Amgen Expects to Increase Dividend Meaningfully Through 2015 (AMGN)

At Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Global Healthcare Conference on Friday, Amgen, Inc.’s (AMGN) Investor Relations VP Arvind Sood suggested that the biotech company could boost its dividend meaningfully through 2015.

Sood believes that the company will be able to deliver significant EPS growth over the next two years. This is partially due to Amgen’s deal to acquire Onyxx Pharmaceuticals, which should be accretive to adjusted profit growth. As such, Sood said he sees Amgen boosting its dividend over that time frame, with a payout ratio of 75% to 80%. For more on payout ratios, see The Truth About Dividend Payout Ratio.

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By 2017, Sood believes that Amgen will hit global sales of $41 billion.

Amgen shares were up 54 cents, or 0.48%, during pre-market trading on Friday. The stock is up 31.62% year-to-date.