Dividend Aristocrat Becton Dickinson and Company (BDX) will raise its quarterly dividend by 2.6 percent to $0.79 per share. This follows a 2 cent dividend hike to 77 cents last year.

The next dividend will be payable on December 31, 2019 to holders of record on December 10, 2019.  The indicated annual dividend rate for fiscal year 2020 is $3.16 per share and yields 0.8% at a stock price of $260.

In today's press release the company states:  "Our performance in fiscal year 2019 demonstrates our ability to overcome multiple headwinds and deliver on our financial and operational goals. There are significant opportunities ahead to leverage the capabilities we've built to better serve our customers and their patients around the world as BD enters its next phase of value creation," said Vincent A. Forlenza, Chairman and CEO.  "Once again, we have raised our dividend for the 48th consecutive year.  This increase reflects our confidence in our long-term outlook, as well as our ongoing commitment to create value and return capital to our shareholders."

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) is a global medical technology company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products used by healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. BD’s operations consist of three worldwide business segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences and BD Interventional. Becton, Dickinson and Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey in November 1906, as successor to a New York business started in 1897.