Dividend Calculator
See how dividend income and portfolio value compound over the years — with or without reinvesting your dividends. This free online financial calculator runs entirely in your browser — no signup, no data sent anywhere.
Inputs
Results
Interactive Chart
Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, shift+drag to box-zoom. Combined view of balance, principal paid, interest paid, and total paid.
Amortization Schedule
| Period | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Click Calculate to generate the schedule. | ||||
How It Works (Formula & Method)
Each year the calculator pays out the current dividend per share on every share you own. If reinvestment is on, that income buys additional shares at the current price. The dividend per share then grows by your dividend growth rate, and the share price grows by your appreciation rate, before the next year begins.
Yield on cost is the projected annual dividend income divided by your original cost basis — a metric that rises over time as dividends grow, even though the current yield may stay flat.
Worked Example
Below is a worked example using the calculator's default values. The same numbers are pre-filled in the form above so you can press Calculate and see the result without typing anything.
Inputs used:
- Shares Owned: 100
- Share Price ($): 50
- Annual Dividend per Share ($): 2
- Dividend Growth Rate (%/yr): 5
- Share Price Growth (%/yr): 4
- Years: 20
- Reinvest Dividends (DRIP)?: yes
With these inputs, the calculator computes the metrics shown in the Results panel. Change any value and press Calculate again to see how the result responds — the live widget and the chart both update instantly.
About the Dividend Calculator
Dividend reinvestment (a DRIP) is one of the most powerful engines of long-term compounding. Instead of taking dividends as cash, you use them to buy more shares — which then pay their own dividends. Over decades this snowball effect can dwarf price appreciation alone.
Tips & Considerations
Real dividends are not guaranteed and can be cut in downturns. Treat the growth rates as long-run assumptions, not promises. In taxable accounts, reinvested dividends are still taxable in the year received unless held in a tax-advantaged account like an IRA or 401(k).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DRIP?
A DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) automatically uses the cash dividends a stock or fund pays to purchase additional shares, often commission-free and in fractional amounts, accelerating compounding over time.
What is yield on cost?
Yield on cost is the annual dividend income divided by the price you originally paid, rather than the current price. As a company raises its dividend over the years, yield on cost climbs even if the current yield remains the same.
What does the Dividend Calculator compute?
The Dividend Calculator takes 7 input values and returns 4 results. Project dividend income and portfolio growth over time, with optional dividend reinvestment (DRIP), dividend growth, and share-price appreciation, plus yield on cost.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. The Dividend Calculator runs entirely in your browser using static JavaScript. Your inputs are never transmitted to CalculatorHive or any third party, and nothing is stored after you close the page.
Reviewed against: IRS publications, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov), and current published market data. Results are estimates for educational use only — not financial, tax, or legal advice.