Dividend Growth Rate

The dividend growth rate is the rate of growth of dividend over the previous year; if 2018’s dividend is $2 per share and 2019’s dividend is $3 per share, then there is a growth rate of 50% in the dividend.

What is Dividend Growth Rate?

Dividend Growth Rate refers to the growth rate (in term of percentage) of the dividend of a particular company realized during a certain period of time. Although it is usually calculated on an annual basis, it can also be calculated on a quarterly or monthly basis if required.

It can be calculated (using arithmetic mean) by adding the available historical growth rates and then dividing the result by the number of corresponding periods.

Dividend Growth Rate formula (using ArithmeticMean ) is represented as,

where

• G_i = Dividend growth in i^th year,
• n = No. of periods

It can be calculated using the compounded growth rate method by using the initial dividend and final dividend and the number of periods in between the dividends.

Dividend Growth (using compounded growth rate method) is represented as,

where

• D_n = Final dividend
• D₀ = Initial dividend
• n = No. of periods

Explanation of the Dividend Growth Rate Formula

The formula for dividend growth rate (arithmetic mean) can be computed by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, gather all the historical dividend growth of the company and add up all of them. It will be easily available from the annual report of the company. The periodic dividend growth can be calculated by dividing the current periodic dividend D_i by the last periodic dividend D_i-1 and subtract one from the result and then expressed in terms of percentage. It is denoted by G_i.

G_i = (D_i / D_i-1) – 1

Step 2: Next, determine the number of periods for which the historical growth rates have been collected and it is denoted by n.

Step 3: Finally, the formula for dividend growth rate can be derived by dividing the sum of historical dividend growths by the no. of periods as shown below.

Dividend Growth Rate = (G₁ + G₂ + …….. + G_n) / n

The formula for dividend growth rate (compounded method)calculation can be done by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, determine the initial dividend from the annual report of the past and the final dividend from the recent annual report. The initial dividend and final dividend is denoted by D₀ and D_n respectively.

Step 2: Next, determine the number of periods between the initial dividend period and the recent dividend period and it is denoted by n.

Step 3: Finally, dividend growth calculation can be derived by dividing the final dividend by the initial dividend and then raising the result to the power of reciprocal of the no. of periods and subtracting one from it as shown below.

Dividend Growth Rate Formula = (D_n / D₀)^1/n – 1

Example of Dividend Growth Rate Formula (with Excel Template)

Let us take the example of Apple Inc.’s dividend history during the last five financial years starting from 2014.

Given,

• Final dividend, D₂₀₁₈ = $2.72
• Initial dividend, D₂₀₁₄ = $1.82
• No. of periods, n = 2018 – 2014 = 4 years

Determine the dividend growth based on the given information using the following methods.

• Arithmetic mean method
• Compounded growth method

Below is data for calculation of Dividend Growth (using the arithmetic mean & compounded growth method) of Apple Inc.’s

As per question,

• Dividend growth in 2015, G₂₀₁₅ = [($1.98 / $1.82) – 1] * 100% = 8.79%
• Dividend growth in 2016, G₂₀₁₆ = [($2.18 / $1.98) – 1] * 100% = 10.10%
• Dividend growth in 2017, G₂₀₁₇ = [($2.40 / $2.18) – 1] * 100% = 10.09%
• Dividend growth in 2018, G₂₀₁₈ = [($2.72 / $2.40) – 1] * 100% = 13.33%

Now, no. of periods, n = 2018 – 2014

= 4 years

Therefore, the annualized dividend growth using arithmetic mean method can be calculated as,

Dividend Growth Rate Formula = (G₂₀₁₅ + G₂₀₁₆ + G₂₀₁₇ + G₂₀₁₈) / n

= (8.79% + 10.10% + 10.09% + 13.33%) / 4

Dividend Growth = 10.58%

Therefore, the annualized dividend growth rate calculation using the compounded growth method will be

Dividend Growth Rate Formula = [(D₂₀₁₈ / D₂₀₁₄)^1/n – 1] * 100%

= [($2.72 / $1.82)^1/4 – 1] * 100%

Dividend Growth (Compounded Growth)= 10.57%

From the case of Apple Inc.’s dividend history, it can be seen that the dividend growth rate calculated by either of the two methods gives approximately the same results.

Relevance and Uses of Dividend Growth Rate Formula

From an investor’s perspective, it is important to understand this concept to assess earning from a stock investment. For instance, a strong dividend growth history could indicate likely future dividend growth, which is a sign of long-term profitability for the stock. Further, a financial user can use any interval for the dividend growth calculation. The Dividend Growth Rate Formula concept is also essential because it is primarily used in the dividend discount model which finds extensive application in the determination of security pricing.

You can download this Dividend Growth Rate Formula Excel Template here – Dividend Growth Rate Formula Excel Template

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to what is Dividend Growth Rate?. Here we discuss how to calculate Dividend Growth Rate using the arithmetic mean and compounded growth rate method along with examples and downloadable excel sheet. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles –

• Compound Journal Entry | Disadvantages
• Excel Rate Formula
• What is a Dividend?
• What are homemade Dividends?
• What is Cash Dividend?
• What are Stock Dividends?
• What is the Date of Record for Dividends?

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