Dividend Statistics
Key dividend figures for the US stock market and the S&P 500, calculated from FinSpry data on every US-listed stock and updated daily. Figures as of October 16, 2026.
Key Figures
- S&P 500 dividend yield
- 1.05%
The S&P 500 yields 1.05% based on dividends paid over the past twelve months.
- S&P 500 dividends, past 12 months
- $745B
S&P 500 companies paid about $745 billion in dividends over the past twelve months.
- S&P 500 companies paying a dividend
- 80%
402 of 501 S&P 500 companies pay a dividend.
- US market dividend yield
- 1.27%
All US-listed stocks together yield 1.27%, weighted by market value.
- US stocks paying a dividend
- 38%
1,992 of 5,238 US-listed stocks pay a dividend, and they make up 79% of total market value.
- Median yield of dividend payers
- 2.52%
The typical US dividend stock yields 2.52%.
- Stocks with 25+ years of increases
- 119
119 US stocks have raised their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years, and 485 for at least 10.
- Payers paying out more than they earn
- 20%
366 dividend payers pay out more than 100% of their earnings.
Dividend Yield by Sector
Market-cap-weighted yield of all US-listed stocks in each sector, including non-payers.
| Sector | Dividend Yield | Stocks Paying Dividends | Stocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | 3.69% | 73% | 221 |
| Energy | 3.02% | 64% | 247 |
| Utilities | 3.02% | 72% | 109 |
| Consumer Staples | 2.40% | 39% | 235 |
| Materials | 2.03% | 45% | 280 |
| Financials | 1.94% | 70% | 731 |
| Healthcare | 1.41% | 7% | 1,049 |
| Industrials | 1.10% | 40% | 693 |
| Communication Services | 0.86% | 26% | 245 |
| Consumer Discretionary | 0.82% | 37% | 533 |
| Technology | 0.49% | 17% | 771 |
Longest Dividend Growth Streaks
All 25+ year streaks| Company | Years of Increases |
|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 55 |
| KOThe Coca-Cola Company | 55 |
| PGThe Procter & Gamble Company | 55 |
| PEPPepsiCo, Inc. | 53 |
| EMREmerson Electric Co. | 53 |
| WMTWalmart Inc. | 52 |
| CLColgate-Palmolive Company | 52 |
| EDConsolidated Edison, Inc. | 51 |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 50 |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corporation | 43 |
How Often US Stocks Pay Dividends
| Frequency | Stocks | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | 1,693 | 85% |
| Annual | 125 | 6% |
| Semi-annual | 103 | 5% |
| Monthly | 60 | 3% |
| Other or irregular | 11 | 1% |
How These Figures Are Calculated
- The universe is every stock listed on a US exchange, excluding over-the-counter (OTC) shares, with a known market capitalization. Companies with more than one share class, such as Alphabet, are counted once.
- Dividend yield is trailing twelve-month dividends divided by the current price. Market and sector yields are weighted by market capitalization, the same way index yields are reported, so large companies count for more.
- Stocks yielding more than 15% are left out of the yield figures, because such yields usually come from a one-time special dividend or a collapsing share price.
- S&P 500 dividends paid are estimated as each company's dividend yield times its market value, summed across the index.
- A year of dividend growth counts when a company paid a higher regular dividend rate than in the previous calendar year. Streaks are counted from the dividend history FinSpry holds, which for most companies begins between the 1970s and 1980s.
- Payout ratio compares dividends with earnings. Real estate investment trusts often exceed 100% because they pay from cash flow rather than accounting earnings, so a high payout ratio is not always a warning sign.
To cite these figures: Source: FinSpry Dividend Statistics, finspry.com/dividends/statistics, as of October 16, 2026.
Explore further with the dividend screener, the ex-dividend calendar or the dividend yield definition.
Dividend Statistics FAQ
What is the current S&P 500 dividend yield?
The S&P 500 dividend yield is 1.05% as of October 16, 2026, based on trailing twelve-month dividends weighted by market capitalization.
Which sector pays the highest dividends?
Real Estate has the highest dividend yield at 3.69%, and Technology the lowest at 0.49%, as of October 16, 2026.
How many US stocks pay dividends?
1,992 of 5,238 US-listed stocks (38%) pay a dividend as of October 16, 2026. Together they make up 79% of total US market value.