Becton Dickinson | Dividend raised for 50th consecutive year

Becton Dickinson will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.8%

Dividend Aristocrat Becton Dickinson (ticker: BDX) will raise its quarterly dividend by 4.8 percent to $0.87 per share, marking the 50th year in a row of increased dividends by the medical equipment maker.

Becton, Dickinson and Company will pay the increased dividend of 87 cents per share on December 31, 2021 to holders of record on December 10, 2021. The ex-dividend date for the next BDX dividend is December 9, 2021. The indicated annual dividend rate for fiscal year 2022 is $3.48 per share and yields 1.4% at a stock price of $244. Last year BDX hiked its dividend by 5 percent.

"Few companies have hit the milestone of a half century of consecutive dividend increases, and it is a source of pride to do so," said Tom Polen, chairman, CEO and president of BD. "The dividend increase and share repurchase authorization speak directly to BD's commitment to create value and return capital to shareholders, which are central outcomes to our BD 2025 strategy." 

This dividend increase marks the 50th consecutive year and maintains BD's membership in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years.

Becton also announced a share repurchase program of up to 10 million shares of Becton Dickinson common stock in addition to the approximately 750,000 shares that remain available under the board's previous authorization in 2013. Becton has raised its dividend by an average of 3.6 percent based on the last five calendar years. Last year the dividend was increased by 5 percent, up from 2.6 percent in 2019.

Becton Dickinson is a global medical technology company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of a range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. Becton Dickinson operates through segments including BD Medical, BD Life Sciences and BD Interventional. The company has raised its dividend for 50 consecutive years and is one of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats.