Balance Sheet: Assets

The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.

Assets are resources controlled by the company as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.

Abbott Laboratories, consolidated balance sheet: assets

US$ in millions

	Dec 31, 2025	Dec 31, 2024	Dec 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents	8,522)	7,616)	6,896)	9,882)	9,799)
Investments, primarily bank time deposits and U.S. treasury bills	417)	351)	383)	288)	450)
Trade receivables, less allowances	7,929)	6,925)	6,565)	6,218)	6,487)
Inventories	6,488)	6,194)	6,570)	6,173)	5,157)
Other prepaid expenses and receivables	2,640)	2,570)	2,256)	2,663)	2,346)
Current assets	25,996)	23,656)	22,670)	25,224)	24,239)
Equity securities	597)	553)	555)	558)	748)
Other	321)	333)	244)	208)	68)
Long-term investments	918)	886)	799)	766)	816)
Net property and equipment	11,816)	10,658)	10,154)	9,162)	8,959)
Intangible assets, net of amortization	5,526)	6,647)	8,815)	10,454)	12,739)
Goodwill	24,035)	23,108)	23,679)	22,799)	23,231)
Deferred income taxes and other assets	18,422)	16,459)	7,097)	6,033)	5,212)
Long-term assets	60,717)	57,758)	50,544)	49,214)	50,957)
Total assets	86,713)	81,414)	73,214)	74,438)	75,196)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

Total assets experienced fluctuations over the five-year period, beginning at US$75.196 billion in 2021, decreasing to US$73.214 billion in 2023, and then increasing to US$86.713 billion by 2025. This pattern suggests periods of both contraction and expansion in the company’s asset base.

Current Assets: Current assets demonstrated an initial increase from US$24.239 billion in 2021 to US$25.224 billion in 2022, followed by a decline to US$22.670 billion in 2023. A subsequent recovery was observed, reaching US$25.996 billion in 2025. Within current assets, cash and cash equivalents decreased significantly from US$9.799 billion in 2021 to US$6.896 billion in 2023 before recovering to US$8.522 billion in 2025. Trade receivables exhibited a generally increasing trend, rising from US$6.487 billion in 2021 to US$7.929 billion in 2025. Inventories also showed an increase over the period, moving from US$5.157 billion to US$6.488 billion.
Long-Term Assets: Long-term assets initially decreased from US$50.957 billion in 2021 to US$49.214 billion in 2022, then showed a slight increase to US$50.544 billion in 2023. A more substantial increase occurred in 2024 and 2025, reaching US$60.717 billion. A significant driver of this increase was deferred income taxes and other assets, which rose dramatically from US$5.212 billion in 2021 to US$18.422 billion in 2025. Net property and equipment also increased steadily, from US$8.959 billion to US$11.816 billion over the same period. Goodwill remained relatively stable, fluctuating between US$22.799 billion and US$24.035 billion. Intangible assets, however, experienced a notable decrease, falling from US$12.739 billion in 2021 to US$5.526 billion in 2025.
Investments: Investments, encompassing both short-term and long-term categories, showed modest fluctuations. Short-term investments (primarily bank time deposits and U.S. treasury bills) remained relatively consistent, generally between US$288 million and US$450 million. Long-term investments increased from US$816 million in 2021 to US$918 million in 2025, with equity securities also showing a slight upward trend from US$748 million to US$597 million.

The composition of assets shifted over the period, with a relative increase in the proportion of long-term assets, particularly deferred income taxes, and a decrease in intangible assets. The increase in deferred income taxes may indicate changes in tax planning or the recognition of future tax benefits. The decline in intangible assets could be attributed to amortization or impairment charges.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)

Balance Sheet: Assets

Assets: Selected Items

Current Assets: Selected Items