Dividend Aristocrat Abbott Laboratories (ABT) will raise its dividend by 6 percent after spinning off AbbVie (ABBV). The 'old' Abbott (including AbbVie) wil increase its quarterly dividend by 6 percent to $0.54 in January, following the completion of the AbbVie spin-off on January 1st.

After the spin-off the 'new' Abbott Laboratories (with a portfolio of science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals) will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share, with the new company AbbVie starting with the remaining $0.40 per share on a quarterly basis. Because of this both companies will remain Dividend Aristocrats.

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company with a portfolio of science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals. The company's products include pharmaceuticals, nutritional, diagnostics, and vascular products. The Pharmaceutical Products segment includes a range of branded generic pharmaceuticals. Abbott’s Nutritional Products include a range of pediatric and adult nutritional products. Abbott has paid consecutive quarterly dividends since 1924.