Results of Operations

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549       FORM  8-K   CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934   October 16, 2019 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)   ABBOTT LABORATORIES (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)       Illinois   1-2189   36-0698440 (State or other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer of Incorporation)       Identification No.)       100 Abbott Park Road Abbott Park , Illinois 60064-6400 (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)   Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  ( 224 ) 667-6100   Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:   ¨                  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)   ¨                  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)   ¨                  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))   ¨                  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))   Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of Each Class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered Common Shares, Without Par Value   ABT   New York Stock Exchange Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).   Emerging growth company   ¨   If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ¨             Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition   On October 16, 2019, Abbott Laboratories announced its results of operations for the third quarter 2019.   Furnished as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by reference, is the news release issued by Abbott announcing those results. In that news release, Abbott uses various non-GAAP financial measures including, among others, net earnings from continuing operations excluding specified items. These non-GAAP financial measures adjust for factors that are unusual or unpredictable, such as expenses primarily associated with acquisitions and restructuring actions, charges related to cost reduction initiatives, the estimated impact of U.S. tax reform, the acquisition of an R&D asset and the cost associated with the early extinguishment of debt, charges related to impairment of certain assets, and tax benefits associated with specified items and share-based compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures also exclude intangible amortization expense to provide greater visibility on the results of operations excluding these costs, similar to how Abbott’s management internally assesses performance. Abbott’s management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding Abbott’s results of operations as these non-GAAP financial measures allow investors to better evaluate ongoing business performance. Abbott’s management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to monitor performance of the businesses. Abbott, however, cautions investors to consider these non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.   Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits     Exhibit No.   Exhibit           99.1   Press Release dated October 16, 2019 (furnished pursuant to Item 2.02).           104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).         SIGNATURE   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.     ABBOTT LABORATORIES         Date:   October 16, 2019 By: /s/ Brian B. Yoor     Brian B. Yoor     Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer