Quarterly Dividend Stocks

Quarterly payment is the default in the United States. The overwhelming majority of US-listed dividend payers distribute four times a year, and this list ranks them by yield.

The convention is a historical one rather than anything financial — most of the rest of the world pays semi-annually, and UK and European companies typically make one large final payment and one smaller interim. For a US income investor the practical consequence is that a portfolio of quarterly payers produces lumpy income unless it is deliberately constructed to spread payment months. Companies do not coordinate: some pay in January, April, July and October, others in February, May, August and November, others in March, June, September and December.

That spread is worth building around. Holding three quarterly payers on three different schedules produces income every month of the year, without paying the higher fees or accepting the narrower selection that comes with buying monthly-paying funds. Each company profile on this site shows the exact months that company has paid in over the last year.

Because quarterly payment is the norm rather than a distinguishing feature, this list is close to a ranking of US dividend stocks generally. Use the payout ratio and growth columns to narrow it.