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# Dividend Per Share (DPS) Definition and Formula

## What Is Dividend Per Share (DPS)?

Dividend per share (DPS) is the sum of declared dividends issued by a company for every ordinary share outstanding. The figure is calculated by dividing the total dividends paid out by a business, including interim dividends, over a period of time, usually a year, by the number of outstanding ordinary shares issued.

A company's DPS is often derived using the dividend paid in the most recent quarter, which is also used to calculate the dividend yield.

### Key Takeaways

• Dividend per share (DPS) is the sum of declared dividends issued by a company for every ordinary share outstanding.
• DPS is calculated by dividing the total dividends paid out by a business, including interim dividends, over a period of time, usually a year, by the number of outstanding ordinary shares issued.
• DPS is an important metric to investors because the amount a firm pays out in dividends directly translates to income for the shareholder.
• A growing DPS over time can also be a sign that a company's management believes that its earnings growth can be sustained.
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## Understanding Dividend Per Share (DPS)

DPS is an important metric to investors because the amount a firm pays out in dividends directly translates to income for the shareholder. It is the most straightforward figure an investor can use to calculate their dividend payments from owning shares of a stock over time.

A consistent increase in DPS over time can also give investors confidence that the company's management believes that its earnings growth can be sustained.

### DPS Formula

\begin{aligned} &\text{DPS} = \frac { \text{D} - \text{SD} }{ \text{S} } \\ &\textbf{where:} \\ &\text{D} = \text{sum of dividends over a period (usually} \\ &\text{a quarter or year)} \\ &\text{SD} = \text{special, one-time dividends in the period} \\ &\text{S} = \text{ordinary shares outstanding for the period} \\ \end{aligned}

Dividends over the entire year, not including any special dividends, must be added together for a proper calculation of DPS, including interim dividends. Special dividends are dividends that are only expected to be issued once and are, therefore, not included. Interim dividends are dividends distributed to shareholders that have been declared and paid before a company has determined its annual earnings.

If a company has issued common shares during the calculation period, the total number of ordinary shares outstanding is generally calculated using the weighted average of shares over the reporting period, which is the same figure used for earnings per share (EPS).

## Why Is Dividend Per Share (DPS) Important to Investors?

DPS is an important metric to investors because the amount a firm pays out in dividends directly translates to income for the shareholder. It is the most straightforward figure an investor can use to calculate their dividend payments from owning shares of a stock over time. A consistent increase in DPS over time can also give investors confidence that the company's management believes that its earnings growth can be sustained.

## How Is DPS Calculated?

Dividends over the entire year, not including any special dividends, must be added together for a proper calculation of DPS, including interim dividends. Special dividends are dividends that are only expected to be issued once and are, therefore, not included. Interim dividends are dividends distributed to shareholders that have been declared and paid before a company has determined its annual earnings. If a company has issued common shares during the calculation period, the total number of ordinary shares outstanding is generally calculated using the weighted average of shares over the reporting period, which is the same figure used for earnings per share (EPS)

## What Is the Retention Ratio?

The retention ratio, also called the plowback ratio, is the proportion of earnings kept back in the business as retained earnings. It refers to the percentage of net income that is retained to grow the business, rather than being paid out as dividends. It is the opposite of the payout ratio, which measures the percentage of profit paid out to shareholders as dividends. This metric helps investors determine how much money a company is keeping to reinvest in the company's operations. Typically, newer companies have high retention ratios as they are investing earnings back into the company to accelerate growth.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
1. Macrotrends. "Coca-Cola - 56 Year Dividend History | KO." Accessed Sept. 5, 2021.

2. Macrotrends. "Walmart - 31 Year Dividend History | WMT." Accessed Sep. 5, 2021.

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