Abbott Laboratories to spin off its nutrition business into a standalone public company

Abbott Laboratories announced that it will separate its global nutrition unit, which includes Similac, Ensure and other brands, into an independent publicly traded company. The spin‑off is slated for a tax‑free distribution of shares to Abbott shareholders and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The new entity is projected to generate about $8.5 billion of annual sales and employ roughly 16,000 people.

The company says the separation will let each business pursue its own growth profile and investment identity, which could sharpen valuation for both entities. Abbott will retain its core medical‑device, diagnostics and pharmaceutical operations, estimated at $42 billion of sales after the split.

  • 1Abbott plans to complete the nutrition spin‑off by the end of 2027, pending regulatory and other approvals.
  • 2The standalone nutrition company is expected to have approximately $8.5 billion in annual sales.
  • 3The nutrition business will employ roughly 16,000 people and operate 14 manufacturing sites.
  • 4In the first nine months of 2026, nutrition net sales were $6.42 billion, a 1.3% decline on a reported basis and a 2.1% decline on a comparable basis year over year.
  • 5U.S. pediatric nutrition sales fell 4.8% to $1.61 billion in the same period.
  • 6Total group reported net sales rose 11.9% to $36.77 billion across the nine months.

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