**This is a post “in-progress.” New formulas will be added, when possible, until it is completed.
Dividends are a simple concept. However, there are a lot of questions regarding their calculation.
This post attempts to answer most of those questions. If you’re wondering “how to calculate dividend _?”, the answer is probably here.
These answers are pretty straightforward, so little or no explanation is provided. Make sure you know your mathematics order of operations.
The different facets of dividend calculation are listed in alphabetical order.
Keep in mind that the same dividend calculation can have several different names.
Contents
- Amount, Amount per share, Forward, Annualized, Annual, Annual dividend per share
- Amount from dividend yield, Amount based on yield
- After tax
- APY
- Annual income, Benefits
- Basis for reinvestment, Cost basis for dividend reivestment plan
- From balance sheet, Yield from balance sheet, Cash flow, Declared, Paid
- Cover, Coverage ratio
- Compound
- CAGR
- Cash per share, dividends per share (common)
- Discount model
- DRIP
Most recent dividend (per share) × annual frequency of dividends
The dividend amount you see when looking at a stock quote.
Example:
$.22 dividend per share
4 payments (quarterly)
= $.22 × 4
= $.88

Amount from dividend yield, Amount based on yield
Current dividend yield × current stock price
Use the dividend yield to calculate the annual dividend per share
Example:
0.59% dividend yield
$149.83 current stock price
= .0059 × 149.83
= $.88
Keep in mind that dividend yields aren’t as up-to-date as share prices.
After tax
Dividend amount (or yield) × (1 – marginal tax rate)
How much of your dividends you get to keep after taxes.
Example (dollars):
$.88 dividend amount
15% marginal tax rate
= .88 × (1 – .15)
= $.748
Example (yield):
.59% dividend yield
15% marginal tax rate
= .0059 × (1 – .15)
= .5015%
APY
(1 + (dividends received ÷ stock purchase price)) ^ (365 ÷ days held) – 1
The annualized yield realized after receiving dividends over a period of time.
Example:
$7.76 dividends received
$75.55 stock purchase price
773 days held (2 years, 43 days)
= (1 + (7.76 ÷ 75.55)) ^ (365 ÷ 773) – 1
= (1.10271 ^ .47219) – 1
= .0472, or 4.7%
Annual income, Benefits
Annual dividends per share × number of shares
Amount of dollars in dividend income you received/can expect over the course of a year.
Example:
$.88 annual dividends per share
1,000 shares
= .88 × 1,000
= $880
Basis for reinvestment, Cost basis for dividend reivestment plan
Total dividend reinvested ÷ number of shares purchased
The price at which dividends are reinvested via a DRIP.
Example:
$17.53 total dividend amount
.917 number of shares purchased
= 17.53 ÷ .917
= $19.1182
From balance sheet, Yield from balance sheet, Cash flow, Declared, Paid
This years’ net profit + last years’ retained earnings – this years’ retained earnings
(Dividend from balance sheet ÷ shares outstanding) ÷ share price
Using the balance sheet and income statement to determine the total amount of dividends paid to shareholders.
Example (dollars):
$1,343,000 this years’ net profit
$9,105,000 last years’ retained earnings
$6,896,000 this years’ retained earnings
= 1,343,000 + 9,105,000 – 6,896,000
= $3,552,000
Example (yield):
$3,552,000 dividend from balance sheet
871,000 shares outstanding
$213.19 share price
= 3,552,000 ÷ 871,000
= $4.08
= 4.08 ÷ 213.19
= 1.9%

Cover, Coverage ratio
Earnings per share ÷ dividend per share
The number of times a company could (theoretically) pay dividends to common stockholders with current earnings.
Example:
$7.36 earnings per share
$4.08 dividend per share
= 7.36 ÷ 4.08
= 1.80
Compound
Dividend amount × total number of shares purchased via DRIP
The contribution of dividends received from shares purchased via reinvestment.
Example:
$4.08 dividend amount
2.105 shares purchased via DRIP
= 4.08 × 2.105
= $8.59
CAGR
((Current dividend amount ÷ beginning dividend amount) ^ (1 ÷ years the stock has been owned)) – 1
The annualized growth rate of a dividend.
Example:
$4.08 current dividend
$3.64 beginning dividend amount
3 years the stock has been owned
= ((4.08 ÷ 3.64) ^ (1 ÷ 3)) – 1
= .039 (3.9%)
(Total cash dividends – preferred dividends) ÷ shares outstanding
Per-share cash dividends paid by a company to common stockholders.
Example:
$12,690 total cash dividends
$1,600 preferred dividends
3,087.4 shares outstanding
= (12,690 – 1,600) ÷ 3,087.4
= $3.59

Discount model
Expected dividend amount ÷ (equity cost of capital – expected dividend growth rate)
Performing stock valuation using the present value of all future dividends.
Example:
$4.28 expected dividend
7% equity cost of capital
5% expected dividend growth rate
= 4.28 ÷ (.07 – .05)
= $214.00
DRIP
Investment value with dividend reinvestment – investment value without reinvestment
The additional return received due to reinvestment of dividends. Investment value depends on shares purchased, dividends paid, stock price appreciation, dividend growth, and time held.
Example:
$27,000 investment value with dividend reinvestment
$23,000 investment value without reinvestment
= 27,000 – 23,000
= $4,000 (+17.4%)