Dividends per share (DPS): the dividend on one share
Dividends per share (DPS): The total dividend a company pays on one share over a year. It is the number dividend yield and payout ratio are built on. One-time special dividends are usually left out.
Two ways to work it out
DPS = (Total dividends − special dividends) ÷ Shares outstanding
DPS = One regular payment × Payments per year
Example from company totals
A company paid $1,050 million in dividends last year, including a one-time $50 million special dividend, and has 500 million shares. Leave the special one out: ($1,050 million − $50 million) ÷ 500 million = $2.00 a share. With the special dividend in, it would be $2.10, a number the company isn’t expected to pay again.
Example from one payment
A stock that pays $0.50 every quarter pays $0.50 × 4 = $2.00 a share a year. This is the quick way: it assumes the current payment continues for the next year.
What it’s used for
DPS is the building block for the other dividend numbers: divide it by the share price for the dividend yield, by earnings per share for the payout ratio, and multiply it by your share count for your yearly income. After a stock split, DPS is divided by the split ratio, while your total dividend stays the same.
Work it out either way with the Dividends per Share Calculator.
Try it with your numbers
Dividends per Share DPS from totals, from EPS and payout ratio, or per payment.Related terms
Plain definitions for learning, not financial or tax advice. Reviewed Saturday, October 10, 2026. All dividend terms