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The Meaning of Dividends in Investment


Distribution of profits to shareholders based on the shares owned, that is the meaning of stock dividends in general. In other words, the meaning of dividends is the result paid by the company to shareholders in the form of shares and cash.

Meanwhile, the rate of return itself is one of the things that is expected when you invest in stocks. The form of return in stock investment is divided into two, namely capital gains and dividends.

Capital gain is the difference between the selling price minus the purchase price. For example, if we buy a share from a national company for IDR 5,500 and sell it for IDR 6,000, then the capital gain obtained is IDR 500 per share, or as a percentage of 9%.

While return in the form of dividends means that dividends are part of the company's profits distributed to shareholders. As an investor who buys a stock, you certainly hope that the company will experience a profit or profit.

If the company records large profits, the company can distribute these profits to its shareholders in the form of stock dividends. The meaning of this dividend is to maintain the company's capital level; This dividend provides benefits to the recipient because it reduces the amount of tax to be paid (stock dividends).

In another explanation, the meaning of stock dividends is dividend payments made in the form of additional shares and not in the form of cash payments. Companies may decide to distribute this type of dividend to shareholders if the company's cash availability is limited.

The dividend distributed by the company to shareholders is calculated based on the difference between the company's profit minus retained earnings. This retained profit is the profit kept by the company to finance future expansion.

So, can companies only use the retained earnings option to allocate profits? Companies have several options in using profits, namely as follows where the decision to use profits is determined in the GMS (general meeting of shareholders):

  • Retained Earnings: Profits are retained by the company, used for re-investment and not distributed to shareholders.
  • Stock Buy-Back: Profits are used to buy back (buy-back) shares on the stock exchange. Stock buy-backs are common on Wall Street, but they are rare in Indonesia.
  • Dividends: Profits are paid in cash to shareholders as dividends.

Meaning of Dividends: Types of Dividends

Further discussing the meaning of dividends, there are several types of dividends that you need to know. In stock investment, the meaning of dividends has several forms that can be adjusted to the ability and position of the company.

Dividend Meaning: Cash Dividend

The first type of dividend is Cash Dividend or cash dividend. This type of dividend is paid to owners or shareholders in cash.

This cash dividend is the type most often used by various companies. In addition, cash dividends are also a type that is a favorite of many shareholders.

Meaning of Dividend: Stock Dividend

The next type of dividend is a type of stock dividend or stock dividend given in the form of shares. This type of dividend will eventually be able to increase the number of outstanding shares.

If dividend payments in the form of shares are made, then the liquidity position of a company will not change. This is because payments with stock dividends are not part of a company's cash flow.

Meaning of Dividend: Goods Dividend

For the next type of dividend is a type of property dividend or goods dividend which is a type of dividend distributed in kind, other than cash. However, there are several things that must be considered by the company in distributing this dividend.

A company must ensure that the goods distributed are goods that can be divided. Not only that, it must also be ensured that the distribution of dividends by a company cannot interfere and has a regular effect on the company.

Meaning of Dividend: Debt Dividend

Dividends can also be given in the form of a script or pledge of debt, this type of dividend is referred to as a dividend script. In the existing script, a certain amount will be stated to be paid to the script holder.

The script will also include a due date for paying it. Applying dividends using this type of script will make a company have debt, but in the short term.

Meaning of Dividend: Liquidating Dividend

The next type of dividend is different from other types of dividends, this liquidating dividend does not come from profits earned by the company. This type of dividend is the opposite of all existing types of dividends.

Giving dividends that are distributed alone will refer to a reduction in the capital of a company.

Meaning of Dividend: Dividend Calculation

After knowing the meaning of dividends and their types, here are some methods commonly used by companies to calculate dividends. How to calculate dividends becomes important once you know the meaning of dividends and their types if you want to start investing in stocks.

Meaning of Dividends Calculation of the Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR)

The Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR) is the ratio of how much of a company's profit is divided into dividends to shareholders.

Example:

• Net profit of PT. ABC is IDR 1,000,000,000.-.

• ABC decided to distribute dividends of IDR 500,000,000 to shareholders.

• DPR = 500,000,000 / 1,000,000,000 * 100% = 50%.

• So, the Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR) from PT. ABC is 50%.

Meaning of Dividends Calculation of Dividend Per Share (DPS)

The figure for the type of dividend calculation per share is obtained from the dividend distribution of the company with the total number of shares.

Example:

• ABC decided to distribute dividends of IDR 500,000,000 to shareholders.

• The total number of shares of PT. ABC is 1 million pieces.

• DPS = 500,000,000 / 1,000,000 = IDR 500.

• So, Dividend Per Share (DPS) or dividends per share received by shareholders is Rp. 500,-

Meaning of Dividends. Dividend Yield Calculation

Dividend yield is a comparison of how much dividends are distributed by the company to the price of shares currently outstanding.

Example:

• Dividend Per Share (DPS) from PT. ABC is IDR 500,-.

• Share price of PT. ABC is IDR 10,000.-.

• Dividend yield = 500 / 10,000 * 100% = 5%.

• So, dividend yield from PT. ABC is 5%.


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