How to Buy Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Stock?

ByStockInvest.us
5 min. read

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to buy Abbott Laboratories stock and start investing in the stock market, covering everything from choosing a broker and setting up your account to researching stocks and placing your first trade.

Contents

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Step 1: How to Choose Broker and Open Account

When choosing a broker to buy Abbott Laboratories stock, focus on fees, regulation, ease of use, and features. Look for low or zero-commission trading to keep costs down. Make sure the broker is regulated by a trusted authority like the SEC or FCA to help protect your funds. The platform should be easy to navigate, offer access to the market where the stock is listed, and include tools like stock research, news, and alerts.

💡 A brokerage account is an investment account that allows you to buy and sell a variety of investments, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. To simplify your decision, we recommend our pick for the best online broker based on extensive testing.

Here’s what you’ll usually need to do before you can start investing with a brokerage account:
  • Create your account – Sign up on the broker’s platform by providing basic personal details like your name, email, phone number, and a secure password.
  • Fill in your personal details – You’ll be asked for additional information like your date of birth, residential address, and sometimes your tax ID, depending on your country.
  • Complete verification – Most brokers require you to upload a government-issued ID and a proof of address document (like a utility bill or bank statement).
  • Deposit funds into your account – Once verified, you can fund your account using a bank transfer, debit/credit card, or other available payment methods.
Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk.

Step 2. Research Abbott Laboratories Stock

After selecting a broker, the next step is to research Abbott Laboratories (ABT) to understand its fundamentals and determine whether it aligns with your financial goals and risk profile. Understanding the company’s fundamentals will help you assess whether it aligns with your financial goals and risk profile.

Key questions to consider:
  • What does Abbott Laboratories (ABT) do, and what is its core business model?
  • What is the company’s track record and historical performance?
  • What challenges or weaknesses could impact the company’s future performance?
  • How does it compare with competitors in the same industry?
  • What are the company’s plans and strategies for future growth?

To answer these questions, review the company’s annual and quarterly reports, financial statements, and disclosures. You can also consult independent analyses and investor tools for deeper insights. For your convenience, a detailed, daily-updated overview of Abbott Laboratories is available on our website here.

Financial indicators that can help you evaluate the company’s overall health and growth potential:
Revenue Represents total income from operations, indicating the scale and sales performance of the company.
Net Income Shows the company’s profitability after all expenses are deducted from revenue.
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Measures the portion of profit allocated to each outstanding share, often used in valuation comparisons.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio Indicates the level of financial leverage. A high ratio may signal higher risk due to reliance on borrowed funds.
Return on Equity (ROE) Reflects how efficiently the company uses shareholder equity to generate profit.
Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio Compares the stock’s current price to its earnings per share. It’s widely used to evaluate whether a stock is fairly valued.

These metrics provide a solid starting point, but they should be viewed alongside broader factors such as market conditions, industry trends, leadership quality, and global economic developments. You can explore the full set of financial data for Abbott Laboratories here on our website.

Finally, keep up with relevant news and consider how other investors and analysts view the company. Staying informed can help you make smarter decisions over time.


Step 3: Decide How Much You Want to Invest

There’s no one-size-fits-all amount when it comes to investing, but a thoughtful approach can help you make smarter decisions.

  • Define your goals: Are you investing for long-term growth, income, or something specific like a house or retirement?
  • Only invest what you can afford to lose: The market can be unpredictable. Don’t use money you might need soon.
  • Consider diversification: Spreading your investment across multiple stocks or sectors can help reduce risk.
  • Know your risk tolerance: Are you comfortable with ups and downs, or do you prefer stability? Your personality and financial situation both play a role.
  • Set your time horizon: Will you need this money in 6 months, 5 years, or longer? Shorter timeframes often require more conservative strategies.
  • Have an emergency fund: Before investing, make sure you’ve saved enough to cover 3–6 months of living expenses.
💡 Pro Tip: A cold head is your best ally. Stay emotionally detached from short-term market swings — smart investing is often more about patience than timing.
Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk.

Step 4. Place Your Order (Buy the Asset)

Once you've decided how much to invest in Abbott Laboratories stock, it's time to place your order through your brokerage platform.

The two most common types of orders are:
  • Market Order: This order buys the stock at the current market price. It prioritizes speed over price and is typically executed instantly. It's useful when you're confident in buying immediately, regardless of slight price changes.
  • Limit Order: This lets you set a specific price at which you want to buy or sell. For example, you could place a limit order to buy at $128.85 per share. The order will only be executed if the stock reaches that price or better, giving you more control but possibly taking longer to fill.

Choosing between a market or limit order depends on your strategy, risk tolerance, and how quickly you want the trade to happen.

While market and limit orders are the most commonly used, brokers often support several other order types that offer additional flexibility and control. Here's a quick overview:

Type Definition
Market Order Executes the trade immediately at the best available market price. Focuses on speed over exact pricing.
Limit Order Executes only at your specified price or better. Gives more control over the price but may not fill immediately.
Ask The lowest price a seller is willing to accept for the stock.
Bid The highest price a buyer is willing to pay for the stock.
Spread The difference between the bid and ask prices. A smaller spread typically means better liquidity.
Stop (Stop-Loss) Order Triggers a market order once the stock reaches a specific stop price. Helps limit losses or lock in profits.
Stop-Limit Order Combines a stop order and a limit order. When the stop price is hit, it becomes a limit order instead of a market order.

It's a good idea to get familiar with these order types, especially if you're planning to actively manage your investments or trade during volatile periods.


Step 5. Monitor Your Investment

After buying Abbott Laboratories stock, your focus should shift to monitoring your investment with a long-term mindset — without overreacting to every price movement.

Here’s what really matters when tracking your investment:

  • Set alerts for key price levels, earnings releases, or major company news.
  • Follow earnings reports and other financial updates to stay informed about the company's performance.
  • Stay updated on broader market trends and industry developments that may affect the stock.
  • Review your investment goals regularly to ensure your holdings still match your risk tolerance and time horizon.
  • Don’t react emotionally to short-term volatility — focus on the bigger picture and long-term results.
💡 Pro Tip: Consider using a stop-loss order to help limit downside risk, especially in volatile markets. Just make sure it aligns with your strategy — not every investor needs one.

Step 6. Understand and apply risk management

It's important to understand the potential risks — knowing them helps you stay prepared and make smarter decisions.

Here are the most common risks stock investors should be aware of:
  • Market Risk: Stock prices can rise and fall based on economic trends, global events, and overall market sentiment — even if the company itself is doing well.
  • Company-Specific Risk: A single stock, like Abbott Laboratories, can drop due to earnings misses, bad news, or management decisions. Diversifying into more companies can reduce this risk.
  • Emotional Risk: Fear, greed, and panic can lead to impulsive decisions. Avoid reacting emotionally to short-term price movements.
  • Lack of Diversification: Putting all your money into one stock increases your exposure. Spreading investments across different sectors or companies can help smooth out performance.
  • Liquidity Risk: While not a major concern for large companies like Abbott Laboratories, smaller or less-traded stocks can be harder to sell quickly without affecting the price.
💡 Every investment carries some level of risk. The key is to understand what you’re investing in, stick to your strategy, and avoid emotional decisions when the market gets rough.

Summary:

To summarize, here’s a quick checklist answering the question: How to buy Abbott Laboratories stock?
  • Open a brokerage account with a trusted, regulated platform.
  • Research Abbott Laboratories and its competitors to make an informed investment decision.
  • Decide how much you want to invest, based on your goals and risk tolerance.
  • Place a market or limit order according to your strategy.
  • Monitor your investment and consider setting stop-loss orders to manage risk.
  • Stay aware of potential risks and review your strategy regularly.
Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk.

Profile

ABT Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepa... ABT Profile
FAQ
Can I buy a share from ABT stock for $100?
Yes, most online brokers allow investors to purchase fractional shares so that they can buy less than one full share of a company’s stock according to their investing strategy.
Can I buy 1 share of ABT stock?
Yes, it is possible to buy one share of ABT stock.
How much does it cost to buy ABT stock?
You can buy ABT fractional shares at most brokers following your budget. Currently, the single ABT stock is valued at $128.85.
Can I buy ABT stock directly?
No, but ABT stock can be purchased through most online brokers that offer the option to buy stocks through New York Stock Exchange.
Is ABT stock a buy or sell?
Abbott Laboratories holds several negative signals and we believe that it will still perform weakly in the next couple of days or weeks. We, therefore, hold a negative evaluation of this stock. Due to some small weaknesses in the technical picture we have downgraded our analysis conclusion for this stock since the last evaluation from a Hold/Accumulate to a Sell candidate.
What are the risks of buying ABT stock?
Buying ABT stock carries the risk of losing money if the stock price goes down. However, the stock also has the potential for significant returns if the price goes up. As with any investment, it’s crucial to conduct research and consider the overall market trends before deciding.
What are the fees for buying ABT stock?
Fees associated with buying ABT stock include brokerage fees and any applicable taxes. These fees will vary depending on the brokerage firm and the type of account.
What is ABT overall risk?
By our technical analysis ABT stock overall risk is currently considered low.
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Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk.