ABT
Abbott Laboratories
Medical Devices
Market Cap$191.48B
5Y Perf.+1.6%
Build Your Comparison
Side-by-side financial analysisABT
MDT
Try popular comparisons:
Stock Comparison
ABT vs MDT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MDT
Medtronic plc
Medical Devices
Market Cap$130.70B
5Y Perf.-10.5%
ABT vs MDT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ABT | MDT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical Devices | Medical Devices |
| Market Cap | $191.48B | $130.70B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $48.23B | $37.54B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.70B | $5.23B |
| Gross Margin | 57.1% | 66.7% |
| Operating Margin | 15.2% | 18.1% |
| Forward P/E | 19.9x | 17.0x |
| Total Debt | $15.07B | $27.96B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $8.52B | $1.95B |
ABT vs MDT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ABT
MDT
| Stock | Nov 20 | Nov 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbott Laboratories (ABT) | 100 | 101.6 | +1.6% |
| Medtronic plc (MDT) | 100 | 89.5 | -10.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ABT vs MDT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MDT leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Abbott Laboratories is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇MDT emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
ABT
Abbott Laboratories
The Long-Run Compounder
ABT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 220.2% 10Y total return vs MDT's 50.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.07, Low D/E 28.6%, current ratio 1.58x
- PEG 2.41 vs MDT's 2.43
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
MDT
Medtronic plc
The Income Pick
MDT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 44 yrs, beta 0.14, yield 2.8%
- Rev growth 8.4%, EPS growth 3.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.2%
- Beta 0.14, yield 2.8%, current ratio 2.13x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MDT | 8.4% revenue growth vs ABT's 5.7% |
| Value | MDT | Lower P/E (17.0x vs 19.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | MDT | 13.9% margin vs ABT's 9.7% |
| Stability / Safety | ABT | Beta 0.07 vs MDT's 0.14, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MDT | 2.8% yield, 44-year raise streak, vs ABT's 2.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MDT | +16.2% vs ABT's -10.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MDT | 5.7% ROA vs ABT's 4.5%, ROIC 6.4% vs 10.5% |
ABT vs MDT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2026
ABT vs MDT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMDTLAGGINGABT
ABTAbbott Laboratories
1leads
MDTMedtronic plc
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ABTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MDT5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MDT6/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ABT5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MDT4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
MDT2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MDT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ABT and MDT operate at a comparable scale, with $48.2B and $37.5B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.9% (MDT) to 9.7% (ABT).
| Metric | ABTAbbott Laboratori… | MDTMedtronic plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $48.2B | $37.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $9.5B | $9.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.7B | $5.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.7B | $6.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +57.1% | +66.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +18.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.7% | +13.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.9% | +16.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.5% | +13.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -43.6% | +40.7% |
MDT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MDT leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, MDT trades at a 8% valuation discount to ABT's 29.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ABT offers better value at 3.57x vs MDT's 3.90x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ABTAbbott Laboratori… | MDTMedtronic plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $191.5B | $130.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $198.0B | $156.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.55x | 27.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.92x | 17.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.57x | 3.90x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.35x | 16.63x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.32x | 3.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.64x | 2.62x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.89x | 24.09x |
MDT leads this category, winning 6 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ABT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MDT delivers a 10.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $9 for ABT. ABT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MDT's 0.56x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MDT scores 8/9 vs ABT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ABTAbbott Laboratori… | MDTMedtronic plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +10.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.5% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.5% | +6.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.7% | +8.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 0.56x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.5B | $26.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $8.5B | $1.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $15.1B | $28.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.06x | 10.11x |
ABT leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MDT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ABT five years ago would be worth $9,537 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,398 for MDT. Over the past 12 months, MDT leads with a +16.2% total return vs ABT's -10.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MDT at 14.5% vs ABT's 7.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ABTAbbott Laboratori… | MDTMedtronic plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.5% | +8.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -10.0% | +16.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.2% | +50.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -4.6% | -6.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +220.2% | +50.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.2% | +14.5% |
MDT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ABT and MDT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ABT is the less volatile stock with a 0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MDT's 0.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MDT currently trades 95.7% from its 52-week high vs ABT's 83.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ABTAbbott Laboratori… | MDTMedtronic plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.07x | 0.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $132.03 | $106.33 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $81.97 | $73.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.3% | +95.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.8 | 73.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 9.3M | 19.4M |
Evenly matched — ABT and MDT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
MDT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ABT as "Buy" and MDT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.4% upside for ABT (target: $121) vs -4.0% for MDT (target: $98). For income investors, MDT offers the higher dividend yield at 2.78% vs ABT's 2.14%.
| Metric | ABTAbbott Laboratori… | MDTMedtronic plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.36 | $97.73 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 51 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 43 | 44 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.36 | $2.83 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +0.8% |
MDT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
MDT leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). ABT leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallMedtronic plc (MDT)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Custom Comparison: ABT vs MDT
Compare on any lens — Growth, Value, Income, or pick from 130+ individual metrics.
View as:
ABT vs MDT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ABT or MDT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the stronger pick with 8.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Abbott Laboratories (ABT). Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the better valuation at 27. 3x trailing P/E (17. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Abbott Laboratories (ABT) a "Buy" — based on 43 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ABT or MDT?
On trailing P/E, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the cheapest at 27.
3x versus Abbott Laboratories at 29. 6x. On forward P/E, Medtronic plc is actually cheaper at 17. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Abbott Laboratories wins at 2. 41x versus Medtronic plc's 2. 43x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ABT or MDT?
Over the past 5 years, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) delivered a total return of -4.
6%, compared to -6. 0% for Medtronic plc (MDT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ABT returned +220. 2% versus MDT's +50. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ABT or MDT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
07β versus Medtronic plc's 0. 14β — meaning MDT is approximately 112% more volatile than ABT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 56% for Medtronic plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ABT or MDT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Medtronic plc (MDT) is pulling ahead at 8.
4% versus 5. 7% for Abbott Laboratories (ABT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Medtronic plc grew EPS 3. 3% year-over-year, compared to -51. 3% for Abbott Laboratories. Over a 3-year CAGR, MDT leads at 5. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ABT or MDT?
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more profitable company, earning 14.
7% net margin versus 13. 2% for Medtronic plc — meaning it keeps 14. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ABT leads at 18. 2% versus 17. 8% for MDT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MDT leads at 65. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ABT or MDT more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 41x versus Medtronic plc's 2. 43x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Medtronic plc (MDT) trades at 17. 0x forward P/E versus 19. 9x for Abbott Laboratories — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABT: 10. 4% to $121. 36.
08Which pays a better dividend — ABT or MDT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 2. 1% for Abbott Laboratories (ABT).
09Is ABT or MDT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
07), 2. 1% yield, +220. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABT: +220. 2%, MDT: +50. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ABT and MDT?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.