Abbott Laboratories (ABT) will raise its quarterly dividend from $0.26 to $0.265 per share. The cash dividend is payable Feb. 15, 2017, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 13, 2017 and  marks the 372nd consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924.

Dividend Aristocrat Abbott has increased its dividend for 45 consecutive years now. The new annual dividend of $1.06 per share translates into an estimated yield of 2.7% at a stock price of $39.20.

Abbott Laboratories is engaged in the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of a broad line of health care products. 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. Through St. Jude Medical the company offers products, such as rhythm management products, electrophysiology products, heart failure related products, vascular products, structural heart products and neuromodulation products. Abbott has paid consecutive quarterly dividends since 1924.