Project dividend income growth with DRIP reinvestment, monthly additions, and portfolio value. See yield on cost, income schedule, and total dividends.
Dividend investing is one of the most reliable strategies for building passive income. By investing in companies that consistently pay and grow their dividends, you create a compounding income stream that can eventually replace your salary.
The power of dividend investing lies in three compounding forces: dividend growth (companies raising their payouts annually), DRIP reinvestment (using dividends to buy more shares), and additional contributions. Together, these three forces create an exponential growth curve in your annual income.
This calculator projects your dividend income over time, showing how your annual income, yield on cost, and portfolio value evolve. Toggle DRIP on or off to see the dramatic impact of reinvestment, add monthly contributions to model an ongoing savings plan, and review the comprehensive schedule to track your dividend growth journey year by year. Check the example with realistic values before reporting. Use the steps shown to verify rounding and units. Cross-check this output using a known reference case.
Seeing your dividend income compound over 10-20 years is incredibly motivating. This calculator shows you exactly how your passive income grows, when you might achieve income milestones, and how much of your total return comes from dividends vs capital appreciation. It is also useful when deciding whether DRIP or cash dividends fit your current income plan.
Dividend Yield = Annual Dividend / Stock Price × 100 Annual Income = Dividend Per Share × Shares Owned Yield on Cost = Current Annual Income / Total Amount Invested × 100 With DRIP: New Shares = After-Tax Dividend / Current Price (added each year)
Result: $1,450/yr income in year 20
Starting with 100 shares at $60 ($2.40 dividend, 4% yield), with 5% dividend growth and DRIP enabled, annual income grows from $240 to approximately $1,450 by year 20. Yield on cost reaches ~14%.
Dividend growth matters more than current yield over long horizons because reinvested dividends buy more shares that also pay dividends. That is the core reason DRIP creates such strong compounding. Use the projection to see whether income growth is being driven mostly by share count, dividend growth, or both.
Taking cash dividends can be the right choice when the portfolio is already funding living expenses. DRIP is stronger when the goal is to maximize future income rather than current cash flow. The calculator helps you compare those paths without changing the underlying stock assumptions.
A high yield is only helpful if the payout is durable. Pair this calculator with payout ratio and coverage checks so the projected income is based on a dividend that can actually keep growing.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan — dividends are automatically used to purchase additional shares instead of being paid as cash. Many brokers offer DRIP at no cost. That is what makes the compounding effect so powerful.
Yield on cost measures your annual dividend income relative to what you originally paid. As dividends grow, your yield on cost increases even though the current yield stays the same. It is a useful way to measure progress on the original investment.
Dividend Aristocrats (S&P 500 companies with 25+ years of increases) have averaged 6-10% growth. Slower-growing utilities average 3-5%. The right input depends on the company and sector.
Qualified dividends are taxed at 0-20% depending on income. Non-qualified dividends are taxed as ordinary income. DRIP does not defer taxes. The tax bill still exists even when shares are reinvested.
DRIP maximizes compounding if you don't need the income now. Take cash if you are in the distribution phase of retirement or need the income. The best choice depends on whether growth or cash flow matters more right now.
Neither is inherently better. Dividend investing provides stable income and lower volatility. Growth investing targets capital appreciation. Many investors use both, depending on time horizon and income needs.