UPDATE: Abbott Posts Upbeat Q1 Earnings

Abbott Laboratories

reported upbeat first-quarter earnings. Abbott's quarterly earnings fell to $375 million, or $0.24 per share, from $544 million, or $0.34 per share, in the year-earlier quarter. Excluding special items, the company earned $0.41 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.36 per share. Its global company sales slipped 2.5% to $5.24 billion, compared to estimates of $5.28 billion. Abbott shares gained 1.40% to $38.50 in pre-market trading.