Dividend Payout Ratio Calculator
Calculate the percentage of earnings per share represented by the annual dividend per share.
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Understand payout ratio
The payout ratio compares dividends with accounting earnings and can help frame how much reported earnings are being distributed.
Formula
Worked example
A $2 annual dividend with $5 of EPS produces a 40% payout ratio and a 60% retention ratio.
How to interpret the result
The payout ratio compares dividends with accounting earnings and can help frame how much reported earnings are being distributed.
Assumptions & limitations
A conventional payout ratio is not meaningful when EPS is zero or negative. Accounting earnings and cash available for dividends can differ materially.
Practical context
When this calculator is useful
The payout ratio is useful when assessing how much of reported earnings is represented by dividends. It can provide a first look at whether a company appears to retain substantial earnings or distribute a large portion to shareholders.
How investors commonly use it
Investors often compare payout ratios through time and against peers, while also checking free cash flow because accounting earnings and cash available for dividends can differ materially.
What this metric does not tell you
A low payout ratio is not automatically positive and a high one is not automatically unsafe. Capital needs, cyclicality, non-cash charges, one-time earnings and management policy all affect what level is sustainable.