pay a dividend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pay a dividend" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in financial contexts to refer to the distribution of a portion of a company's earnings to its shareholders. Example: "The company announced that it will pay a dividend to its shareholders next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Should we pay a dividend?

Yale University

Alas, Apple doesn't pay a dividend.

The New York Times

Usually, they just pay a dividend.

Yale University

They're going to pay a dividend in three days.

Yale University

Yahoo's stock does not currently pay a dividend.

The New York Times

Is the company being pressured to pay a dividend?

The New York Times

It intends to pay a dividend of 45.4p a share.

The Guardian - Business

None of the companies currently pay a dividend.

The New York Times

This year we also started to pay a dividend.

The New York Times

Its board decided not to pay a dividend to shareholders.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This is a company that didn't pay a dividend until recently.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial performance, ensure you clearly state the dividend amount per share and the payment frequency to provide investors with comprehensive information.

Common error

Avoid using "pay a dividend" imprecisely. Clearly differentiate between the dividend amount (the actual payment) and the dividend yield (the percentage return based on the stock price). For example, don't say "they pay a high dividend" when you mean "they have a high dividend yield".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pay a dividend" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of a company distributing a portion of its earnings to shareholders. As shown in Ludwig, this action is central to financial discussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pay a dividend" is a common and grammatically correct expression used in financial contexts to describe the distribution of a company's earnings to its shareholders. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. It's frequently found in news reports, academic papers, and business communications, signaling financial health and stability. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about the dividend amount and frequency. Alternatives include "distribute a dividend", "declare a dividend", and "issue a dividend", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Be mindful of distinguishing between the dividend amount and the dividend yield.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distribute a dividend

Focuses on the action of giving out dividends.

declare a dividend

Emphasizes the formal announcement of a dividend payment.

issue a dividend

Highlights the act of creating and releasing a dividend.

provide a dividend

Stresses the act of supplying a dividend to shareholders.

make a dividend payment

Highlights the payment aspect of distributing dividends.

offer a dividend

Suggests the company is presenting a dividend to its investors.

allocate dividends

Focuses on the process of assigning funds for dividend distribution.

release dividends

Emphasizes the act of making dividends available to shareholders.

return capital to shareholders

Broadly describes the act of giving money back to investors, which can include dividends.

share profits with investors

Describes the general act of distributing profits, which can be through dividends.

FAQs

What does it mean when a company decides to "pay a dividend"?

When a company decides to "pay a dividend", it means they are distributing a portion of their profits to their shareholders. This is often seen as a sign of financial health and stability.

What factors influence a company's decision to "pay a dividend"?

A company's decision to "pay a dividend" is influenced by factors like profitability, cash flow, investment opportunities, and debt levels. The board of directors typically makes this decision.

What are some alternatives to "pay a dividend"?

Alternatives to "pay a dividend" include "distribute a dividend", "declare a dividend", or "issue a dividend". The choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

How does a company's ability to "pay a dividend" affect its stock price?

A company's ability to "pay a dividend" can positively affect its stock price, as it signals financial stability and can attract income-seeking investors. However, it's not the only factor influencing the stock price.