Abbott Laboratories (ABT) 10-K 2016 FY Annual report

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Unaudited)
(dollars in millions)

	2016			2015			2014			2013			2012
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	$	1,063		$	2,606		$	1,721		$	1,988		$	237	(a)
ADD (DEDUCT)
Taxes on earnings from continuing operations		350			577			797			53			(457	)
Amortization of capitalized interest, net of capitalized interest		(8	)		(3	)		(3	)		(6	)		(3	)
Noncontrolling interest		20			17			13			13			12
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AS ADJUSTED	$	1,425		$	3,197		$	2,528		$	2,048		$	(211	)
FIXED CHARGES
Interest on long-term and short-term debt		431			163			150			145			320
Capitalized interest cost		22			15			13			15			12
Rental expense representative of an interest factor		97			85			87			90			100
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES	$	550		$	263		$	250		$	250		$	432
TOTAL ADJUSTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT OF FIXED CHARGES	$	1,975		$	3,460		$	2,778		$	2,298		$	221
RATIO OF EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO FIXED CHARGES		3.6			13.1			11.1			9.2			0.5

(a)

2012 includes $1,351 million for the net loss on extinguishment of debt.

NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings from continuing operations have been calculated by adjusting earnings from continuing operations for taxes on earnings from continuing operations; interest expense; amortization of capitalized interest, net of capitalized interest; noncontrolling interests; and the portion of rentals representative of the interest factor, (ii) Abbott considers one-third of rental expense to be the amount representing return on capital, and (iii) fixed charges comprise total interest expense, including capitalized interest and such portion of rentals.

QuickLinks

Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited) (dollars in millions)