NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (AP) — Abbott Laboratories' third-quarter earnings sank 44 percent to $538 million compared to last year, but the drugmaker's performance topped analysts' expectations. The North Chicago, Illinois-based company also said Wednesday that it narrowed its forecast for 2014 earnings. In the third quarter, Abbott, which also makes infant formula and medical devices, earned $538 million, or 36 cents per share.