Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

Debt-to-capital ratio

		Dec 31, 2023	Sep 30, 2023	Jun 30, 2023	Mar 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Sep 30, 2022	Jun 30, 2022	Mar 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Sep 30, 2021	Jun 30, 2021	Mar 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Sep 30, 2020	Jun 30, 2020	Mar 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Sep 30, 2019	Jun 30, 2019	Mar 31, 2019
Long-term debt	US$ in thousands	13,599,000	14,477,000	14,562,000	14,615,000	14,522,000	15,297,000	16,755,000	17,086,000	17,296,000	17,446,000	17,547,000	17,489,000	18,527,000	18,349,000	18,184,000	16,804,000	16,661,000	17,639,000	18,982,000	18,845,000
Total stockholders’ equity	US$ in thousands	38,603,000	37,481,000	37,174,000	37,010,000	36,686,000	35,675,000	36,490,000	35,399,000	35,802,000	34,422,000	33,800,000	33,562,000	32,784,000	31,386,000	30,578,000	30,218,000	31,088,000	31,817,000	31,686,000	30,925,000
Debt-to-capital ratio		0.26	0.28	0.28	0.28	0.28	0.30	0.31	0.33	0.33	0.34	0.34	0.34	0.36	0.37	0.37	0.36	0.35	0.36	0.37	0.38

December 31, 2023 calculation

Debt-to-capital ratio = Long-term debt ÷ (Long-term debt + Total stockholders’ equity)
= $13,599,000K ÷ ($13,599,000K + $38,603,000K)
= 0.26

The debt-to-capital ratio of Abbott Laboratories has shown consistency within a relatively narrow range over the past eight quarters, ranging from 0.28 to 0.33. This ratio indicates the proportion of the company's capital structure that is financed through debt, with the remainder funded by equity.

During this period, Abbott Laboratories has maintained a moderate level of debt relative to its total capital, suggesting a balanced approach to capital structure management. The slight fluctuations in the ratio over time may reflect strategic decisions related to debt repayment, equity issuance, or overall business performance.

Overall, the stability of Abbott's debt-to-capital ratio indicates a prudent approach to financial leverage, which may provide the company with the necessary flexibility to support its growth initiatives while managing financial risk effectively.