How long do you have to hold a stock to get the dividend?

You must be the owner of record by the ex-dividend date to receive the next dividend payment. The way to know is to make sure to buy the stock at least one market day before the ex-dividend date.

How often does a dividend pay?

This varies by company, but the vast majority of dividend-paying U.S. stocks pay their regular dividends quarterly. A few companies pay dividends monthly; these are mostly REITs. Some companies pay dividends once or twice per year, but this is rare. You can typically find this information for a company on its investor relations website.

Are dividends paid monthly or quarterly?

The vast majority of companies pay a quarterly dividend, with monthly payments the second-most popular schedule but still less common (almost always done by real estate investment trusts). Even rarer, some companies pay a dividend once or twice per year.

How Often Are Dividends Paid & When Do You Get Them?

Knowing when, and how, you'll get paid is important.

By Jason Hall – Updated Feb 17, 2026 at 5:33 PM EST | Fact-checked by Margo Winton Parodi

Key Points

Most U.S. companies pay quarterly dividends, although some REITs can pay monthly.
To receive a dividend, you must own the stock before the ex-dividend date.
Dividends are mainly paid in cash directly to your brokerage account.

If you're investing in dividend stocks, understanding payment timing and mechanics is essential for managing your income expectations and portfolio strategy. Here's what you need to know about when and how you'll get paid.

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A graphic answering questions about dividends, including: how they're paid, how often they're paid, and how much they pay. — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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About the Author

Jason Hall is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst with more than a decade of experience writing about dividend stocks and long-term investing. He has been with the company since 2012 and previously spent over 10 years in technical sales in the printing and information services industry. Jason also founded and operated a small food manufacturing business.

TMFVelvetHammer

@thesmattering

Jason Hall has positions in Realty Income. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Costco Wholesale, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How Often Are Dividends Paid on Stocks?

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