AbbVie (ABBV 1.06%) is one of the globe's top drugmakers and it's quickly become a staple in dividend investors' portfolios since separating from Abbott Labs in 2013.

Big drug companies, such as AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 1.49%), and Amgen (AMGN 2.35%), offer investors predictable, dividend-boosting revenue regardless of the economy's whims and whispers. But investors are correct to wonder if AbbVie's dividend can be sustained in light of billions in at-risk revenue tied to the future patent expiration on its top selling drug, Humira.

In the following slideshow you'll see whether I think AbbVie's dividend is safe and gain insight into how AbbVie matches up with industry peers.