GUIDESINVESTMENTS
How to Calculate Dividend Per Share: Formula, Process, Example
5 MIN • 
LAST EDITED BY SHEFAALI BOPANA ON APRIL 21, 2025.
LAST EDITED BY SHEFAALI BOPANA ON APRIL 21, 2025.
GUIDES LAST EDITED BY SHEFAALI BOPANA ON APRIL 21, 2025.
One of the many reasons why investing in stocks is a good idea is because of the dividends they give. This distribution of a company’s profits helps instil good faith among investors.
Calculating Dividend Per Share (DPS) is a fundamental aspect of evaluating an investment's income potential. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting your financial journey, how to calculate dividend per share is crucial to understand.
In this easy-to-follow guide, we'll walk you through the ins and outs of DPS calculation with dividend per share formula and straightforward examples for finding dividends per share. By the end, you'll have a clear grasp of assessing the dividend income you can expect from your investments.
Dividends per share is a financial measure that shows how much of a company's earnings are given to each shareholder per share. If a company makes money, it can choose to give that money to its shareholders as dividends or use it to grow the business. Dividend per share shows how much money a company gives for each share during a specific period of time.
Understanding DPS (Dividends Per Share) is crucial for evaluating a company's financial performance for several reasons. It also helps you calculate dividend per share.
DPS provides insight into the income generated for shareholders. It helps investors assess the company's ability to provide a return on their investment through dividends.
Consistent or increasing DPS over time suggests financial stability and profitability, which can attract investors seeking steady income.
Calculating dividend yield (DPS divided by the stock price) helps investors compare the income generated by different stocks, aiding investment decisions.
DPS reflects a company's cash flow for distribution to shareholders, indicating its financial health.
Companies with a history of reliable dividend payments can build investor confidence and trust.
Understanding DPS can provide insights into a company's dividend policy and its commitment to distributing profits to shareholders.
Changes in DPS can signal a company's growth potential or financial challenges, influencing investment strategies.
There are two methods to determine how to calculate dividends per share:
Method #1:
Method #2:
Here, dividend payout ratio = total dividends / net income
ITC has distributed annual dividends of ₹20 lakh over the past few years. Shares outstanding at the start of the time frame were 400,000, and shares at the conclusion were 700,000.
Here's how to determine ITC dividends per share:
Using the Dividend Per Share (DPS) formula, we get:
DPS = Dividend / Number of shares = ₹20 lakh / 5.5 lakh shares = ₹3.64 per share.
Interpreting DPS (Dividends Per Share) involves comparing it to historical data, calculating dividend yield, considering stability, and examining the payout ratio, industry benchmarks, and the company's financial health, goals, and market conditions to assess its potential as an investment.
High and low DPS (Dividends Per Share) values can indicate different aspects of a company's dividend policy:
In summary, high DPS values indicate a more generous and income-focused dividend policy, while low DPS values suggest a more conservative approach focused on growth and reinvestment. The interpretation may vary depending on investors' income needs and investment objectives.
Dividend payments can help attract investors, indicate the strength of a company, or provide investment opportunities. However, companies may choose not to issue dividends for various reasons. While dividend payments are an essential factor to consider, they should not be the only factor. Investors should also consider the company's financial health, management, and industry trends.
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Dividend Per Share (DPS) is a financial metric that represents the portion of a company's earnings distributed to shareholders for each share they own. It's essential for investors because it provides insights into a company's dividend policy, financial stability, and potential for income generation. Investors use DPS to assess the attractiveness of a stock as an income-generating investment and evaluate the company's commitment to rewarding shareholders.
To calculate Dividend Per Share (DPS) for a company, use the following formula:
DPS = Total Dividends Paid / Total Number of Outstanding Shares
The Dividend Per Share (DPS) formula consists of two main components:
By dividing the total dividends paid by the total number of outstanding shares, you calculate the DPS, which indicates the amount of dividend income attributed to each share.
The number of outstanding common shares is significant in DPS (Dividend Per Share) calculation because it determines how the total dividend amount is distributed among shareholders.
A higher number of outstanding shares means that the dividend amount is spread across more shares, resulting in a lower DPS per share. Conversely, a lower number of outstanding shares leads to a higher DPS per share, indicating a potentially more substantial dividend income for individual shareholders.
To find the dividend paid to common shareholders for DPS (Dividend Per Share) calculation, you can refer to a company's financial statement, particularly in the income statement or statement of cash flows. Look for the line item that represents explicitly the total dividend payments made to common shareholders during a given period, such as a fiscal year or quarter. This figure is the "Total Dividends Paid" component required for the DPS formula.
