Dividend Aristocrat Becton Dickinson and Company (BDX) will raise its quarterly dividend by 5.1 percent to 83 cents per share in 2020. This comes after a 2.6 percent dividend hike announced by the medical devices maker to $0.79 per share last year.

The next dividend will be payable on December 31, 2020 to holders of record on December 10, 2020. The indicated annual dividend rate for fiscal year 2021 is $3.32 per share and yields 1.5% at a stock price of $227.47.

In the press release dated November 24, 2020, the company comments on this new dividend hike: "This is the 49th consecutive fiscal year in which we have raised our dividend.  This increase reflects our confidence in our long-term outlook, as well as our ongoing commitment to return capital to our shareholders and create value for all stakeholders," said Tom Polen, CEO and president of BD.  "COVID-19 has a significant impact on health care utilization globally.  However, our strong execution enabled us to respond swiftly to the pandemic and close the year delivering revenue growth in fiscal Q4, offsetting continued COVID-19 headwinds with the launch of multiple innovative COVID-19 diagnostic solutions while at the same time advancing our long-term growth strategy. We remain focused on partnering with governments, health care systems, and health care professionals to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic—including providing access to our SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics tests and injection devices for future global vaccinations campaigns—as well as supplying products and solutions for ongoing care for patients around the world. We are steadfast in our commitments, including completing our Alaris 510(k) submission, investing in growth initiatives, simplifying our processes, and empowering our organization."

Becton Dickinson will now pay an estimated $962 million in dividends to its shareholders annually. Dividend growth had slowed in the past three years following acquisitions by the company. The last double digit dividend hike was announced by BD in 2016, with a 10.6 percent increase.

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.