Dividends

A dividend is the distribution of profits by a corporation to its shareholders. When a corporation earns a profit or surplus, it is able to pay a portion of the profit as a dividend to shareholders. Any amount not distributed is taken to be re-invested in the business (called retained earnings). The current year's profit as well as the retained earnings of previous years are available for distribution; a corporation is usually prohibited from paying a dividend out of its capital. Distribution to shareholders may be in cash (usually by bank transfer) or, if the corporation has a dividend reinve

latest declared or latest announced dividend expressed as multiple of current share price

Policies in finance

shares distributed by a company to its current shareholders

date after which dividends go to seller of share

return on the capital assets and natural resources owned by society in a socialist economy

tax levied on stock earnings