ABT · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report
Operating Expense Trends
ABBOTT LABORATORIES · 2026-11-04 · Importance 58 · Surprise 56 · In source text
Third-quarter research and development expense rose 17% to $2.579 billion from $2.207 billion. Third-quarter selling, general, and administrative expense increased 40% to $4.266 billion from $3.051 billion. For the first nine months, selling, general, and administrative expense increased to $12.031 billion from $9.203 billion. The filing separately reports $1.921 billion of nine-month intangible amortization in 2026, up from $1.260 billion in 2025; it does not specify drivers for the R&D or SG&A increases in this section.
Key facts
- Abbott’s estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets is approximately $3.0 billion in 2026, $2.7 billion in 2027, $2.1 billion in 2028, $2.1 billion in 2029, and $1.9 billion in 2030. source
- SG&A expenses increased $1.2 billion to $4.3 billion, or 39.8%, in the third quarter of 2026. source
- SG&A expenses increased $2.8 billion to $12.0 billion, or 30.7%, in the first nine months of 2026. source
- In 2025, Abbott management approved plans to streamline operations to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in its diagnostics and medical devices businesses. source
- SG&A increases primarily reflected Exact Sciences and integration expenses, recent legal-settlement charges, increased selling and marketing spending, and unfavorable foreign exchange. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| operating_income | negative | realized | -21.5% | SG&A expenses increased $2.8 billion to $12.0 billion, or 30.7%, in the first nine months of 2026. |
| operating_income | negative | committed | -19.6% | Abbott’s estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets is approximately $3.0 billion in 2026, $2.7 billion in 2027, $2.1… |
| operating_income | negative | committed | -17.6% | Abbott’s estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets is approximately $3.0 billion in 2026, $2.7 billion in 2027, $2.1… |
| operating_income | negative | committed | -13.7% | Abbott’s estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets is approximately $3.0 billion in 2026, $2.7 billion in 2027, $2.1… |
| operating_income | negative | committed | -12.4% | Abbott’s estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets is approximately $3.0 billion in 2026, $2.7 billion in 2027, $2.1… |
| operating_income | positive | probable | — | In 2025, Abbott management approved plans to streamline operations to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in its diagnostics and medical… |