Exact Sciences Shareholders Approve Abbott Acquisition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EXAS?
Exact Sciences (EXAS) announced that its stockholders voted to approve the proposed acquisition of Exact Sciences by Abbott (ABT) at the special meeting of stockholders. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions to closing, the transaction is expected to close before the end of the second calendar quarter of 2026.
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Analyst Views on EXAS
Wall Street analysts forecast EXAS stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
19 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 103.380
Low
78.00
Averages
100.20
High
105.00
Current: 103.380
Low
78.00
Averages
100.20
High
105.00
About EXAS
Exact Sciences Corporation is a provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests. The Company provides a portfolio of products for earlier cancer detection and treatment guidance. Its products and services focus on screening and precision oncology tests. It is focusing its research and development efforts on three main areas: Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Development, MCED Test Development and MRD Test Development. Its products and services include Cologuard test, Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test, Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score Test, Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score Test, OncoExTra Test, and Riskguard Test. Its flagship screening product, the Cologuard test, is a non-invasive, stool-based deoxyribonucleic acid (sDNA) screening test that utilizes a multi-target approach to detect DNA and hemoglobin biomarkers associated with colorectal cancer and pre-cancer. The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test examines the activity of 21 genes in a patient’s breast tumor tissue.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- NextEra Energy's Growth Plans: NextEra Energy raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to about 62 cents per share and plans for 10% annual dividend growth through 2026, with ambitions to add 30 gigawatts of new generation capacity by 2035, showcasing its commitment to renewable energy.
- Abbott Laboratories' Sustained Growth: Abbott announced a 6.8% dividend increase to 63 cents per share in December, achieving 54 consecutive years of growth, and despite missing fourth-quarter revenue expectations, its dividend growth of over 70% reflects strong profitability and market confidence.
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- Stock Performance: Grail's stock experienced a significant decline, losing half of its value last Friday.
- Market Reaction: The drastic drop in stock price indicates a negative market reaction, potentially affecting investor confidence.
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- Revenue Growth: Abbott Laboratories reported a 5.7% increase in revenue for 2025, reaching $44.3 billion, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rising 10% to $5.15, indicating recovery potential in its medical devices and pharmaceuticals sectors, although total revenue has yet to return to pre-pandemic peaks.
- Acquisition Deal: Abbott is finalizing its $23 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences, which saw an 18% revenue increase to $3.2 billion in 2025, expected to enhance Abbott's diagnostics segment and strengthen its foothold in the rapidly growing oncology diagnostics market.
- Market Challenges: Despite strong growth in Abbott's medical devices and pharmaceuticals, sales in its nutrition and diagnostics segments have stagnated due to legal issues and FDA recalls related to FreeStyle Libre 3, leading to diminished investor interest in the stock.
- Future Outlook: Abbott anticipates adjusted EPS for 2026 to be in the range of $5.55 to $5.80, a 10% increase, while the cancer diagnostics market is projected to grow from $109.6 billion in 2024 to $155 billion by 2030, showcasing the company's long-term growth potential in the healthcare sector.
See More
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- Acquisition-Driven Growth: Abbott is finalizing a $23 billion acquisition of Exact Sciences, which saw an 18% revenue increase to $3.2 billion in 2025, expected to enhance Abbott's diagnostics segment and strengthen its foothold in the rapidly growing cancer testing market.
- Core Business Recovery: While Abbott's total revenue rose 5.7% to $44.3 billion in 2025 and adjusted EPS increased 10% to $5.15, challenges from lawsuits and recalls related to FreeStyle Libre 3 have impacted some segments, affecting overall market performance.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Abbott's Volt Pulsed Field Ablation system has received FDA approval, potentially treating 12 million U.S. patients over 65 with atrial fibrillation, with expectations for this number to double in the next two decades, indicating significant growth potential in cardiac care.
See More
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- Large Financing Plan: Abbott Laboratories is seeking to raise nearly $20 billion through a bond sale to finance its acquisition of Exact Sciences, a $21 billion deal that reflects Abbott's strong confidence in future growth.
- Diverse Bond Maturities: According to Bloomberg, the bond maturities will range from three to forty years, allowing Abbott to optimize its capital costs under varying market conditions with this flexible financing structure.
- Acquisition Approval: Shareholders of Exact Sciences approved the acquisition on February 20, marking a strategic expansion for Abbott in the precision medicine sector, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in the cancer detection market.
- Positive Market Reaction: Abbott's long-term investment opportunity has attracted many dividend growth investors, with analysts generally believing that Abbott's double-digit earnings growth makes it a buy, and the market's response to its acquisition plan indicates confidence.
See More
Exact Sciences Shareholders Approve Abbott Acquisition
- Acquisition Vote Outcome: At a special meeting, Exact Sciences shareholders overwhelmingly approved the acquisition proposal with over 99% of votes in favor, representing approximately 67% of outstanding shares, indicating strong investor confidence and potential for new growth opportunities for the company.
- Transaction Completion Timeline: The deal is expected to close before the end of the second calendar quarter of 2026, providing Exact Sciences ample time to integrate resources and optimize operations to realize synergies post-acquisition.
- Cash Return per Share: Under the agreement, Exact Sciences shareholders will receive $105.00 per share in cash upon completion of the transaction, which will directly enhance shareholder returns and bolster market confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Positive Market Reaction: Exact Sciences' stock ticked higher amid acquisition news, reflecting market optimism regarding the Abbott deal, which may further strengthen the company's position in the oncology diagnostics sector.
See More
