Abbott Laboratories (ABT) shares tumbled 5.41% in pre-market trading on Wednesday following the release of its third-quarter earnings report. Despite meeting or slightly exceeding analyst expectations in key areas, investors appeared to react negatively to the results.

The company reported third-quarter sales of $11.4 billion, exactly in line with the Ibes estimate. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.30, also matching analyst expectations. Abbott's overall sales growth for the quarter was 6.9% on a reported basis and 5.5% on an organic basis compared to the prior year.

However, the GAAP EPS of $0.94 may have disappointed some investors, as it fell short of the adjusted figure. Additionally, Abbott reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, projecting organic sales growth of 7.5% to 8% excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, or 6% to 7% including these sales. The company also narrowed its full-year adjusted EPS outlook to $5.12 to $5.18, compared to the Ibes estimate of $5.15.

The pre-market plunge suggests that investors may have been looking for more robust growth or a raise in guidance, especially given the challenging economic environment and ongoing concerns about healthcare spending. The market's reaction could also indicate worries about the company's future performance or potential headwinds in specific business segments.