Abbott Announces Increase in Quarterly Dividend

* Company Declares 349th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend



Abbott Park, Illinois (NYSE: ABT) — The board of directors of Abbott today increased the company’s quarterly common dividend 9 percent to 48 cents per share.

This marks the 39th consecutive year that Abbott has increased its dividend payout and the 349th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924. The cash dividend is payable May 16, 2011, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 15, 2011.

Abbott was recently named by Money as a smart dividend stock. Additionally, 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 (NYSE: ABT) is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.