RULE Dividend

Dividends are payments per share reported as of the ex-dividend date. Profits can be allocated to retained earnings or paid to shareholders as dividends or stock buybacks. Shareholders receive dividends proportional to their shares. Dividends vary by company growth stage; rapidly growing companies often reinvest profits rather than pay dividends, while steady growth companies typically offer small, consistent dividends. Dividends can be qualified or non-qualified. Qualified dividends are taxed at the lower capital gains rate, while non-qualified dividends are taxed as regular income.

Read full definition.