Updates
** Shares of medical device maker Abbott ABT.N rise 5.4% to $133.05
** ABT is the top performer on the S&P 500 .SPX index on Wednesday
** Stock has its best day since April 2023, if gains hold
** ABT, in a conference call, says it doesn't expect any tariff impact in Q2
** Impact of tariffs is projected to be a few hundred million dollars in 2025 - company
** ABT reaffirms its annual profit per share forecast of between $5.05 and $5.25, but beats Q1 earnings estimate
** Company says two new manufacturing and R&D investments in Illinois and Texas, totaling $500 million, are projected to go live by the end of 2025
** Up to last close, stock up 11.6% YTD
(Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru)
((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))