Abbott's board has authorized the repurchase of up to $3 billion of the corporation's common shares. The new authorization is in addition to the $795 million unused portion of the previous program that was announced in September 2014. The repurchases may be made from time to time as market conditions warrant and are subject to regulatory considerations.

Abbott's strong cash flow has enabled it to invest in its business and return cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Abbott has a long history of returning value to shareholders, and during the last 10 years, the company has delivered approximately $31 billion in cash to its shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.