Among the many corporations that pay a dividend, some do so unpredictably and irregularly. Others rarely raise their payouts -- perhaps once every few years -- while others still quickly resort to dividend cuts once the going gets rough.

Those companies that can regularly pay and raise their dividends and do so for a long time are a special breed. Businesses of this kind often have the qualities of "forever stocks." That is the case for two healthcare giants: Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) and Johnson Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). These corporations' shares are worth investing in and holding on to for good. 

Abbott Laboratories is best known for its medical device business, although the company's portfolio is diversified. It operates across three other segments: diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and nutrition. It also boasts deep footprints in dozens of countries worldwide.

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Source Fool.com