shares of abbott laboratories abt rallied 28 in premarket trading wednesday after the health care company reported thirdquarter profit and sales that rose well above expectations with the strongest growth seen in its diagnostics business and provided an upbeat fullyear outlook net income rose to 252 billion or 117 a share from 176 billion or 69 cents a share in the yearago period excluding nonrecurring items adjusted earnings per share rose to 140 from 98 cents to beat the factset consensus of 94 cents sales grew 234 to 1093 billion above the factset consensus of 956 billion as nutrition sales rose 96 diagnostics sales increased 482 established pharmaceuticals sales grew 1515 and medical devices sales rose 146 sales growth outpaced the 139 rise in operating costs and expenses for 2021 the company expects adjusted eps of 500 to 510 compared with the factset consensus of 446 abbott labs stock has gained 90 year to date through tuesday while the sp 500 spx has rallied 203