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ABT vs ALC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs. Alcon Inc. (ALC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has faced steeper year-to-date declines of approximately 28%, compared to Alcon Inc. (ALC)'s milder drop of around 6%.
- ABT reported strong Q1 2026 revenue growth of 7.8%, beating expectations, yet stock momentum remains pressured.
- ALC showed resilient performance with Q4 2025 sales up 9%, and relative outperformance in recent market activity.
- Both companies operate in healthcare but differ in focus: ABT offers diversified products, while ALC specializes in eye care.
- Tickeron AI analysis leans toward ALC for short-term relative strength based on price trends and sector positioning.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Alcon Inc. (ALC), two prominent players in the healthcare sector. ABT provides a broad portfolio of medical devices, diagnostics, nutritionals, and pharmaceuticals, while ALC focuses on vision care and ophthalmic solutions. Investors and traders interested in medical devices and healthcare innovation may find value in assessing their relative performance amid sector headwinds. Recent market activity highlights differences in momentum, growth trajectories, and risk profiles, aiding decisions on portfolio allocation or trading strategies in a volatile environment.
ABT Overview and Recent Performance
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is a global healthcare leader with segments in established pharmaceuticals, nutritional products, diagnostics, and medical devices. In recent weeks, ABT shares have experienced downward pressure, reflecting broader sector challenges and YTD declines around 28%. Despite this, Q1 2026 results showed revenue of $11.16 billion, up 7.7% year-over-year and exceeding forecasts, driven by strength in diagnostics and device sales. Sentiment has been influenced by profitability concerns, with EPS growth lagging in some metrics, alongside market reactions to macroeconomic factors affecting healthcare spending. Trading near $91 recently, the stock's P/E ratio hovers around 25, indicating potential value amid volatility.
ALC Overview and Recent Performance
Alcon Inc. (ALC) specializes in eye care, offering vision care products, surgical equipment, and pharmaceuticals. Recent market activity has seen ALC hold up better relatively, with YTD declines of about 6% and minimal 1-month drops. Q4 2025 sales reached $2.7 billion, up 9% reported and 7% constant currency, fueled by new product launches in surgical and vision segments. Shares trading around $75 have benefited from resilient demand in ophthalmology, though broader medical sector lags have capped gains. With a P/E ratio in the 25-38 range and trailing EPS near $1.98, investor sentiment reflects optimism for specialized growth drivers despite one-year softness of 24%.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ABT and ALC both thrive in healthcare but diverge in business models: ABT’s diversification across nutrition (AUM: assets under management, not applicable here but analogous to broad exposure), diagnostics, and devices provides stability, while ALC’s niche in eye care offers higher growth potential from surgical innovations. Recent momentum favors ALC, with shallower declines and positive sales beats versus ABT’s steeper drops amid EPS pressures. Risk factors include sector-wide reimbursement headwinds for ABT and competitive intensity in vision for ALC. Market sentiment tilts toward ALC’s relative positioning, though ABT’s scale (market cap ~$174B vs. ~$39B) supports long-term resilience. Trade-offs center on growth vs. breadth in a cautious healthcare landscape.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors ALC over ABT based on superior short-term trend consistency, milder recent declines, and stronger relative momentum in healthcare peers. Observable catalysts like robust sales growth and specialized exposure position ALC probabilistically better amid volatility, though ABT’s diversification offers stability for longer horizons.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ABT is a Hold and ALC is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ABT’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileALC’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- ABT’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- ALC’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ABT’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ALC’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ABT’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- ALC’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
ABT (@Medical/Nursing Services) experienced а -3.17% price change this week, while ALC (@Pharmaceuticals: Other) price change was +0.06% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical/Nursing Services industry was -1.39%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was -16.80%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Other industry was -0.49%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.13%, and the average quarterly price growth was -15.35%.
Reported Earning Dates
ABT is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
ALC is expected to report earnings on Aug 10, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical/Nursing Services (-1.39% weekly)The medical/nursing services includes companies that provide medical-related services such as ambulance services, dialysis centers, respiratory therapy, blood testing and rehabilitation services. DaVita Inc., Chemed Corporation and Guardant Health, Inc. are examples of companies in this industry.
@Pharmaceuticals: Other (-0.49% weekly)Pharmaceuticals (Other) comprise companies that are involved in the discovery, development or manufacturing of therapeutic and preventative medicines. They often collaborate with or acquire other pharmaceutical/healthcare firms. Examples of companies in this segment include Bausch Health Companies Inc., Icon Plc and Perrigo Company Plc.
| ABT | ALC | ABT / ALC | |
| Capitalization | 154B | 32.6B | 472% |
| EBITDA | 11.8B | 2.54B | 465% |
| Gain YTD | -28.819 | -15.176 | 190% |
| P/E Ratio | 24.70 | 40.03 | 62% |
| Revenue | 45.1B | 10.6B | 425% |
| Total Cash | 7.3B | 1.66B | 440% |
| Total Debt | 34B | 5.25B | 647% |
ABT | ALC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 9 | 16 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 3 Undervalued | 18 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 64 | 89 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 63 | 61 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 23 | 50 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ABT's Valuation (3) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as ALC (18) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
ABT's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as ALC (100) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
ABT's SMR Rating (64) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as ALC (89) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
ALC's Price Growth Rating (61) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as ABT (63) in the Medical Specialties industry. This means that ALC’s stock grew similarly to ABT’s over the last 12 months.
ABT's P/E Growth Rating (23) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as ALC (50) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry. This means that ABT’s stock grew similarly to ALC’s over the last 12 months.
| ABT | ALC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 49% | 4 days ago 40% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 54% | 4 days ago 55% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 50% | 4 days ago 63% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 57% | 4 days ago 64% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 54% | 4 days ago 59% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 49% | 4 days ago 57% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 11 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 58% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 20 days ago 53% | 13 days ago 56% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 53% | 8 days ago 58% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 48% | 4 days ago 51% |
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ABT and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ABT has been loosely correlated with SYK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 45% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ABT jumps, then SYK could also see price increases.
ALC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ALC has been loosely correlated with SYK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 54% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ALC jumps, then SYK could also see price increases.