ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Dec. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today increased the company's quarterly common dividend to $0.24 per share from $0.22 per share.

This marks the 364(th )consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924. The cash dividend is payable Feb. 13, 2015, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 15, 2015.

This will mark the 43(rd) consecutive year the company has increased its dividend payout. Abbott is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for 25 consecutive years.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 69,000 people.

Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews.

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SOURCE Abbott