The Dividend - Distributions to Shareholders

One of the companies that paid out the most dividends was the Daimler Group. A total of almost 3.5 billion euros was paid out to everyone who owns shares in the group. In second place for the highest dividend payouts was Allianz with a total of 3.3 billion euros.

Thus, shares seem to be more lucrative than ever for investors. Reason enough to find out more about the payouts. In this article you will find all the important information about dividends. 

General Information on Dividends

A dividend is a share of profits that a company pays out to its shareholders and thus to the proportional owners. Another term for the share price in sg-exness.com is therefore "dividend paper". However, we only speak of dividends in the case of joint-stock companies. If co-owners of a limited liability company receive a share of the profits, it is called a profit distribution. Dividends are usually paid out once a year.
Types of dividends

There are various ways in which profits can be distributed to shareholders. The following types of dividends can be distinguished:

•     Stock dividend: This term is derived from the English word for "share", "stock". When a shareholder receives his share of profits in the form of a stock dividend, he does not receive cash. Instead, he receives the profit in the form of additional shares in the company. If a company is growing strongly and high price gains are to be expected, a stock dividend can therefore be advantageous. This form of profit distribution is also called a "bonus share" or "bonus stock" if the shares paid out belong to the same company. If additional shares are issued as dividends, this is also called a "stock split".
•     Cash dividend: This is a direct profit distribution to the account of the respective share holder. How much profit each shareholder receives per share is determined in advance.
•     Dividend in kind: In this case, shareholders receive a distribution in kind in accordance with section 58 (5) and section 174 (2) of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG). The range here is very wide. "Tangible assets" can be, for example, shares in subsidiaries, but also tangible goods such as cars or the products manufactured by the company.

Where can shareholders find the current share prices?

There are several ways to keep up to date with share prices.

•     Teletext: Teletext is a common and easy way to access current share prices. On ARD's teletext, shareholders can find share prices from page 720, on n-tv, for example, from page 200.
•     Financial and daily newspapers: Daily newspapers always list current prices of national and international shares in the financial section. However, depending on the stock exchange, the data may no longer be up-to-date when printed. Financial newspapers usually still offer a detailed service on current share prices. Well-known financial newspapers include the Financial Times.
•     Stock market magazines: There are numerous printed versions of stock market magazines such as Capital. However, print versions have a disadvantage in terms of up-to-dateness of data.
•     Internet sites: If you are looking for current stock market prices, you will quickly find many useful places to start on the net. Both the stock pages of the public broadcasters and many private websites offer an overview of various stock prices. In addition, investors often have the option of accessing current prices directly via their bank's website or online custody account.