Abbott Laboratories Sees $4.8M in Bullish Call Activity as Stock Sits Near 52-Week Lows

By TrendSpider Editor

Abbott Laboratories attracted significant bullish options interest on Wednesday, with traders deploying a combined $4,805,120 in call premium across three unusual contracts as ABT shares slid 2.82% to $88.075. The options flow, concentrated at the $95 strike expiring in December 2026, signals some t

Abbott Laboratories Sees $4.8M in Bullish Call Activity as Stock Sits Near 52-Week Lows

Abbott Laboratories attracted significant bullish options interest on Wednesday, with traders deploying a combined $4,805,120 in call premium across three unusual contracts as ABT shares slid 2.82% to $88.075. The options flow, concentrated at the $95 strike expiring in December 2026, signals some traders are betting on a meaningful recovery from current levels. With ABT trading closer to its 52-week low of $81.97 than its 52-week high of $139.05, the positioning stands out as a contrarian bet on a beaten-down name.

Key Drivers of the ABT Stock Move

• Main Catalyst: Three unusual call contracts were flagged today totaling $4,805,120 in premium. The dominant trade was a call at the $95 strike expiring December 18, 2026, with a size of 5,928 contracts and open interest of 74%, followed by a second block at the same strike with 1,872 contracts and 23% open interest. A smaller call at the $120 strike expiring November 20, 2026 rounded out the activity with 550 contracts and $44,000 in premium.
• Bull Case: The sheer concentration of premium at the $95 December strike, totaling $4,761,120 across two blocks, suggests institutional conviction in a near-term recovery. ABT is currently trading at $88.075, meaning the $95 strike requires only a roughly 7-8% move to reach the money, a relatively modest hurdle given the stock's 52-week high of $139.05.
• Bear Case: All three contracts are out of the money, and ABT is already down 2.82% on the session. The stock sits deep in the lower half of its 52-week range, and persistent selling pressure could push shares toward the 52-week low of $81.97 before any options thesis plays out. High open interest percentages on the December calls also suggest these could be existing positions being added to rather than fresh directional bets.

The forward setup for Abbott is one of recovery or continued pressure. The stock has shed substantial ground from its 52-week high of $139.05, and the options market appears split between near-term bearish price action and longer-dated bullish positioning. The December expiration on the dominant trades gives the thesis roughly six months to develop, a timeframe that could encompass multiple earnings reports and potential product or regulatory catalysts. Traders watching the $95 level will want to monitor whether the stock can reclaim that zone as support or resistance, as it represents a key inflection point relative to both the current call positioning and the broader technical picture.

ABT Unusual Options Activity

Three unusual options contracts were flagged in ABT on June 17, 2026, all on the call side with zero puts in the unusual flow:

• Call, $120 strike, expires November 20, 2026: Volume of 550 contracts, open interest at 59% of total activity, out of the money, premium of $44,000.
• Call, $95 strike, expires December 18, 2026: Volume of 5,928 contracts, open interest at 74% of total activity, out of the money, premium of $3,675,360.
• Call, $95 strike, expires December 18, 2026: Volume of 1,872 contracts, open interest at 23% of total activity, out of the money, premium of $1,085,760.

The total unusual premium across all three contracts was $4,805,120, entirely concentrated in calls, with no put activity flagged. The put-to-call count stands at 0 puts versus 0 unusual puts, making this a purely bullish flow event.

ABT Seasonality

Mid-June has historically represented a transitional period for healthcare stocks ahead of summer trading, with volume patterns often thinning into late June and July. The aggressive December-dated positioning in today's flow suggests options traders are looking past near-term seasonal softness toward a potential second-half catalyst.

ABT Relative Performance

ABT's 2.82% decline on Wednesday placed it under pressure relative to the broader healthcare sector. Trading at $88.075 against a 52-week range of $81.97 to $139.05, the stock remains well below its annual highs and is navigating territory near multi-year support levels, underperforming peers that have shown more resilience in the current market environment.