Exact Sciences' Sale to Abbott Clears HSR Waiting Period
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 06 2026
0mins
Should l Buy EXAS?
Source: seekingalpha
- Transaction Progress: Exact Sciences (EXAS) shares rose 0.5% as reports confirmed that the HSR waiting period for its $21 billion all-cash acquisition by Abbott Laboratories (ABT) expired on Thursday, indicating the deal has cleared antitrust scrutiny and boosting market confidence in its success.
- Market Reaction: Following the news, Abbott (ABT) shares also increased by 0.5%, reflecting investor optimism regarding the acquisition, which is expected to enhance Abbott's market share and growth in the cancer screening sector.
- Deal Background: Abbott announced the acquisition of Exact Sciences last November, valuing the deal at $105 per share, aimed at strengthening its competitive position in the cancer screening market, aligning with its long-term growth strategy.
- Investor Interest: Although Exact Sciences and Abbott did not immediately respond to media inquiries, the positive sentiment surrounding the deal may attract more investor attention, particularly regarding technological innovations and market potential in the cancer screening field.
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Analyst Views on EXAS
Wall Street analysts forecast EXAS stock price to fall
20 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
19 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 103.230
Low
78.00
Averages
100.20
High
105.00
Current: 103.230
Low
78.00
Averages
100.20
High
105.00
About EXAS
Exact Sciences Corporation is a provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests. The Company provides a portfolio of products for earlier cancer detection and treatment guidance. Its products and services focus on screening and precision oncology tests. It is focusing its research and development efforts on three main areas: Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Development, MCED Test Development and MRD Test Development. Its products and services include Cologuard test, Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test, Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score Test, Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score Test, OncoExTra Test, and Riskguard Test. Its flagship screening product, the Cologuard test, is a non-invasive, stool-based deoxyribonucleic acid (sDNA) screening test that utilizes a multi-target approach to detect DNA and hemoglobin biomarkers associated with colorectal cancer and pre-cancer. The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test examines the activity of 21 genes in a patient’s breast tumor tissue.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Financial Performance: The company reported a profit of $85.083 million for the fourth quarter, indicating strong financial health.
Market Position: The results suggest a competitive advantage in the market, reflecting effective business strategies and operations.
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- Revenue Growth: Exact Sciences reported Q4 2025 revenue of $878.4 million, a 23.1% increase from $713.4 million in 2024, indicating strong market demand and positioning the company for future expansion.
- Significant Loss Reduction: The company narrowed its Q4 net loss to $86 million from $864.6 million year-over-year, demonstrating substantial progress in cost control and operational efficiency, which enhances investor confidence.
- Improved Loss Per Share: Net loss per share improved from $4.67 to $0.45, reflecting a positive trend in profitability recovery that may attract more investor interest in the company's future earnings potential.
- Annual Performance Enhancement: For the full year 2025, revenue rose to $3.25 billion from $2.76 billion in 2024, while net loss decreased to $207.9 million, showcasing the company's efforts to improve financial health and providing a stronger foundation for future capital operations.
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- Diversified Business Structure: Abbott Laboratories operates across four business units—diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition, and established pharmaceuticals—ensuring that if one segment faces challenges, others can compensate, thereby enhancing overall financial stability.
- Medical Device Growth: Despite a decline in coronavirus testing sales impacting the diagnostics segment, the medical devices division reported double-digit sales growth in the latest quarter, demonstrating the company's strong performance in innovation and market demand.
- Acquisition-Driven Growth: Abbott is set to complete its acquisition of Exact Sciences, a leader in the cancer screening market, in the second quarter, a strategic move expected to further drive earnings growth and solidify its leadership in the healthcare sector.
- Sustained Dividend Growth: Abbott has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years, with a 70% increase over the past five years, currently paying $2.52 per share with a yield of 2.2%, showcasing the company's robust cash flow and commitment to shareholder returns.
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- Shareholder Rights Investigation: Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating companies like Coterra Energy Inc. and Exact Sciences Corporation for potential violations of federal securities laws and fiduciary duties to shareholders, aiming to protect investor rights and seek compensation.
- Coterra Energy Transaction: Coterra Energy Inc. is in a transaction with Devon Energy Corporation, offering shareholders 0.70 shares of Devon common stock for each share of Coterra, with Halper Sadeh LLC potentially seeking to increase the transaction consideration to safeguard shareholder interests.
- Exact Sciences Acquisition: Exact Sciences Corporation is being sold to Abbott for $105.00 per share in cash, and Halper Sadeh LLC encourages Exact shareholders to reach out to understand their legal rights, potentially seeking additional disclosures and compensation.
- Merger Investigation: The merger between Northfield Bancorp, Inc. and Columbia Financial, Inc. is also under investigation, with Halper Sadeh LLC representing shareholders to seek increased transaction consideration and other relief measures to ensure the protection of shareholder rights.
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