Dividend yield and gross income estimates
Current yield compares the annualized dividend per share with today’s entered share price. Yield on cost compares that same dividend with your average purchase cost. Annual income scales the per-share amount by shares held; the monthly figure is an annual average rather than a promise of monthly payments.
For a return that includes a change in investment value, use the ROI Calculator .
The formula
The selected frequency is 1, 2, 4, or 12 equal payments per year. Use one annual total for trailing-twelve-month dividends, or a regular payment and its frequency for a constant-payment estimate. Income is gross, assumes unchanged shares and dividends, and is rounded to cents only for display. All per-share values must use the same currency.
Quarterly dividends on 100 shares
A 0.50 dividend per share paid quarterly annualizes to 2.00 per share. At a current share price of 50, yield is 4%. With 100 shares, annual gross income is 200.00, each quarterly payment is 50.00, and the monthly average is 16.67. A purchase cost of 40 gives 5% yield on cost.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the current share price and dividend per share per payment in one currency.
- Choose the payment frequency; use the annual option when entering a full past-year dividend total.
- Enter shares held and average purchase cost per share, then calculate yield and gross income.
Distinguish a trailing total from an annualized payment
Adding the actual dividends paid over the previous twelve months describes historical income. Multiplying one ordinary dividend by its recurring frequency describes a constant-payment scenario. Do not annualize a special one-time distribution as though it repeats. If payments changed during the year, the historical total and the latest payment multiplied by frequency will give different yields.
Yield on cost uses a different denominator
Your purchase price determines yield on cost; the current price determines current yield. The distinction explains why two holders of the same shares can have the same current yield and different yields on cost. This historical cost ratio does not include capital gains, capital losses, sales proceeds, or the return you could earn by investing elsewhere.
A monthly average is not a payment schedule
Quarterly income averaged over twelve months can help describe a budget, but cash still arrives according to declared payment dates. This calculator does not fetch ex-dividend dates, confirm eligibility, deduct withholding, or reinvest payments. A share-price decline can raise the computed percentage even with an unchanged dividend, and a dividend cut changes the income scenario. Yield alone does not measure a company’s financial strength.
Assumptions & limitations
What this calculation assumes
- The entered regular dividend and share count stay constant over the annualized period.
- Current price, purchase cost, and dividend use one currency.
What to keep in mind
- User-supplied data only; no live quotes, company dividend verification, or payment-date calendar.
- No tax, fees, reinvestment, dividend growth, special distributions, or total-return calculation.
- Payments can change or stop; the percentage is a calculation rather than a guaranteed investment return.
Common questions
Can I enter the dividends paid over the past twelve months?
Yes. Enter their per-share total and select Annual / one total per year. This gives a trailing yield using your entered current price.
Why does yield rise when price falls?
With an unchanged annual dividend, dividing by a lower price gives a larger percentage. It does not increase cash income or establish that the investment is more attractive.
Are fractional shares supported?
Yes. Income multiplies by the entered fractional share count. Actual payment rounding and eligibility depend on the broker or issuer.