Finance / Investing
Dividend Yield Calculator
Calculate dividend yield, yield on cost or forward yield from your own figures. Find the share price or annual dividend needed for a target yield.
Dividend Yield Calculator: Dividend yield compares annual dividends per share with share price. Yield on cost compares that same annual dividend with your average purchase cost, so it answers a different question from current yield. Forward yield multiplies the latest dividend by the chosen number of payments per year and assumes that payment repeats. Monthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual payments correspond to 12, 4, 2 and 1 payments per year. Target modes rearrange the same equation to find a share price or an annual dividend. For example, an annual dividend of 2.40 at a price of 60 has a 4% gross yield; at an average cost of 40 it has a 6% yield on cost. These are calculations under your assumptions, not forecasts. Use consistent currencies and remember that fees, withholding and exchange rates are excluded. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
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This calculator uses your assumptions. It is not investment or tax advice. Enter all figures yourself; no market data or ticker lookup is used.
Yield = annual dividend per share ÷ price × 100. Yield on cost uses average cost instead of price. Forward yield annualises the latest payment and assumes it repeats. Required price = annual dividend ÷ target yield; required dividend = price × target yield. Percentages are divided by 100 in those two formulas.
Use the same currency for dividend, price and cost. These are gross yields before withholding, fees or currency conversion. A higher yield can reflect a falling share price; dividends can be cut or stopped.
Dividend yield
FINRA explains dividend yield as annual dividends divided by price (https://www.finra.org/investors/investing/investment-products/stocks). The entered dividend and price must use the same currency.
Annualisation and target arithmetic
Forward annual dividend = latest dividend × payments per year. Yield on cost = annual dividend ÷ average cost × 100. Required price = annual dividend ÷ (target % / 100); required dividend = price × target % / 100. Annualisation assumes an unchanged regular payment and does not predict a dividend declaration.
Investor.gov describes dividend reinvestment plans (https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/glossary/dividend-reinvestment-plans-drips). Reinvestment buys more shares with dividend cash.
How to use it
- Choose dividend yield, yield on cost, forward yield or a target-yield calculation.
- Enter your dividend, price or average cost; select payment frequency for forward yield.
- Read the gross yield or required price or dividend and check the assumptions.
Privacy & limitations
All assumptions are entered by you and calculated in your browser. No market data or ticker lookup is used. This is not investment or tax advice.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between yield and yield on cost?
Yield uses today's entered share price. Yield on cost uses your entered average purchase cost. With a 2.40 annual dividend, a price of 60 gives 4% and a cost of 40 gives 6%. Neither percentage includes capital gains.
How do I calculate a forward quarterly yield?
Enter the latest quarterly dividend and select quarterly payments. A payment of 0.30 becomes an assumed annual dividend of 1.20. Divide that amount by price; the payment may change in future.
What price gives a 5% yield on a 2.40 dividend?
The required price is 2.40 ÷ 0.05 = 48.00. This rearranges the yield equation; it is not a price target or a recommendation to buy.
Does a higher yield mean a better investment?
No. A falling price can raise a quoted yield while increasing risk. Dividends can be reduced or stopped, and a yield does not describe total return.
Is this investment or tax advice?
No. This calculator applies your entered assumptions and the stated arithmetic rules. It does not recommend investments, predict dividends or determine your tax liability.
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