Abbott declares quarterly dividend

The board of directors of Libertyville Township-based Abbott Laboratories declared a quarterly common dividend of 48 cents per share.

This marks the 352nd consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by Abbott since 1924, the company said in a release. The cash dividend is payable Feb. 15, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Jan. 13.

Abbott has increased its dividend payout for 39 consecutive years and is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for 25 consecutive years.