10:55 PM EST, 11/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- CFRA, an independent research provider, has provided MT Newswires with the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

An unconfirmed Bloomberg report indicates Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) is in talks to acquire cancer screening firm Exact Sciences (EXAS), sending EXAS shares up ~20% within three hours with significant trading volume and analyst speculation of a potential $100 per share offer (~16% above Wednesday's close). We believe ABT seeks to capitalize on long-term growth tailwinds in cancer diagnostics, as oncology represents one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical areas. Negotiations are ongoing with no certainty of deal closure, though enterprise value could range between $18B and $20B. EXAS's Q3 Screening revenue of $666M grew 22% Y/Y, anchored by Cologuard stool-based DNA test, with the recent Cologuard Plus launch providing future growth runway. We think the addition of EXAS franchises could reinvigorate ABT's Diagnostics business (20% of current sales) through an enhanced primary care salesforce and product pipeline, representing ABT's largest acquisition since the $25B St. Jude Medical deal in 2017.