dividend
- A share of the company earnings paid out quarterly to stockholders, usually in cash, but sometimes in the form of additional shares of stock.
CA Dept of Corporations - Cite This Source - This Definition - A distribution of money or other property made by a corporation or other entity to its shareholders or investors out of its earnings and profits.
US Army Financial Disclosure Management - Cite This Source - This Definition Corporations may pay part of their earnings as dividends to you and other shareholders as a return on your investment. These dividends, which are often declared quarterly, are usually in the form of cash, but may be paid as additional shares or scrip.
You may be able to reinvest cash dividends automatically to buy additional shares if the corporation offers a dividend reinvestment program (DRIP).
Dividends are taxable unless you own the investment through a tax-deferred account, such as an employer sponsored retirement plan or individual retirement annuity (IRA). That applies whether you reinvest them or not.
However, dividends on most US and many international stocks are considered qualifying dividends. That means you owe tax at your long-term capital gains rate provided you have owned the stocks the required length of time.
Dividends on real estate investment trusts (REITs), mutual savings banks, and certain other investments aren't considered qualifying and are taxed at your regular rate.
Yahoo Finance - Cite This Source - This Definition- Capital gains distribution, Depositary bank, distribution, Earnings, Fund family, Income stock, Investment Income, Phantom gains, Sell short
- A periodic payment or distribution of earnings made by a company to stockholders.
South Carolina Retirement Systems - Cite This Source - This Definition - distribution, Lump-sum distribution, Refund, Single-Sum Distribution