Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) will increase its quarterly dividend by 15.4 percent from 13 cents to 15 cents. With a current market cap of $21 billion the buybacks are equal to more than 5% of the total number of shares outstanding.

In 2012 Thermo Fisher reinstated its quarterly dividend after more than 10 years. The last dividend dated from 2001. This year already three quarterly dividends of 13 cents were paid, followed now by an increased quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. makes products that help its customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity. The company's segments are Analytical Instruments, Life Sciences Solutions, Specialty Diagnostics and Laboratory Products & Services. Thermo Fisher's brands include Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services. The company has been paying a dividend every year since 2012.