Dividend Value Builder Newsletter

Dividend Yield: Definition, Calculation, & Relationship

by KenFaulkenberry | Investment Analysis

The dividend yield has historically provided approximately one-half of long term total stock market returns to investors. It’s a little less than one-half for those who take their dividend and little over one-half for those who reinvest their dividends.

Anyway you assess it dividends provide value and are heavily sought out by investors. Dividends are real, they can’t be fabricated or brought about by dishonest bookkeeping.

What is a Dividend?

A dividend is a payment (usually cash) divided among shareholders of a company. In most cases, it’s a distribution of profits left over after the company has paid its expenses, met its debt obligations, and set aside money for capital expenditures.

Dividends are usually declared as a per share distribution for each share outstanding. For instance if company XYZ declares a quarterly dividend of $1.00 with 1 million shares outstanding, the total company dividend would be 1 million per quarter or 4 million per year. The annual dividend per share payable would be $4.00.

Dividend Yield Definition

Dividend yield is the annual dividend per share of a company compared to the price of the stock expressed as a percentage. In other words it tells you the percentage dividend return the stock owner receives based on the current price of a stock.

Dividend Yield Calculation

Dividend Yield = Annual Dividends Per Share / Stock price

Our Example:

XYZ Company:
Pays a dividend of $4 per year ($1 per quarter)
Current Stock Price = $160

Dividend Yield = $4 / $160 = 2.5%

If you own or buy this stock you would be receiving a 2.5% dividend yield on XYZ’s current stock price.

Dividend Yield and Dividend Payout Ratio Relationship

Dividend Yield is only one of many factors you should consider when analyzing a company stock. The dividend payout ratio would be the next most important factor as it is the connection, and in many ways the antithesis (a contrast or opposition between two things), of the dividend yield.

The dividend payout ratio indicates the percentage of profits (or cash flow) the company is paying in dividends. Ideally an investor wants a high dividend yield and a low dividend payout ratio. The least favorable situation would be a low dividend yield and a high payout ratio.

In most situations they are correlated. In other words as a general rule, high yielding stocks are paying a large percentage of their earnings or cash flow in dividends, and low yielding stocks are paying a smaller percentage of their earnings or cash flow out in dividends.

Interested in Dividends?

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A fast growing company might choose to reinvest its profits for future growth and allocate less cash to dividends. Everything else being equal this company might experience faster future growth to compensate for a lower dividend yield.

A mature stable company might not require as much capital investment and choose to pay a higher percentage of its profits or cash flow in dividends. Everything else being equal this company might experience slower future growth but provide a higher dividend yield today.

Additional Reading:
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Disclaimer
While Arbor Investment Planner has used reasonable efforts to obtain information from reliable sources, we make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of third-party information presented herein. The sole purpose of this analysis is information. Nothing presented herein is, or is intended to constitute investment advice. Consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions.