Becton Dickinson (BDX) hikes dividend by 1%
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) announced a 1.0% increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.06 per share on November 5, 2026. The latest hike extends the medical technology company's dividend growth streak to 55 consecutive years, maintaining its status as a Dividend Aristocrat. However, the increase matches the modest 1.0% hike in 2025, marking two consecutive years of minimal dividend growth.
The new quarterly dividend brings Becton Dickinson's annualized payout to $4.24 per share. Based on the reference share price of $211.88 on October 26, 2026, the dividend yield stands at approximately 2.0%. The ex-dividend date is December 10, 2026, with payment scheduled for December 31, 2026.
Becton Dickinson Dividend Growth History: 55 Consecutive Years
Becton Dickinson has paid dividends since 1962 and has now increased its annual payout for 55 consecutive years. Despite this long history, dividend growth has slowed considerably. The company's five-year dividend compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stands at 4.0%, compared with 3.8% over the past ten years.
The latest 1.0% increase in 2026 is identical to the 2025 hike. Both represent the smallest annual dividend increases in the seven-year period shown below, contrasting with a 9.5% increase in 2024.
Becton Dickinson's dividend history illustrates a notable slowdown in recent years. The company raised its dividend by 5.1% in 2020, followed by increases of 4.8% in 2021, 4.6% in 2022 and 4.4% in 2023.
Dividend growth accelerated sharply to 9.5% in 2024, the largest increase during the seven-year period shown above. However, this was followed by an abrupt slowdown to just 1.0% in 2025, with an identical increase announced for 2026.
The two latest increases represent a considerable change compared with Becton Dickinson's earlier dividend growth record. The 2026 hike is 8.5 percentage points below the 2024 increase, while the new annualized dividend stands at $4.24 per share.
Despite the slowdown, the company has maintained its uninterrupted record of annual dividend increases. Its 55-year dividend growth streak remains intact, although the latest increases are substantially below the growth rates recorded earlier in the decade.
BDX Share Price, Dividend Yield and Market Value
As of October 26, 2026, Becton Dickinson shares had gained 41.6% year-to-date, with the stock trading at $211.88. The company's market capitalization stood at approximately $57.7 billion.
Based on the new annualized dividend of $4.24 per share, BDX's dividend yield stands at approximately 2.0% at the October 26 share price.
The company's estimated annual regular dividend distributions amount to approximately $1.2 billion. The new quarterly dividend of $1.06 represents an increase of approximately one cent per share compared with the previous payout.
Becton, Dickinson and Company is a global medical technology company that develops and manufactures medical devices, diagnostic systems and healthcare products. Its portfolio includes injection and infusion equipment, laboratory diagnostics and technologies used by hospitals, laboratories and other healthcare providers.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research or consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.