If a stock pays out dividends, how do you know if it's only once a year or quarterly?

Question

Is there a term for stocks that give out dividends quarterly? Perhaps an acronym in the listings? I've been told stocks can give out dividends either 4 times a year or only once. If so, how does one find this out relatively quickly when looking up the stock info online? What indicates this unique quality?

Answer 1

You can go to Yahoo finance.  Put in the ticker symbol.  Click on historical prices and then click on dividends only.  That will show you the historical pattern of when dividends were paid.  But there is no guarantee dividends will continue.  The Board of Directors approves them.

Answer 2

Is it really that important? If so you heve to find out each one (Company website) It may be that different sectors traditionally pay certain frequencies. In the UK we have just two dividends. Half year and final (the big one). You should not let this criteria influience your investment criteria.