8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Financial Results (Apr 18, 2012)

Filed April 18, 2012For Securities:ABT

Summary

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) filed an 8-K report on April 18, 2012, primarily to furnish a press release announcing its first quarter 2012 financial results. The report highlights the company's use of non-GAAP financial measures, such as net earnings and diluted earnings per share, excluding specified items. These adjustments are made to account for unusual or unpredictable factors including acquisition and separation costs, milestone payments, litigation reserves, R&D charges, restructuring initiatives, and international operational changes.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott Laboratories reported its Q1 2012 financial results via an 8-K filing on April 18, 2012.
  • 2The filing includes a press release detailing the company's Q1 2012 earnings and financial condition.
  • 3Abbott utilizes non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted net earnings and EPS, to provide insights into ongoing business performance.
  • 4These non-GAAP measures exclude items like acquisition-related costs, separation costs, milestone payments, litigation reserves, R&D charges, and restructuring costs.
  • 5Management believes these non-GAAP figures offer a clearer view of operational performance for investors.
  • 6The company advises investors to consider these non-GAAP measures alongside GAAP-based financial statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to announce Abbott Laboratories' financial results for the first quarter of 2012 and to furnish the associated press release as an exhibit.

The report mentions non-GAAP measures such as net earnings and diluted earnings per common share, excluding specified items. These are adjusted to remove the impact of costs related to acquisitions, separations, litigation, R&D, restructuring, and changes in international operations.

Abbott's management uses these non-GAAP measures to provide investors with a better understanding of ongoing business performance by excluding items that may be unusual or unpredictable. Management also uses these measures internally for performance monitoring.

No, Abbott cautions investors to consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).