Weighing the pros and cons of dividends | Union Bank & Trust (2024)

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of dividends? ›

If earnings are up, investors get a larger dividend and if earnings are down, investors may not receive a dividend. The primary drawback to the method is the volatility of earnings and dividends. It is difficult to plan financially when dividend income is highly volatile.

Not able to invest the available cash: The major drawback of distributing dividends is not able to grow the firm with the available cash. When the firm has lesser fund growth, the share value also will not increase. 2. Tax: Another disadvantage is that when the profit is not retained the tax has to be paid twice.

Limitations of Cash Dividend

Reduced Reinvestment Opportunities: Cash dividends mean shareholders have less money available for reinvestment. Instead of using those funds to buy more shares and potentially benefit from compounding growth, investors receive cash that might not yield the same long-term returns.

Dividends are particularly valuable in retirement because they provide a consistent stream of income that can help cover living expenses. And, unlike bonds, dividend stocks offer the potential for capital gains as well as income. That means your portfolio can continue to grow even as you withdraw money from it.

Dividends generate taxable income

Depending on the underlying stock and how long you've held it, you might be taxed federally at long-term capital gains rates (anywhere from 0% to 20%) or at ordinary income rates (between 10% and 37%). You also have no control as to when a dividend is paid, or if it's paid at all.

Payout Ratio: The dividend payout ratio, which represents the proportion of earnings paid out as dividends, is an important factor in dividend policy decisions. Companies with high payout ratios may have limited room for reinvestment in growth or may be more vulnerable to economic downturns.

Dividend capture specifically calls for buying a stock just prior to the ex-dividend date in order to receive the dividend, then selling it immediately after the dividend is paid. The purpose of the two trades is simply to receive the dividend, as opposed to investing for the longer term.

2. Stable dividend policy. Under the stable dividend policy, the percentage of profits paid out as dividends is fixed. For example, if a company sets the payout rate at 6%, it is the percentage of profits that will be paid out regardless of the amount of profits earned for the financial year.

To generate $5,000 per month in dividends, you would need a portfolio value of approximately $1 million invested in stocks with an average dividend yield of 5%. For example, Johnson & Johnson stock currently yields 2.7% annually. $1 million invested would generate about $27,000 per year or $2,250 per month.

How much can you make in dividends with $100K? ›

How dividends are taxed depends on your income, filing status and whether the dividend is qualified or nonqualified. Qualified dividends are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on taxable income and filing status. Nonqualified dividends are taxed as income at rates up to 37%.

As long as a company continues to thrive and your portfolio is well balanced, reinvesting dividends will benefit you more than taking the cash will. But when a company is struggling or when your portfolio becomes unbalanced, taking the cash and investing the money elsewhere may make more sense.

Dividends can be paid out in cash, by check or electronic transfer, or in stock, with the company distributing more shares to the investor. Cash dividends provide investors income, but come with tax consequences; they also cause the company's share price to drop.

Cash dividends affect the cash and shareholder equity on the balance sheet; retained earnings and cash are reduced by the total value of the dividend. Stock dividends have no impact on the cash position of a company and only impact the shareholders equity section of the balance sheet.

Five of the primary reasons why dividends matter for investors include the fact they substantially increase stock investing profits, provide an extra metric for fundamental analysis, reduce overall portfolio risk, offer tax advantages, and help to preserve the purchasing power of capital.

There are a couple of reasons that make dividend-paying stocks particularly useful. First, the income they provide can help investors meet liquidity needs. And second, dividend-focused investing has historically demonstrated the ability to help to lower volatility and buffer losses during market drawdowns.

These regular payments act as a steady source of income for investors, which is valuable for individuals who aim to maintain their financial security or plan for retirement through these investments. Moreover, companies paying out consistent returns are more attractive for new investors.

How dividends are taxed depends on your income, filing status and whether the dividend is qualified or nonqualified. Qualified dividends are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on taxable income and filing status. Nonqualified dividends are taxed as income at rates up to 37%.