"Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is continuing its long record of rewarding shareholders," notes Alex Kolb In Zacks Elite, pointing to its 341st consecutive quarter of dividends.
"Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company that develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.
"The company recently released new data, showing that a combination of its new TriLipix triglycerides medicine and a low dose of AstraZeneca's Crestor cholesterol drug are better than the individual pills for treating heart problems.
"The company also recently acquired Advanced Medical Optics, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Abbott and thus renamed Abbott Medical Optics.
"Abbott Medical Optics holds the number one position in LASIK surgical devices, the number two position in the cataract surgical device market and the number three position in contact lens care products.
"The acquisition provides Abbott access to an estimated $22 billion global market and the opportunity to help a very large patient population.
"Meanwhile, the company continues its long record of rewarding shareholders. The company recently boosted its dividend by 11% to 40 cents per share which marked the 37th consecutive year of income payouts and 341st consecutive quarterly dividend paid since 1924.
"Abbott added that dividend is payable May 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 15. The dividend translates into an industry leading dividend yield of 3%.
"It is also worth mentioning that this income paying machine was named by a leading financial media outlet as one of its top five dividend stocks.
"In addition, ABT is a top performer of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for 25 consecutive years.
"Fundamentals are strong. Abbott Laboratories saw analysts lift full-year 2009 earnings estimates from $3.65 per share to $3.68 over the past 90 days. For the following year, projections climbed from $4.00 per share to $4.11 over the same time period.
"ABT, which has been outpacing the market lately, offers a return on equity (ROE) of 28%, surpassing an industry average that is in the negative. The company’s net profit margin of 16.5% is also stacked up against a negative industry average figure".
The Stock Advisors
www.thestockadvisors.com
"Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company that develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.
"The company recently released new data, showing that a combination of its new TriLipix triglycerides medicine and a low dose of AstraZeneca's Crestor cholesterol drug are better than the individual pills for treating heart problems.
"The company also recently acquired Advanced Medical Optics, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Abbott and thus renamed Abbott Medical Optics.
"Abbott Medical Optics holds the number one position in LASIK surgical devices, the number two position in the cataract surgical device market and the number three position in contact lens care products.
"The acquisition provides Abbott access to an estimated $22 billion global market and the opportunity to help a very large patient population.
"Meanwhile, the company continues its long record of rewarding shareholders. The company recently boosted its dividend by 11% to 40 cents per share which marked the 37th consecutive year of income payouts and 341st consecutive quarterly dividend paid since 1924.
"Abbott added that dividend is payable May 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 15. The dividend translates into an industry leading dividend yield of 3%.
"It is also worth mentioning that this income paying machine was named by a leading financial media outlet as one of its top five dividend stocks.
"In addition, ABT is a top performer of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for 25 consecutive years.
"Fundamentals are strong. Abbott Laboratories saw analysts lift full-year 2009 earnings estimates from $3.65 per share to $3.68 over the past 90 days. For the following year, projections climbed from $4.00 per share to $4.11 over the same time period.
"ABT, which has been outpacing the market lately, offers a return on equity (ROE) of 28%, surpassing an industry average that is in the negative. The company’s net profit margin of 16.5% is also stacked up against a negative industry average figure".
The Stock Advisors
www.thestockadvisors.com
