Dividend Yield – Meaning, Formula and How to Calculate in 2023
What is Dividend Yield?
Dividend yield is a ratio that calculates the amount of cash dividend that a company pays to its shareholders in comparison to the current market value of each share. It is a parameter to measure how much you are earning for every rupee that you are investing in an equity.
You should ideally have a clear understanding of dividend yield if you are interested in value-oriented investing. Here’s a detailed rundown on dividend yield, how to calculate it and its importance in investment. Read on!
Dividend Yield Formula
You can use the following formula to calculate the dividend yield of a particular company stock:
- Dividend yield= Dividend per share / Market value of each share
All you have to do is to take the dividend provided by a company for each share and then divide it by the market value of each share. However, businesses can sometimes declare dividends in the form of gross dividends.
How to Calculate Dividend Yield?
The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the money a company pays to its shareholders for owning a stock by the current stock price and multiplying it by 100. So, when someone says high dividend yield, it means that a company pays a generous amount of its profits to shareholders of the company’s stock in the form of dividends.
Let’s take an example to understand this calculation in detail.
Dividend Yield Example
Suppose a company has declared ₹10 lakh in the form of a cash dividend. It will pay this amount in the current year. It has a total of 10,000 outstanding common stocks. So, the amount of dividend for each share will stand at:
- Dividend for each share = Total cash dividend / Outstanding common stock
So, here it would be = 10,00,000 / 10,000 = 100
The dividend for each share of this company would stand at ₹100. Now, to find its dividend yield, you need to divide it by its current market price. Let’s assume the current market price of each share of this company is ₹1,000.
As per the formula, the dividend yield of this company would be:
= 100 / 1000
= 0.1 or 10%
Is Higher Dividend Yield Better?
Investors could benefit from investing in high dividend yield stocks. These can double as a steady source of income for investors. Often, dividends earned passively are reinvested by investors in the stock market to generate more returns. The benefits of high dividend yield stocks are that investors can earn more via share price appreciation as well as through distribution.
However, you need to pay heed to the following factors before investing in high dividend yield stocks: a) consistency in paying dividend b) growth in the percentage of dividend
Why is Dividend Yield Important?
By analysing the dividend yield, you can find out the right investment opportunities as per your income needs. Here’s how a dividend yield can help you with your investments:
1. Accurate Comparison of Stocks
The dividend yield will make it easier to make an accurate comparison of the relative value of the share price of a stock with its peers. If its dividend yield is more or less at par with its sector peers, it could be a suitable option for investment.
2. Assessment of a Company’s Financial Strength
Another significant benefit of dividend yield is that it helps to assess the financial prowess and stability of a business. High dividend yield stocks are generally from mature companies offering dividends that grow year over year.
When a company hikes its dividend, and consequently the yield ratio, consistently, it indicates the company is performing well. A higher dividend yield shows that a business can afford to pay more profits to its shareholders.
Those companies that provide regular dividend hikes are often considered mature companies. As value investors tend to prefer such companies, they are capable of performing well even during market volatility.
Also Read
Dividend Rate vs Dividend Yield
Dividend is the profit an investor earns from stock or dividend-yielding assets during that financial year. It is expressed in rupees.
A dividend yield, on the other hand, is the ratio between the company’s annual dividend per share and the current share price. It is represented in percentages.
| Dividend Yield | Dividend Rate |
| Represents the percentage return of the dividend paid relative to the stock price | Represents the actual amount of dividend paid per share |
| Calculated as (Annual Dividend per Share / Stock Price) x 100 | Calculated as Annual Dividend per Share |
| Can be used to compare the relative value of dividends across different stocks | Cannot be used to compare the relative value of dividends across different stocks |
| Can fluctuate based on changes in stock price | Does not fluctuate based on changes in stock price |
| A high yield can indicate a good investment opportunity, but may also be a warning sign of an unsustainable dividend | A high rate can be indicative of a company’s strength and financial stability |
Advantages of Dividend Yield
1. Passive Income Mode
Dividend payout to investors actually goes into the pockets of the investors. Hence, it works as a passive income for the investors.
2. Return on Investment
If the company is doing well, the share price will eventually rise with time. This gives an investor an additional return on investment.
3. Dividend Reinvestment
An excellent method to make the best out of dividends earned is to reinvest them. Reinvestment of dividends will give you the benefit of compounding returns. It is also known as the “dividend snowball effect” and is a powerful tool for building wealth over a long period.
4. Shield Against Inflation
Inflation is the constant increase in the price of the goods and services we consume on a daily basis. Investment in dividend stock can provide a barrier against inflation.
5. Favourable Tax Treatment
Tax treatments are subjective to every individual, depending on the situation and the object. However, it is observed that dividend stocks have gotten favourable tax as compared to the other sources of income.
Disadvantages of Dividend Yield
Now that you have known about the advantages of investing in dividend stocks, here are some of the drawbacks you should know about.
1. Risk Appetite
When compared to other stocks, dividend stocks involve more risk on investment. Share prices fluctuate frequently, and they might drop a lot at times.
2. Specification
Dividend stocks tend to perform well in some sectors when compared to others. Hence, investors should be careful about portfolio segmentation. A diversified portfolio will be able to hold your wealth better in times of economic crisis.
Final Word
Dividend yield can be a valuable tool for investors to assess the potential return on their investment in a particular stock, and can provide them a steady source of income too. But caution should be exercised to ensure that the dividend is sustainable. Also keep in mind that dividend yield is just one factor to consider when making investment decisions and should be used in conjunction with other financial metrics.
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FAQs
The dividend yield of a company might see a spike after a fall in the stock market. If this decline is due to fundamental economic issues, then the businesses will reduce their dividends to bring the yield back to a normal range.
The dividend yield of a company implies the rate of return in the form of a dividend from a company. The dividend payout ratio shows how much of the net earnings of a company is being paid in the form of its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is more connected with the cash flow of a company.
If you are keen on value investing, you should remember that dividend yield will differ across industries. IT and electronics industry stocks usually tend to provide negligible dividend yields. On the other hand, FMCG or PSUs generally provide stable yields.
A good dividend yield typically ranges from 2% to 6%. For instance, a company with a stock price of ₹100 and a dividend payout of ₹5 per share has a yield of 5%. The yield can vary by industry and market conditions.
A 7% dividend yield can be considered good, but it depends on the industry and market conditions of the company.
A risky dividend yield is a high yield that may not be sustainable due to the company’s financial health, leading to a potential dividend cut in the future.
A 7% dividend yield is a percentage indicating that a company pays out dividends equivalent to 7% of its stock price, typically considered a high yield in many markets.
A negative dividend yield is not good because it means that the company is not paying any dividends to shareholders, or the dividend payout is less than the stock price.
Dividend yield in mutual funds refers to the ratio of dividend paid by the mutual fund scheme to its net asset value (NAV). It is an important parameter for investors who seek regular income from their investments. The dividend yield may vary depending on the type of mutual fund scheme and market conditions. As per SEBI, mutual funds with dividend payouts options are now known as Income Distribution cum Capital Withdrawal plans or IDCWs.
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This article has been prepared on the basis of internal data, publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. The information contained in this article is for general purposes only and not a complete disclosure of every material fact. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. The article does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Readers shall be fully liable/responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this article.
