Abbott is recalling the Ellipse Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) because electrical failures have been identified and determined to be due to a faulty manufacturing process causing some aluminum wires to be partially exposed.

In 2018, medtech companies had a great deal of cash on hand they were eager to spend that capital on acquisitions. Boston Scientific nearly made a move to acquire a company month. But is that the same story in 2019? Do medtech companies have the same hunger as they did in 2018? The answer is no according to Mike Matson, an analyst with Needham & Co. In a research note, Matson wrote when compared to 2018, both the "number of M&A deals and the dollar volume of deals appear likely to decline in 2019."

Where will Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) be in 10 years? That's easy: In Chicago, of course, where it's headquartered today.

So, now that the smart aleck answer is out of the way, let's talk about what investors really want to know -- where the healthcare company's business will look like a decade from now. Insights on that score can be key in determining whether or not you'll think that investing in Abbott is a good idea.