Stock Comparison
ABBV vs ABT: The Pharma Split, or the Rest of Abbott?
A head-to-head of AbbVie and Abbott Laboratories covering the 2013 split, dividends, and business mix.
Data updated August 28, 2026
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
ABBV has outpaced ABT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.60% total return against -13.09%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: ABBV has compounded at 19.57% a year, against 12.05% for ABT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Dec 2012 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABBV | 14.05% | 26.60% | 24.33% | 20.74% | 19.57% | 20.26% | 24.8% | 0.70 | 0.96 | -20.7% |
| ABT | -8.41% | -13.09% | 4.96% | -0.24% | 12.05% | 11.86% | 22.7% | 0.02 | 0.02 | -39.6% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 28, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Dec 2012” measures every fund from December 10, 2012 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  ABBV |  ABT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | AbbVie Inc. | Abbott Laboratories |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $255.48 as of August 28, 2026 | $112.47 as of August 28, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 2.68% | 2.26% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 100 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 2.65% | 2.26% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care markets worldwide. | Discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells healthcare products including diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic pharmaceuticals worldwide. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.28 | 0.581 |
| Last dividend | $1.7300 | $0.6300 |
| Ex-dividend date | 07/15/2026 | 07/15/2026 |
Bottom lineABBV and ABT are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar biopharmaceuticals exposure with very similar cost and risk. Neither charges a fund expense ratio, so the decision rests on business fundamentals, payout history, and valuation.
ABBV vs ABT: the 2013 Abbott split
AbbVie is the pharma company Abbott spun off. Abbott kept devices, diagnostics, and nutrition. They are sister payouts, not substitutes.
| ABBV | ABT | |
|---|---|---|
| Mix | Pharmaceuticals (2013 spin-off) | Devices, diagnostics, nutrition |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution yield | 2.68% | 2.26% |
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Quick verdict
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) and ABT (Abbott Laboratories) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
ABBV offers the higher yield at 2.68% vs 2.26% for ABT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, ABBV would generate roughly $22.33/month, while ABT would produce $18.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
ABBV is a stock built around biopharmaceuticals exposure, while ABT is a stock built around medical devices & diagnostics exposure. Beta is 0.28 for ABBV and 0.581 for ABT, making ABBV the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) is a stock. ABT (Abbott Laboratories) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ABBV and ABT?
ABBV (AbbVie Inc.) is the 2013 pharma spin-off from Abbott. ABT (Abbott Laboratories) kept devices, diagnostics, and nutrition. Both pay quarterly. Distributions are 2.68% and 2.26% as of August 2026. The split is the comparison — they are not the same company anymore.
What is the current distribution yield for ABBV and ABT?
ABBV currently distributes 2.68% and ABT 2.26%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is ABBV or ABT better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. ABBV currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
Can I hold both ABBV and ABT?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is ABBV or ABT safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: ABT scores 100, ABBV scores 99. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. ABBV has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.28 vs 0.58 for ABT). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in ABBV vs ABT generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in ABBV would generate roughly $22.33 per month ($268.00 annually). The same in ABT would produce about $18.83 per month ($226.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ABBV or ABT?
ABBV has outpaced ABT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.60% total return against -13.09%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: ABBV has compounded at 19.57% a year, against 12.05% for ABT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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