Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks
Dividend figures for US-listed companies that file with the SEC, counted from the same numbers shown on each company's dividends page. A company is counted only when every figure behind the statistic matched its own filing.
4,688 US-listed companies · By Philip van den Berge
Matched to SEC filings3,394 of 4,688 US filers matched their filing on every figureUpdated October 2, 2026
34.8%
of US-listed companies pay a dividend
4,648 companies counted, as of October 2, 2026
Including Walmart Inc., Apple Inc, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
On this page
- Key figures
- By sector
- How does this compare with other measures?
- What percentage of US stocks pay a dividend?
- How much of their earnings do profitable dividend payers pay out?
- How many dividends are covered by free cash flow?
- How many US companies have raised their dividend 10 years in a row?
- How these figures are counted
- Cite, download or reuse
- Update log
Key figures
The median profitable US dividend payer distributes 36.0% of its net income as dividends (1,379 payers; payers that made a loss have no payout ratio and are not included).
76.5% of US dividend payers outside banks, insurers and REITs generate at least as much free cash flow as they pay out (1,018 companies).
22.3% of US dividend payers have raised their dividend per share for at least 10 consecutive years (1,544 payers).
By sector
| Sector | Pay a dividend | Median payout | Covered by FCF | 10-year raisers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All US companies | 34.8% | 36.0% | 76.5% | 22.3% |
| Technology | 14.8% | 30.8% | 81.8% | 19.4% |
| Healthcare | 7.4% | 30.9% | 88.1% | 38.6% |
| Financials | 63.2% | 29.2% | 75.9% | 23.6% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 34.9% | 34.5% | 80.0% | 16.4% |
| Consumer Staples | 41.5% | 75.3% | 90.9% | n/a |
| Industrials | 35.4% | 29.4% | 84.1% | 26.9% |
| Energy | 44.4% | 35.0% | 88.6% | n/a |
| Materials | 40.7% | 38.7% | 70.2% | 21.0% |
| Communication | 37.5% | 37.1% | 77.1% | 8.3% |
| Utilities | 67.5% | 57.6% | 19.4% | 53.9% |
| Real Estate | 65.1% | n/a | n/a | 9.6% |
Select a sector to see its companies. A figure shows n/a when fewer than 20 of the sector's companies are counted, or when fewer than 90% of those reporting the figure passed the filing check.
How does this compare with other measures?
| Group | Pay a dividend | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All US-listed companies (this page)4,648 companies, SEC filings | 34.8% | Intrinsiqq, October 2, 2026 |
| S&P 500The largest US companies | 81.3% | S&P Dow Jones Indices, Q4 2025 |
| S&P MidCap 400Mid-sized US companies | 65.0% | S&P Dow Jones Indices, Q4 2025 |
| S&P SmallCap 600Smaller US companies | 57.0% | S&P Dow Jones Indices, Q4 2025 |
| US common stocks outside the S&P 500Share issues, not companies | 19.4% | S&P Dow Jones Indices, Q4 2025 |
| NYSE, AMEX and Nasdaq firmsDisappearing Dividends, Journal of Financial Economics | 66.5% | Fama and French, 2001, 1978 |
| NYSE, AMEX and Nasdaq firmsDisappearing Dividends, Journal of Financial Economics | 20.8% | Fama and French, 2001, 1999 |
Each figure counts a different group, so the rows give context and are not a trend. The S&P indices hold larger, established companies, which pay far more often than the market as a whole: that is why the 80% figure quoted for US stocks describes the S&P 500 and not every listed company. S&P counts share issues rather than companies, and Fama and French used a different sample and definition of a payer than this page.
What percentage of US stocks pay a dividend?
34.8%of 4,648 US companies counted
Paying a dividend says nothing about whether the business can afford it. The payout and free cash flow sections below are the test for that.
- Who is counted.
- US-listed companies that file with the SEC and published an annual report in the last 18 months.
- What it counts.
- A company counts as a payer when its dividends page states a current dividend. One whose page shows "No active dividend" (no dividend history, or none for three or more fiscal years) or "No current dividend" (nothing paid in the latest or previous fiscal year, as after a suspension) counts as a non-payer, exactly as the page labels it.
- Checked against filings.
- 4,648 companies are counted. 40 more report this figure but were left out, because at least one number behind it could not be matched to their SEC filing.
| Rank | Group | Pay a dividend | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| All US companies | 34.8% | 1,618 of 4,648 | |
| 1 | Utilities | 67.5% | 79 of 117 |
| 2 | Real Estate | 65.1% | 185 of 284 |
| 3 | Financials | 63.2% | 438 of 693 |
| 4 | Energy | 44.4% | 56 of 126 |
| 5 | Consumer Staples | 41.5% | 44 of 106 |
| 6 | Materials | 40.7% | 125 of 307 |
| 7 | Communication | 37.5% | 36 of 96 |
| 8 | Industrials | 35.4% | 258 of 728 |
| 9 | Consumer Discretionary | 34.9% | 234 of 671 |
| 10 | Technology | 14.8% | 101 of 683 |
| 11 | Healthcare | 7.4% | 62 of 837 |
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<iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/paysDividend" title="What percentage of US stocks pay a dividend?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#paysDividend">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, checked against SEC filings.</p><iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/paysDividend?v=10" title="What percentage of US stocks pay a dividend?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#paysDividend">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, figures as of October 2, 2026, checked against SEC filings.</p>The embed carries its own source line and date. The fixed version keeps showing the figures your article quoted, even after we refresh them.
How much of their earnings do profitable dividend payers pay out?
36.0%median across 1,379 US companies
REITs and many utilities show payout ratios above 100% by design, because depreciation reduces their earnings without costing cash. For them, free cash flow coverage is the better test.
- Who is counted.
- US dividend payers with a payout ratio. The ratio needs positive net income, so payers that made a loss are not in the median.
- What it counts.
- The payout ratio on the dividends page: dividends paid as a share of net income, over the trailing twelve months where available.
- Checked against filings.
- 1,379 companies are counted. 66 more report this figure but were left out, because at least one number behind it could not be matched to their SEC filing.
- Not in the figure.
- 196 dividend payers have no payout ratio, most of them because they made a loss over the period, and are not in the median. Leaving them out makes the typical payout look more affordable than it is across all payers, so read it together with free cash flow coverage below.
| Rank | Group | Median payout | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| All US companies | 36.0% | 1,379 | |
| 1 | Consumer Staples | 75.3% | 38 |
| 2 | Utilities | 57.6% | 73 |
| 3 | Materials | 38.7% | 91 |
| 4 | Communication | 37.1% | 28 |
| 5 | Energy | 35.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Consumer Discretionary | 34.5% | 202 |
| 7 | Healthcare | 30.9% | 50 |
| 8 | Technology | 30.8% | 88 |
| 9 | Industrials | 29.4% | 223 |
| 10 | Financials | 29.2% | 403 |
Embed this table
<iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/payoutRatio" title="How much of their earnings do profitable dividend payers pay out?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#payoutRatio">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, checked against SEC filings.</p><iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/payoutRatio?v=10" title="How much of their earnings do profitable dividend payers pay out?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#payoutRatio">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, figures as of October 2, 2026, checked against SEC filings.</p>The embed carries its own source line and date. The fixed version keeps showing the figures your article quoted, even after we refresh them.
How many dividends are covered by free cash flow?
76.5%of 1,018 US companies counted
A dividend not covered by free cash flow is being paid from the balance sheet or from new borrowing. That can last for a while, but not indefinitely.
- Who is counted.
- US dividend payers, excluding banks, insurers and REITs, with a free cash flow coverage figure.
- What it counts.
- The FCF Coverage check on the dividends page: free cash flow divided by dividends paid. Covered means 1.0x or more.
- Checked against filings.
- 1,018 companies are counted. 23 more report this figure but were left out, because at least one number behind it could not be matched to their SEC filing.
| Rank | Group | Covered by FCF | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| All US companies | 76.5% | 779 of 1,018 | |
| 1 | Consumer Staples | 90.9% | 40 of 44 |
| 2 | Energy | 88.6% | 39 of 44 |
| 3 | Healthcare | 88.1% | 52 of 59 |
| 4 | Industrials | 84.1% | 207 of 246 |
| 5 | Technology | 81.8% | 81 of 99 |
| 6 | Consumer Discretionary | 80.0% | 184 of 230 |
| 7 | Communication | 77.1% | 27 of 35 |
| 8 | Financials | 75.9% | 41 of 54 |
| 9 | Materials | 70.2% | 87 of 124 |
| 10 | Utilities | 19.4% | 14 of 72 |
Embed this table
<iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/fcfCovered" title="How many dividends are covered by free cash flow?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#fcfCovered">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, checked against SEC filings.</p><iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/fcfCovered?v=10" title="How many dividends are covered by free cash flow?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#fcfCovered">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, figures as of October 2, 2026, checked against SEC filings.</p>The embed carries its own source line and date. The fixed version keeps showing the figures your article quoted, even after we refresh them.
How many US companies have raised their dividend 10 years in a row?
22.3%of 1,544 US companies counted
Machine-readable SEC filings start around 2009, so the longest streak these filings can confirm is about 18 years. A company whose streak reaches the start of its data may have raised for longer.
- Who is counted.
- US dividend payers.
- What it counts.
- The Dividend Streak check on the dividends page: consecutive fiscal years in which the dividend per share rose.
- Checked against filings.
- 1,544 companies are counted. 97 more report this figure but were left out, because at least one number behind it could not be matched to their SEC filing.
| Rank | Group | 10-year raisers | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| All US companies | 22.3% | 345 of 1,544 | |
| 1 | Utilities | 53.9% | 41 of 76 |
| 2 | Healthcare | 38.6% | 22 of 57 |
| 3 | Industrials | 26.9% | 66 of 245 |
| 4 | Financials | 23.6% | 98 of 415 |
| 5 | Materials | 21.0% | 26 of 124 |
| 6 | Technology | 19.4% | 19 of 98 |
| 7 | Consumer Discretionary | 16.4% | 37 of 226 |
| 8 | Real Estate | 9.6% | 17 of 178 |
| 9 | Communication | 8.3% | 3 of 36 |
Embed this table
<iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/streak10" title="How many US companies have raised their dividend 10 years in a row?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#streak10">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, checked against SEC filings.</p><iframe src="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/embed/dividends/streak10?v=10" title="How many US companies have raised their dividend 10 years in a row?" width="100%" height="600" style="border:0" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends#streak10">Intrinsiqq, Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a>, figures as of October 2, 2026, checked against SEC filings.</p>The embed carries its own source line and date. The fixed version keeps showing the figures your article quoted, even after we refresh them.
How these figures are counted
Each figure counts a value that appears on every company's own stock page, computed by the same code that renders that page. Pick any company in a sector and you will find the number that was counted for it.
Before a company is counted, every stored number behind the statistic is matched against the company's own filings on SEC EDGAR: each reported figure must appear in the filing for the same period, and each derived figure (such as free cash flow or net debt) must equal its formula applied to reported figures. A company with any unmatched number is left out of that statistic, and a sector shows n/a when fewer than 90% of its companies with the figure pass, or fewer than 20 are counted.
The population is every US-listed operating company whose figures we read from its SEC filings and that published an annual report in the last 18 months: 4,688 companies as of October 2, 2026. Funds, commodity trusts, preferred share series and warrants are excluded. Formulas for every figure are on the methodology page.
| Companies covered by Intrinsiqq | 11,873 |
|---|---|
| US companies whose figures we read from their SEC filings | 4,945 |
| Of those, with an annual report from the last 18 months | 4,688 |
Sectors follow the industry code (SIC) the SEC assigns to each filer, grouped into eleven sectors. That code decides the sector for nearly every company. A few dozen of the largest use a modern sector classification instead, which is why Alphabet and Meta count under Communication and Visa and Mastercard under Financials. Lenders the SEC gives no code, such as business development companies, are placed in Financials. SIC codes are old and a company keeps the one it registered with, so some sit in a different sector than a modern classification would give them: Netflix, filed under video rental, counts under Consumer Discretionary, and smaller payment companies filed as business services count under Industrials.
The population includes 12 companies listed in the US that report in another currency (renminbi, Canadian dollars, yen and euros). Every figure on this page is a ratio, a median of ratios, a growth rate or a yes/no test, so the currency a company reports in cannot change it. A figure that adds amounts together would count only companies that report in US dollars.
- Only US-listed companies that file with the SEC are counted, because their figures can be checked against the filings. International companies are not included.
- Dividend streaks are capped by the start of machine-readable filings, around 2009.
- Dividend yield is not published here: it depends on the share price, which cannot be checked against a filing.
Cite, download or reuse
These figures, charts and tables are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence: free to quote, chart and republish with credit to Intrinsiqq and a link to this page. Please include the date. The figures refresh every trading morning and every past version is kept, so a dated citation always points at a number you can check.
Intrinsiqq, “Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks”, updated October 2, 2026. https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends
Intrinsiqq. (2026, October 2). Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks [Data set]. https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends
Intrinsiqq. “Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks.” Updated October 2, 2026. https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends.
<a href="https://intrinsiqq.com/statistics/dividends">Dividend Statistics 2026: US Stocks</a> (Intrinsiqq, updated October 2, 2026)Writing about this? For a comment, a cut we don't publish, or the company-level numbers behind a figure, email hello@intrinsiqq.com. We reply within 2 business days.
Update log
- October 2, 2026: figures refreshed and re-checked against SEC filings
- October 1, 2026: figures refreshed and re-checked against SEC filings
- September 14, 2026: figures refreshed and re-checked against SEC filings
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