Abbott Laboratories just extended one of the longest payment streaks in American business. The healthcare company’s board declared a quarterly common dividend of 63 cents per share on September 17, 2026 — the 411th consecutive quarterly dividend Abbott has paid since 1924.
The cash payment goes out on November 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 15. At a recent share price of 102.19, the indicated yield sits near 2.5 percent.
The setup
Abbott is a Dividend King — one of the few companies with more than 50 consecutive years of annual dividend increases. The company marked its 54th straight year of higher dividends with the February 2026 declaration, when the board also noted that the payout has grown more than 70 percent since 2020.
Healthcare dividends carry particular weight for income investors. Diagnostics, medical devices, nutrition, and established pharmaceuticals generate demand that does not swing with the consumer cycle. Abbott’s payout has now survived a century of rate environments since the first check went out in 1924.
Key numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Quarterly dividend | $0.63 per share |
| Annualized dividend | $2.52 per share |
| Indicated yield at $102.19 | 2.47% |
| Record date | October 15, 2026 |
| Payment date | November 16, 2026 |
| Consecutive quarterly dividends | 411 since 1924 |
| Consecutive annual increases | 54 years through 2026 |
For income-focused portfolios, here is what the payout produces at current prices.
| Position size | Approx. shares | Quarterly income | Annual income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | 978 | $616.14 | $2,464.56 |
| $250,000 | 2,446 | $1,540.98 | $6,163.92 |
A retiree holding a quarter-million dollars of Abbott stock collects about 1,541 dollars every quarter, or more than 6,100 dollars a year, before any future increases.
What to watch
Watch the analyst consensus. Aggregated ratings trackers place the consensus price target between roughly 119 and 124, about 17 to 21 percent above the recent price of 102.19, based on estimates from more than 40 covering analysts. Consensus targets are not promises, but the spread reflects Wall Street’s view that the shares trade below their earnings power.
Watch the next increase cycle. Abbott’s 54th consecutive annual raise was declared in December 2025 with the higher rate first paid in February 2026. If the streak continues, the 55th increase would follow the same pattern, with an announcement expected in the closing months of 2026.
Watch rates. The 10-year Treasury yield spent this week straddling the 5 percent mark after the Federal Reserve’s September 16 rate increase. Income stocks compete with bonds for conservative money, and every basis point of yield matters at the margin.
Bottom line
Abbott offers a rare combination: a meaningful starting yield and a growth streak that has survived every market cycle since the Coolidge administration. The stock is not a fast mover, and it does not need to be. For conservative income investors, the case is the 2.47 percent yield, 54 straight years of increases, and a payout that has grown more than 70 percent since 2020. That combination makes Abbott one of the steadier names in a healthcare sleeve.
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