management uses these non-GAAP measures to assess business performance and believes they offer useful insights to investors.
  • 6Investors are advised to consider these non-GAAP measures alongside, and not as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures.
  • 7Thomas C. Freyman, Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, signed the report.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to officially announce Abbott Laboratories' financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2011. It also makes the accompanying press release containing these results available to investors.

Non-GAAP financial measures are financial metrics that exclude certain items from the standard GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) calculations. Abbott uses them to provide a clearer picture of its ongoing business performance by removing the impact of unusual or unpredictable events, such as acquisition costs, asset impairments, or restructuring charges. The company believes these measures help investors better evaluate the underlying operational results.

Investors should view these non-GAAP measures as supplementary information to the traditional GAAP financial results. While they can offer valuable insights into ongoing performance, they should be analyzed in conjunction with, and not as a replacement for, the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.